Medicine

BBC R4 Book of the Week

‘Brilliant’ Guardian

‘Fascinating and often delightful’ The Times

What if intelligent life on Earth evolved not once, but twice? The octopus is the closest we will come to meeting an intelligent alien. What can we learn from the encounter?

In Other Minds, Peter Godfrey-Smith, a distinguished philosopher of science and a skilled scuba diver, tells a bold new story of how nature became aware of itself – a story that largely occurs in the ocean, where animals first appeared.

Tracking the mind’s fitful development from unruly clumps of seaborne cells to the first evolved nervous systems in ancient relatives of jellyfish, he explores the incredible evolutionary journey of the cephalopods, which began as inconspicuous molluscs who would later abandon their shells to rise above the ocean floor, searching for prey and acquiring the greater intelligence needed to do so – a journey completely independent from the route that mammals and birds would later take.

But what kind of intelligence do cephalopods possess? How did the octopus, a solitary creature with little social life, become so smart? What is it like to have eight tentacles that are so packed with neurons that they virtually ‘think for themselves’? By tracing the question of inner life back to its roots and comparing human beings with our most remarkable animal relatives, Godfrey-Smith casts crucial new light on the octopus mind – and on our own.

Peter Godfrey-Smith’s book ‘OTHER MINDS’ was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 10-05-2021.

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Drawn from his popular medical columns over the years, John Launer shares fifty of his best-loved essays, covering topics from essentials skills they don t teach you in medical school to his poignant account of being a patient himself as he received treatment for a life-threatening illness.

Taken together, the stories make the case that being a doctor should mean drawing on every aspect of yourself, your interests and your experiences no matter how remote they seem from the medical task at hand.

How Not to Be a Doctor combines humour, candour and the human touch to inform and entertain readers on both ends of the stethoscope.

***PRAISE FOR HOW NOT TO BE A DOCTOR***

An essential read… It is a gem Dr. Fiona Moss, CBE, Dean of the Royal Society of Medicine

This collection is warm, wise, generous, thoughtful and thought-provoking… imbued with a moving humanity which offers inspiration and reassurance in equal measure Dr. Deborah Bowman, MBE, BBC Broadcaster and Professor of Medical Ethics and Law

‘Witty and wise. Shows how important it is that doctors are allowed to be human’ Kit Wharton, author of Emergency Admissions: Memoirs of an Ambulance Driver

An all-round excellent book, which would appeal to a wide range of healthcare professionals and students… a light-hearted way of looking at serious subjects BMA Panel of Judges

‘I raced through this book, laughing, nodding, highlighting and then read some favourite bits again. Every chapter has a gem of wisdom as well as being so very elegantly written and entertaining’ Jenny Rogers, Co-Author of Coaching for Health

Bursting with wonder and wisdom, this seductively readable book imparts courage and joy in equal measure Dr. Iona Heath, CBE. Former President, Royal College of General Practitioners and author of The Mystery of General Practice

Gets to the heart and soul of current medical practice. Written by a doctor, but incorporates life experience and wisdom, making it an easy, thought provoking read Professor Jane Dacre, President of the Royal College of Physicians

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‘A must-have for sufferers, medics, caterers and restaurant staff’ – Ian Marber

This authoritative, accessible and supportive book will help you to find out if you or child need to avoid gluten, and how to set about getting a diagnosis. If you do need to avoid gluten – or if you already know you or a family member are coeliac – it will help you to understand labelling, to shop safely (and affordably), to eat out without fear, and to make the best healthy, gluten-free choices for your diet. There is plenty of psychological and emotional support, and insight into managing everyday challenges, from safe travel to personal care and other non-food exposures. The book also gives some insight into the latest research into coeliac disease, and possible future developments for managing the condition, giving continued hope that the newest, groundbreaking therapies may transform the lives of coeliacs ten years hence.

Practical, readable and with a Foreword by Coeliac UK, this book is indispensable for anyone seeking the very latest information and advice on how to live the best possible gluten-free life.

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130 brand-new recipes to cook up at home, any day of the week…

Following their bestselling Fast 800 Recipe Book, Dr Clare Bailey and Justine Pattison return with a fabulous new cookbook, featuring super-simple recipes to enable you to eat well with minimum prep time on your fasting days.

All of the dishes in this book are based on the Mediterranean style of eating now proven to revolutionise your health, and many can be thrown together from freezer or store-cupboard staples. There are numerous vegetarian options, plus simple ways to expand meals for non-fast days or when you are eating with friends or family.

With everything from salads and wraps to winter stews and curries, The Fast 800 Easy will help you rustle up delicious, nutritious meals in minutes – food that tastes so good you won’t feel the low calorie count.

‘One word – brilliant! I lost 28lb in 9-10 weeks and 7 inches off my waist. Also dropped 2 clothes sizes. Love this programme!’ – Anne

INCLUDES 8 WEEKS OF CALORIE-COUNTED MEAL PLANS

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More than a hundred hearty, easy and slimming recipes from Kate Allinson and Kay Featherstone, authors of the bestselling Pinch of Nom series.

From satisfying savoury dishes to indulgent desserts, Pinch of Nom Comfort Food is packed with slimming-friendly, delicious dishes that will keep you and your loved ones happy and healthy. From lazy weekend breakfasts to filling mains and warming puddings, this book is brimming with tasty meals that are easy to make. Many of the dishes have alternative cooking methods, so you can choose whether to cook in the oven, slow cooker or pressure cooker, depending on your schedule.

From Katsu Chicken Bites, Steak and Chips Pie and Cheesy Aubergine Bake to Slow Cooker Stroganoff, Halloumi Couscous Burgers and Millionaire Shortbread, you’ll be spoilt for choice on what to cook first. Feeling adventurous? Try Danger Dogs! Need a sweet and fruity fix? Cherry Pie ticks all the boxes. Featuring Pinch of Nom’s trademark big flavours, these recipes use easy-to-find ingredients to create dishes that everyone will love – whether they’re watching their waistline or not.

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THE INSPIRATION FOR THE MAJOR NEW NETFLIX SERIES, HOW TO CHANGE YOUR MIND

‘It’s a trip – engrossing, eye-opening, mind altering’ New Statesman

‘Fascinating. Pollan is the perfect guide … curious, careful, open minded’ The Guardian

Of all the many things humans rely on plants for, surely the most curious is our use of them to change consciousness: to stimulate, calm, or completely alter the qualities of our mental experience. In This Is Your Mind On Plants, Michael Pollan explores three very different drugs – opium, caffeine and mescaline – and throws the fundamental strangeness of our thinking about them into sharp relief. Exploring and participating in the cultures that have grown up around these drugs, while consuming (or in the case of caffeine, trying not to consume) them, Pollan reckons with the powerful human attraction to psychoactive plants, and the equally powerful taboos.

In a unique blend of history, science, memoir and reportage, Pollan shines a fresh light on a subject that is all too often treated reductively. In doing so, he proves that there is much more to say about these plants than simply debating their regulation, for when we take them into our bodies and let them change our minds, we are engaging with nature in one of the most profound ways we can. This ground-breaking and singular book holds up a mirror to our fundamental human needs and aspirations, the operations of our minds and our entanglement with the natural world.

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‘Saves time, money and food waste’ The Times

The Sunday Times best-selling author The Batch Lady is back with a budget-busting book to create fresh and satisfying meals without breaking the purse strings.

Shop once.
Get organised, plan ahead and create fresh and satisfying meals without breaking the bank.

Cook once.
Over 100 delicious, simple and energy-efficient batch-cooking recipes that will satisfy the whole family and fill your freezer.

Save money all week.
Learn to hack your monthly bill, save your hard-earned money and eat well on a budget.

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Suzanne Mulholland’s book ‘The Batch Lady’ was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 16-01-2023.

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Legendary record producer-turned-brain scientist explains why you fall in love with music.

‘Extraordinary insights about music, emotion and the brain…An instant classic’ Daniel Levitin, author of This Is Your Brain on Music

This Is What It Sounds Like is a journey into the science and soul of music. It’s also the story of a musical trailblazer who began as a humble audio tech in L.A. to become Prince’s chief engineer for Purple Rain and one of the most successful female record producers of all time.

Now an award-winning professor of cognitive neuroscience, Dr Susan Rogers takes readers behind the scenes of record-making and leads us to musical self-awareness. She explains that everyone possesses a unique ‘listener profile’, shows how being musical can mean actively listening, and encourages us to think about the records that define us. Lively and illuminating, this book will refresh your playlists, deepen your connection to artists, and change the way you listen to music.

‘Superb… this book can show you how to be a better listener’ Times Literary Supplement

‘A provocative blend of studio stories and fascinating neuroscience’ Alan Light, author of Let’s Go Crazy: Prince and the Making of Purple Rain

‘Fizzing with energy and insight…a crucial addition to the canon of music must-reads’ Kate Hutchinson

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We all know that as a nation our mental health is in crisis. But what most don’t know is that a critical ingredient in this debate, and a crucial part of the solution – what we eat – is being ignored.

Nutrition has more influence on what we feel, who we become and how we behave than we could ever have imagined. It affects everything from our decision-making to aggression and violence. Yet mental health disorders are overwhelmingly treated as ‘mind’ problems as if the physical brain – and how we feed it – is irrelevant. Someone suffering from depression is more likely to be asked about their relationship with their mother than their relationship with food.

In this eye-opening and impassioned book, psychologist Kimberley Wilson draws on startling new research – as well as her own work in prisons, schools and hospitals around the country – to reveal the role of food and nutrients in brain development and mental health: from how the food a woman eats during pregnancy influences the size of her baby’s brain, and hunger makes you mean; to how nutrient deficiencies change your personality.

We must also recognise poor nutrition as a social injustice, with the poorest and most vulnerable being systematically ignored. We need to talk about what our food is doing to our brains. And we need decisive action, not over rehearsed soundbites and empty promises, from those in power – because if we don’t, things can only get worse.

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Chosen by the SUNDAY TIMES, GUARDIAN, FT and DAILY MAIL as one of their BEST SUMMER BOOKS OF 2023

‘If you only read one diet or nutrition book in your life, make it this one’ Bee Wilson

‘A devastating, witty and scholarly destruction of the shit food we eat and why’ Adam Rutherford

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An eye-opening investigation into the science, economics, history and production of ultra-processed food.

It’s not you, it’s the food.

We have entered a new ‘age of eating’ where most of our calories come from an entirely novel set of substances called Ultra-Processed Food, food which is industrially processed and designed and marketed to be addictive. But do we really know what it’s doing to our bodies?

Join Chris in his travels through the world of food science and a UPF diet to discover what’s really going on. Find out why exercise and willpower can’t save us, and what UPF is really doing to our bodies, our health, our weight, and the planet (hint: nothing good).

For too long we’ve been told we just need to make different choices, when really we’re living in a food environment that makes it nigh-on impossible. So this is a book about our rights. The right to know what we eat and what it does to our bodies and the right to good, affordable food.

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‘The food looks absolutely GLORIOUS and the book is so informative.’ Jane Dunn, Jane’s Patisserie

Gluten free doesn’t have to be difficult – or cost a fortune.

When you’re on a gluten-free diet, suddenly the question of what to cook for dinner can become an all-consuming worry. But just because you’re gluten free doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy delicious, stress-free meals with family and friends.

Whether you’re after the basics, budget-friendly meals for batch cooking, quick and easy meals, fakeaways, classic desserts or slow-cooking wonders, award-winning gluten-free blogger, Sarah Howells, has got you covered. Packed with hints and tips to help you go gluten free, including shopping lists, money-saving meal-planning, and how to talk to friends and family about cross-contamination, this book is about to become the go-to cookbook on your shelf.

From Fantastic Fried Chicken to Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza, and from Chicken and Leek Puff Pie to Butternut Squash and Goats’ Cheese Quiche, you don’t have to miss out on the tastiest recipes that even your non-gluten-free friends will enjoy. Quick to prepare and using readily available and affordable ingredients, Sarah’s done all the work for you so you can enjoy delicious, homemade, gluten-free meals for less. You might just forget you’re gluten free.

‘Vibrant, accessible recipes that make gluten-free living so much more achievable.’
Dr Saliha Mahmood Ahmed, MasterChef champion and author of The Kitchen Prescription

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In this highly practical guide, acclaimed physical therapist and international lecturer Daniel Lawrence dispels some of the myths around cupping therapy and shows how it deserves to be viewed as a highly credible and versatile therapeutic tool in modern practice

Cupping―an ancient therapy which uses vacuum cups placed over the skin to treat a wide range of health conditions―appears in one of the earliest medical textbooks ever written and has been used in cultures around the world for thousands of years.

Though much maligned by its perception as a “complementary therapy,” the emergence of modern research supporting the use of cupping to treat musculoskeletal conditions has seen it enjoy a huge resurgence in recent years. You only need look at the unmistakable cupping marks visible on Olympic swimmers to see how valued it is within professional sport.

An ancient treatment, a new way

Presented with clear descriptions, colour photographs, and QR codes linking to online video tutorials, Lawrence’s approach to dry cupping offers enhanced treatment outcomes and methods that are more readily accepted by Western medicine and modern manual therapy bodyworkers. These are techniques that deliver maximum benefit whilst minimizing some of the less desirable after-effects of more traditional methods.

Starting with the history of cupping, the book guides you through the principles of application with illustrated protocols for musculoskeletal conditions of the foot, ankle, lower leg, knee, thigh, hip, back, shoulder, wrist, hand, elbow, and neck.

Whether you are looking to treat Achilles tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or low back pain, Lawrence illustrates why cupping is a safe and effective choice of treatment. Where this book differs from others, however, is that it introduces the concept of using passive and active movement in a treatment. In this way, cupping can be viewed as an enhanced form of both massage and exercise rehabilitation. Couple this with a valuable understanding of how these techniques influence the nervous system and cupping now stands up to “evidence-based” scrutiny. This is modern cupping!

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Slow cooker recipes are an essential for any home cook – time saving, low cost and reliably delicious. The Good Food kitchen has produced hundreds of brilliant recipes over the years, and this collection gathers 150 of the very best.

Slow cookers allow anyone to create mouth-watering dishes that can be cooked overnight or while you’re at work so that you can enjoy your meal as soon as you enter the door. From family favourites like curries, chillis, soups and puddings, through to fresh ideas for stews, fish and tasty vegetarian meals, Good Food Ultimate Slow Cooker Recipes has something for everyone.

All recipes are short and simple with easy-to-follow steps, and all are accompanied by a full-colour photograph of the finished dish.

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The instant No.1 UK bestseller

‘A must for anyone who wants to understand their body and improve their health’ – Professor Tim Spector

‘Jessie has revolutionised how I measure my health and wellbeing – it’s turned the lights on to my health – I genuinely believe that The Glucose Goddess Method and its step-by-step plans has the power to change lives’ – Steven Bartlett, Diary of a CEO’

Jessie Inchauspé is a biochemist, author and founder of the Glucose Goddess movement (2 million followers on Instagram).

With her first book Glucose Revolution a no. 1 international bestseller, she started teaching everyone about the importance of blood sugar and easy hacks to manage it.

In The Glucose Goddess Method, she offers a four-week step-by-step plan to integrate simple, science-proven strategies for steadying your blood sugar into your everyday life. It comes complete with 100+ delicious recipes, an interactive workbook and lots of tips and advice from the Glucose Goddess community on how to stay on track.

This Method has been used by thousands to regulate their glucose, and the results are astonishing. You will gain boundless energy, curb your cravings, clear your skin, slow your ageing process, reduce inflammation, rebalance your hormones, improve your mood and sleep better than you have ever done before. You will create positive new habits for life.

The best part? You won’t be counting calories, and you’ll eat everything you love.

‘Jessie’s tips have been a lovely addition to my daily routine.’ Davina McCall

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