Nine health books for 2025 offer practical paths to well-being

A new round of health book recommendations for 2025 spotlights titles that aim to improve well-being through science-based, everyday actions. The collection covers rest, mental health, aging, sleep, immune science and practical life tweaks, assembling perspectives from neuroscientists, clinicians and writers with hands-on experience.

The Brain at Rest by Dr Joseph Jebelli (Torva, £20, 256 pages) emphasizes the importance of rest for both body and mind. Jebelli revisits research on how taking time to pause—what the Dutch call ‘niksen’—can bolster physical health and emotional balance. He also advocates a more deliberate pace of life, proposing tools such as the ‘black marker test’ to identify which obligations can be postponed or canceled in favor of recuperation and lower stress.

Swimming with the Viking of Skye by Richard Waters (Aurum, £17.99, 256pp) recounts Waters’ midlife health challenges after an early-onset Parkinson’s diagnosis and the revelation that his young daughter has a degenerative neurological disease. The narrative follows his decision to immerse himself in the Arctic-like cold of Skye’s sea with the titular Viking, Matt Rhodes, and how the practice helped ease motor symptoms and calm the mind. Waters frames his experience as a reminder that acceptance of ongoing change can lead to a more content, freer existence even in the face of illness.

No More Normal by Dr Alastair Santhouse (Granta, £18.99, 272pp) questions the medicalization of everyday feelings. Drawing on a 2015 student mental-health survey and contemporary life, Santhouse argues that normal human experiences—sadness, worry, fatigue—are sometimes treated as diagnosable conditions, with consequences for how people understand themselves and seek treatment. The book cautions against overreliance on diagnoses or quick-fix digital tools, urging a more nuanced view of mental health and more careful consideration of when medical intervention is truly warranted.

Life Forever? by John Tregoning (Oneworld, £18.99, 432pp) brings a scientist’s eye to the major causes of mortality—heart disease, stroke, cancer and lung disease—and tests a range of dietary and lifestyle interventions. Tregoning chronicles personal experiments, from beetroot to gene sequencing, and underscores broad, sustainable steps: daily exercise, moderate alcohol intake or abstention, avoidance of smoking and vaping, and meals centered on fiber-rich, homemade cooking. He also highlights the social dimension of longevity, noting that robust social ties often accompany longer, healthier lives.

The Dose Effect by T.J. Power (HQ, £20, 304pp) translates neuroscience and psychology into practical advice for everyday happiness and health. Power focuses on how dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins influence behavior, with concrete tips for reducing phone addiction and increasing presence. Suggestions include structuring three daily windows for social media, charging devices away from the bedroom and using a stopwatch to monitor concentration during work, all designed to rebalance modern, tech-heavy routines.

Age Less by Sandra Parsons (New River, £14.99, 256pp) emerged from Parsons’ own recovery from a midlife back injury. She describes adopting Pilates and other wellness practices that markedly improved her health, culminating in what she describes as a younger biological age. The framework centers on three cornerstones: modest calorie reduction, increased movement, and deeper rest. Parsons provides accessible steps for readers seeking to feel more youthful and energetic without drastic dieting.

Self Defence by Daniel M. Davis (Bodley Head, £22, 304pp) explores the immune system with careful nuance. Davis cautions against overreliance on popular immune-boosting foods or supplements and explains that our immune health is shaped by a long arc of stress and biology. Rather than quick fixes, the book offers a science-grounded tour of how the immune system actually works, highlighting when interventions may be helpful and when they may cause unintended harm.

Into the Dream Lab by Michelle Carr (Profile, £18.99, 368pp) investigates why we dream, what common dreams reveal about daytime life, and how people can learn to influence their dreams and counter nightmares. Carr explains recurring dream themes and the phenomenon of ‘white dreams’—awakening with a sense of having dreamt but with unclear recall. The book also notes the impact of unfamiliar environments on sleep, known as the first-night effect, and discusses methods to improve dream quality and sleep consistency.

Adventures in Fermentation by Johnny Drain (Penguin Life, £20, 320pp) delves into the science behind fermentation and its broad significance for food, health and industry. Drain traces how fermentation touches even familiar staples such as bread, coffee and chocolate, and explains its role in medicines—including insulin production—since the 1980s. The read blends accessible science with practical kitchen guidance, offering recipes from simple focaccia to more ambitious projects like gut-boosting kraut and miso-based creations.

Together, the nine titles offer a spectrum of evidence-based perspectives on health and well-being. They emphasize gradual, sustainable changes—whether through rest, mindful medicine, social connection, or informed dietary practices—and they frame health as an ongoing process shaped by daily habits, environments and personal history. The list also underscores a common theme: science can illuminate practical steps that people can incorporate into their routines without requiring dramatic upheaval.