Train your body, and your mind. recovery doesn’t just happen during your appointments- it’s living the life of an athlete, every day.
Every month, we’re sharing our pick from industry experts. Each book addresses a complimentary discipline needed for the road to becoming your best athlete. We challenge you to take stock of your life; for all of us, the same patterns spill over between our personal life and our athletic life. These books aren’t about “hack culture,” but rather scientifically supported strategies and lessons from those who have walked the road before us.
The Complete Reading List
Whether it’s an athlete chasing recovery or a busy professional striving to feel better in their body, energy is at the core of it all. In “Good Energy”, Dr. Casey Means redefines our understanding of health by uncovering how cellular metabolism—the way our bodies produce and use energy—is the hidden driver behind everything from brain fog and burnout to chronic disease. Blending cutting-edge science with practical tools, she shows how optimizing metabolic health can unlock sharper focus, better moods, deeper sleep, and long-term vitality. For those supporting others in their health journey, this book offers a powerful new framework: heal the metabolism, and you fuel a life of lasting strength and resilience.
Menopause doesn’t have to be a period of decline; it can be a time of transformation and empowerment. In "The New Menopause: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power, and Facts,” Dr. Mary Claire Haver presents a science-backed approach to navigating the physical and emotional changes that come with menopause. Through practical advice on nutrition, exercise, and managing symptoms, she empowers women to take control of their health and embrace this stage of life with strength and confidence. This book is an invaluable resource for those supporting women through menopause, offering actionable strategies for improving overall well-being and optimizing health during this important life phase.
"The Vegetable Eater: The New Playbook for Cooking Vegetarian" by Cara Mangini transforms vegetables into the stars of your plate with vibrant, flavorful recipes that anyone can enjoy. Mangini takes a fresh approach to plant-based cooking, offering simple yet exciting dishes that highlight the full potential of seasonal vegetables. Whether you’re a nutrition enthusiast or a professional guiding others toward healthier eating, this book provides inspiring, nutrient-dense meals that fuel the body and delight the taste buds. Perfect for anyone looking to boost their health, performance, and overall well-being through delicious, veggie-packed meals.
"The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness" by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz reveals the profound insights from the Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the longest-running studies on human happiness. Over decades of research, they uncover how the quality of our relationships—whether with family, friends, or partners—has the most significant impact on long-term health and well-being. The book delves into the science behind these connections, showing that strong social bonds are essential for both mental and physical health. This offers valuable guidance for professionals in fitness and healthcare seeking to promote holistic wellness in their patients and clients.
Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey combine research and real-world wisdom to uncover the science of happiness and well-being. They explore how to build meaningful relationships, find purpose, and cultivate a fulfilling life—strategies that can enhance both personal and professional growth.
For those in fitness and healthcare, the book offers actionable insights on how happiness influences overall health. With evidence-based approaches to stress management, emotional resilience, and well-being, Build the Life You Want provides a valuable guide for improving both mental and physical health in everyday life.
Estrogen therapy, when used appropriately, can enhance women’s health during menopause without raising the risk of breast cancer. In "Estrogen Matters", Dr. Avrum Bluming and Dr. Carol Tavris present research-backed evidence that estrogen therapy offers significant benefits, including improved bone health and cardiovascular function. By dispelling common myths and providing the latest scientific insights, the authors empower healthcare providers to offer informed, safe options for women navigating menopause. This book is a crucial resource for anyone supporting women through this stage of life.
What if the key to living a longer, healthier life is already within our reach? In "The Blue Zones Secrets for Living Longer", Dan Buettner uncovers the lifestyle habits of the world’s longest-living communities, from plant-based diets to strong social connections. It’s not just about adding years to life, but adding life to years. This book offers a practical, science-backed roadmap for healthier aging through small, sustainable changes that can transform how we live.
What if the hardest challenges you face are the keys to your greatest growth? In "Do Hard Things", Steve Magness shows that true strength doesn’t come from simply pushing through, but from embracing difficulty with the right mindset. Through a blend of psychology and strategy, Magness reveals how discomfort, when approached intentionally, can build resilience and lead to lasting success. Whether training, leading, or overcoming setbacks, this book offers powerful insights on how to transform obstacles into opportunities for growth.
Midlife is not the end of mental vitality; it’s a moment of transformation. In The Upgrade, Dr. Louann Brizendine reveals how the female brain evolves during this stage, becoming more resilient, focused, and adaptable. This isn’t just about aging—it’s about unlocking newfound mental strength that enhances both brain power and physical performance, offering women a true upgrade at a pivotal time in their lives.
What if the limits of human performance aren’t as fixed as we think? In "Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance", Alex Hutchinson explores the surprising science behind how far we can really push our bodies—and how much of it comes down to the mind. Through a combination of cutting-edge research and compelling stories, Hutchinson uncovers the factors that influence endurance, from mental resilience to environmental conditions. For fitness and medical professionals, this book offers valuable insights on how to help clients tap into their full potential, pushing through physical and mental barriers to achieve their best.
As we age, we all wonder how to stay strong and healthy longer. In "Lifespan", Dr. David Sinclair reveals groundbreaking science that shows aging isn’t inevitable—it’s something we can slow down, or even reverse, with the right choices. This isn’t just about living longer; it’s about living better. For fitness and healthcare professionals, it’s a reminder that movement, recovery, and lifestyle aren’t just supportive—they’re essential for helping clients age with vitality and resilience.
Whether you're working with athletes or patients in recovery, breathing is a powerful yet often overlooked tool. In "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art", James Nestor uncovers how modern habits have disrupted optimal respiration—and why getting it right can transform health, movement, and performance. For fitness and medical professionals, this book offers science-backed insights that can enhance everything from mobility to recovery.
No matter if it’s a CEO scaling a company or a patient rebuilding strength after injury, the drive to grow—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—is what sets high performers apart. In Elevate, Robert Glazer breaks down the habits and frameworks that fuel sustainable growth, showing that true performance isn’t built on hustle alone, but on alignment and intention. Through real-world examples and practical tools, Glazer offers a roadmap professionals can apply not just to their own development, but to the clients and teams they support every day.
One day your usual routine just... stops working. The run feels harder, the recovery slower, your sleep’s a mess, and no one seems to have answers that actually fit. Next Level is that missing conversation—the one about what really happens to women’s bodies in midlife, and how to train smarter when the rules start to change. Stacy Sims doesn’t offer one-size-fits-all fixes—she gives you the tools to understand your physiology, adapt with purpose, and take back your strength on your own terms.
Pull back the curtain on the billion dollar industry of sports recovery. Good to Go captivates readers with an entertaining and objective view behind the abundance of options on the market, helping you make more informed decisions on your strategy.
Even if you’ve only ever jogged around the block, you’ll know the little voice that creeps up during athletic performance. The Voices Within explores the psychology and sociology behind these inner voices, and how to harness them.
No matter if an athlete is in the hunt for Olympic gold, or an artist is on the verge of an artistic masterpiece, many of the same practices can be seen in those at the top of their field. In Peak Performance, Stulberg and Magness demystify these practices and demonstrate how everyone can achieve their best.
You know that little voice in your head, the one telling you it’s too hard, that you should just give up? Author and former military Special Forces officer David Goggins argues that voice signals you’ve reached 40% of your full physical capacity. Learn more about his life and work ethic, built on mental toughness and determination in this month’s pick!
Think you missed your chance at greatness because you weren’t a child prodigy? According to David Epstein, probably not. Focusing instead on the value of diverse experiences, Epstein champions the generalist over the specialist, the well-rounded over the All American. Hone your focus, whatever stage of life you’re in, and continue on the path to greatness.
Why do some people succeed, while others fail? Psychologist Angela Duckworth reveals that it is not all about talent. Sharing findings from her recent research, she shows how “grit” - a special blend of passion and perseverance for a goal - is a distinctive feature of successful people.
Together as a company, we are using this book to reflect on our own ideas and action. We cannot ignore the injustice the Black community is facing in our country. As an organization founded on helping others reach their fullest potential, we must speak up. This is not ok.
The readers follow McDougall along his journey from his initial meeting of a few tribesmen, witnessing firsthand their superhuman ability, to his search for Caballo Blanco - a strange gringo, friend of the Tarahumara, living alone in the canyons and modeling their way of life. Caballo is set on organizing a race in the Tarahumara homeland for those who embody the spirit of these running people. Finally we follow the trek to the Copper Canyons for the race itself with an unusual group of ultrarunners, for the world’s greatest race the world has never seen...
In The Champion’s Mind, sports psychologist Jim Afremow, PhD, shares the advice he uses with Olympians, professional athletes, even Heisman trophy winners. The plan described in this book details how you can be come a champion, “[...] be vitally engaged in all areas of your game and life by doing your best at what you value most. You will get the job done and rise to the occasion in your championship moments.”
Packed with previously untold stories and unparalleled insight into the psyches of the most successful and accomplished athletes of our time, Relentless shows you how even the best get better - and how you can too.
We inherently know exercise is good for us, yet many of us regard it as a chore. Instead of writing another “science-y manual” on how exercise improves your mood and brain function or can help you lose weight, McMonigal ‘draws on insights from neuroscience, psychology, anthropology, and evolutionary biology, as well as memoirs, ethnographies, and philosophers’ to remind us that a sedentary lifestyle is unnatural to our biology.’
This book is a roadmap for how to succeed at infinite games. We all take pleasure in the “fleeting thrill” of a promotion or meeting a financial goal, but winning the game of life is much more fulfilling, according to Sinek, if we embrace an infinite mindset. This approach considers the ripple effects of the business and company products, asking “what’s best for us” instead of “what’s best for me.”
Wolfpack is about leadership from the feminine perspective, highlighting all the ways leaders inspire action. It’s a small book with a big message: “We have never been Little Red Riding Hood. We are the Wolves. We must wander off the path and blaze a new one: together.”
We found The Mindful Athlete after a client asked us for book recommendations on mental performance and sports mindset. During our research, multiple trusted sites and blogs referenced this book as one of the top on their list. George Mumford, who has worked with all 11 NBA championship teams coached by Phil Jackson, shares his own powerful story of finding meditation and mindfulness after having “lost his way” and weaves in countless other stories of people in sports
Following your passion is something we hear about as a goal in life. The truth is, following your passion can be exhausting. You can throw all your eggs in one basket and can take things too far, leading to burnout and unnecessary stress. That isn’t to say living a life of passion is bad either.
No matter if it’s a patient pushing through rehab or a leader navigating high-stakes decisions, the real battle often happens between the ears. In “Win the Inside Game", Steve Magness explores the mental strategies used by elite performers to build resilience, manage stress, and stay focused under pressure. Drawing on cutting-edge psychology and real-world application, he reveals how mastering the inner game is key—not just for peak performance, but for long-term well-being. For professionals helping others rebuild strength and confidence, this book offers tools to support both the body and the mindset it depends on.