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Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise
February 2021

Recent Releases
Burnout : the secret to unlocking the stress cycle
by Emily Nagoski

The best-selling author of Come as You Are and her sister reveal why women experience burnout differently than men, outlining science-based, feminist recommendations for reducing stress, resisting negative media and befriending one's inner critic. includes pie charts, worksheets and graphs
Raising Confident Black Kids : A Comprehensive Guide for Empowering Parents and Teachers of Black Children
by M. J. Fievre

It’s hard to balance protecting your child’s innocence with preparing them for the realities of Black life. When—and how—do you approach racism with your children? How do you protect their physical and mental health while also preparing them for a country full of systemic racism? On the heels of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria and “Multiplication Is for White People” comes a parenting book specifically for parents of Black kids.
 
Social Chemistry: Decoding the Patterns of Human Connection
by Marissa King

What it's about: science-based strategies for improving your social communication skills and building stronger, more rewarding professional connections.

Topics include: different approaches to network building and real world examples of each, from Vogue editor Anna Wintour (a "convenor") to cellist Yo-Yo Ma (a "broker") to Mad Money host Jim Cramer (an "expansionist").

Read it for: the approachable tone, thorough research, and robust annotations that include plenty of recommendations for further reading. 
Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times
by Katherine May

What it's about: the importance of retreat and reflection during trying times and the healing to be found in periods of "hibernation."

Why you might like it: Katherine May pulls thoughtful observations from a wide variety of sources like mythology and the natural world which could provide solace during periods of isolation and upheaval.

Want a taste? "
When everything is broken, everything is also up for grabs. That’s the gift of winter: it’s irresistible. Change will happen in its wake, whether we like it or not." 
Addiction
Ordinary Girls: A Memoir
by Jaquira Díaz

What it's about: Jaquira Díaz's experiences growing up in an environment of neglect, mental illness, and omnipresent drug abuse.

Why you should read it: Despite the heavy topics, this moving story is narrated from a place of empowerment and self-assuredness.

For fans of: other well-rendered memoirs about the adverse experiences of women of color like Roxane Gay's Hunger or When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago.
Strung Out: One Last Hit and Other Lies That Nearly Killed Me
by Erin Khar

What it is: a candid and reflective memoir of childhood trauma, heroin addiction, and rebuilding from both.

Read it for: the author's moving description of how becoming a mother helped her find the strength to get sober.

Reviewers say: "This heartbreaking yet heartwarming memoir puts a human face on the drug crisis and the factors that lead to addiction" (Publishers Weekly).
The Anatomy of Addiction: What Science and Research Tell us About the True Causes...
by Akikur Mohammad, MD

What it's about: evidence-based approaches to substance abuse and recovery, which looks at addiction holistically.

What makes it unique: the discussion of ways that mental illness and addiction can affect each other; the special attention paid to helping teenagers in recovery.

Don't miss: the introduction to Suboxone, a medication the author argues will revolutionize the detox and recovery process.
Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction
by Maia Szalavitz

What it is: a thought-provoking argument in favor of radically reframing our understanding of substance abuse as a disorder with developmental underpinnings.

Is it for you? Maia Szalavitz has potentially polarizing criticisms of common recovery strategies like 12-step programs that may not be for everyone.


Want a taste? "About here's where I'm supposed to tell you that I'm different, that I wasn't your 'typical addict.' The American media repeatedly assures us that such an addict certainly isn't white, female, educated, or middle class. But I'm not going to do that."
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