17 Wellness Books Worth Reading In 2017

Our team lives, breathes, eats, and sleeps wellness. So, who better to soak up the tidal wave of new ideas in this year's crop of personal growth books than us? As a matter of fact, that's what we've been doing for the past several months. So, here are the tastiest cookbooks, the most inspiring memoirs, and the most groundbreaking scientific explorations of 2017, lovingly curated by all of us at mbg.

(Available February 14, 2017)

By this point, you're definitely familiar with the Danish concept of hygge. Described as the confluence of comfort, togetherness, and well-being, this life (and decor) philosophy gives us some insight into what makes Danish people the happiest on earth. The book's author describes hygge as "an atmosphere and an experience ... about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe." The Little Book of Hygge offers practical, simple adjustments you can make to your routine and living space to amp up the feeling of coziness and warmth in every day. It's basically required reading for winter.

(Available February 14, 2017)

(Available March 7, 2017)

(Available February 21, 2017)

Aptly described as "part DIY vegan beauty how-to, part cookbook, and part self-improvement manifesto," The Compassionate Chick's Guide is the brainchild of Sunny Subramanian (the woman behind early cruelty-free beauty blog, Vegan Beauty Review) and Chrystle Fielder (a longtime holistic health and natural remedy writer). If you (like us) have a tendency to spend a pretty penny on the latest natural skincare products, this book will revolutionize your beauty regimen and give your bank balance a chance to recover. With step-by-step guides (and super-fun pictures) explaining exactly how to make and use these supercharged vegan treatments, you'll wonder how you ever lived without your new DIY beauty Bible.

After finishing her collegiate running career, elite marathoner and Olympic hopeful Becky Wade had the urge to explore the cultural traditions and wisdom surrounding the sport she loved all over the world. Becky visited nine countries and ran 3,500 miles over the course of a year, and what she brought home changed her approach to running forever. She incorporated elements of the training styles she'd encountered all over the world into her own program, and her success has skyrocketed. A beautiful journey that really shows the inclusive, personal nature of running, though it's not brand new, this release flew under most people's radars, and we felt like we had to include it as a must-read.

(Available April 11, 2017)

Telomeres have been something of a buzzword in aging and genetics for a while now. But most of us don't really understand how they work. Co-written by the Nobel Prize-winning Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn (the discoverer of telomerase) and the health psychologist on the cutting edge of research into how lifestyle and psychological habits can protect our telomeres, The Telomere Effect demystifies the basics of this crucial part of our DNA. Pairing accessible insights into how our bodies work with practical tips for staying young and healthy longer, this book will help you grasp concepts crucial to longevity and better equip you to fight the environmental factors that are aging us all.

From Kristin Petrovich, the founder of luxury infused-crystal skincare line själ, this tome takes you on a journey of discovery through the transformative power of crystals and gemstones. From organic skincare to at-home spa treatments, Elemental Energy helps the reader build an arsenal of essential, affordable crystals and gemstones, and shows them how to use it. If you've been intrigued by the gemstone trend but not sure how to incorporate it into your life, this is the book you've been waiting for.

We all talk about how doing what we love and time spent with loved ones are the most important things in life. And yet most of us spend the majority of our waking hours chained to desks in jobs that don't inspire us—in service of a paycheck. Why haven't we been able to practice what we preach? Well, the leap from belief to action can be a very scary one, and most of us don't feel bold enough to do it without a guide. That's where Beautiful Money comes in. This book bridges the gap between self-help and intelligent finance to finally speak to the smart consumer. It walks you through the steps necessary to make your dream life happen, breaking down the secrets to making more money, streamlining your personal finances, and learning how to invest and budget wisely. It doesn't have to seem overwhelming. Once you have the tools to make your money work for you, you can finally stop working so hard for it.

(Available February 28, 2017)

(Available February 21, 2017)

Founder of the Aromahead Institute, Andrea Butje introduces the casual aromatherapy fan to 40 of the most essential essential oils—including cardamom, lavender, and yuzu, just to name a few. Making the art of aromatic alchemy simple, Butje spells out the physical and emotional properties of each oil and includes over 100 functional recipes that can do everything from relieve pain to aid digestion, support relaxation or give you a boost of energy. Once you start reading this book, you'll feel totally inspired to revolutionize your lifestyle—and you'll know how to do it with just a few well-chosen drops of nature's most potent tonic.

In this follow-up to The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck (which we also loved), Sarah Knight gives us another no-holds barred, no f*cks given guide to decluttering our minds and actually, FINALLY doing the things we want to do. The trick is actually setting aside time for the things you care about and then cutting through all the other stuff so you can get happy and stay that way. If you're in the mood for an irreverent guide to living more simply and effectively, this is the book you've been waiting for.

(Translation by Chi-Young Kim available February 7, 2017)

Bestselling author Gary Taubes follows up Why We Get Fat with a frighteningly convincing argument that sugar is the tobacco of our generation. From the epidemic of obesity to the staggeringly high numbers of children with fatty liver disease, Taubes draws clear connections between our nation's decline in health and our history of overuse and misuse of sugar. (For example, did you know sugar was used as an additive in cigarettes? Neither did we, until now.) If you want to be able to make informed decisions about the food you're eating, this book needs to jump to the top of your reading list.