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The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Younger Girls, Revised Edition (American Girl® Wellbeing) Paperback – Picture Book, March 26, 2012

There is a newer edition of this item:.

• Part of series American Girl Library
• Print length 104 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 3 - 4
• Lexile measure 900L
• Dimensions 7 x 0.25 x 10.88 inches
• Publisher American Girl
• Publication date March 26, 2012
• ISBN-10 1609580834
• ISBN-13 978-1609580834
• See all details

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From the Publisher

Looking for guidance as your child grows? The American Girl Care & Keeping of You books offer award-winning advice from trusted experts for pre-teen years through puberty.

Editorial Reviews

About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ American Girl; New - Revised edition (March 26, 2012)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 104 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1609580834
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1609580834
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 10 years, from customers
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 900L
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 4
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.25 x 10.88 inches
• #4 in Children's Personal Hygiene Books (Books)
• #22 in Children's Books on Girls' & Women's Issues

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Honest Opinion on The Care and Keeping of You Book

Melani Cobb

Getting girls ready for all the changes...

Auman Landscape

MOST IMPORTANT AND HELPFUL book for growing young girls!

Japhia Bowman

Great for girls around 4th grade! Start the conversation.

All Electric Family

classic useful good book honest review

Perfect introductory book on health! #babiesandtoddlers

Emerald Outlaw

About the authors

Cara natterson.

Cara is a leading voice in puberty and adolescent health. A pediatrician, speaker and podcast host, she is a New York Times bestselling author of multiple books including The Care and Keeping of You series, with more than seven million copies in print, and the forthcoming This Is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained (Rodale Books, Oct 2023). Cara graduated from Harvard and John Hopkins Medical School and trained at UCSF.

When her own daughter started puberty, she realized there was no company dedicated to making this decade of life more comfortable….so she started one. When her son entered puberty, she realized that there was even less puberty content and product aimed at males… so she decided to fix that, too.

For more information, check out orderofmagnitude.co, worryproofmd.com and myoomla.com or watch her in action on IG and TikTok @spillingthepubertea.

Valorie Lee Schaefer

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Josée Masse

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5 Excellent Guide Books For Girls About Body Changes, Growing Up, Friendships, and Etiquette

Gi Hallmark  |  The Children’s Book Review | Books That Celebrate Your Body and Growing Up

Navigating the windy road of preadolescence can sometimes be a confusing, emotional, and complicated experience, especially for girls. Fluctuations in hormones, increased social conflicts, and unanswered questions about growing up can waiver the confidence of even the most secure girls. In addition to encouraging open dialogue about issues and concerns, parents can foster positive self-esteem and a healthy lifestyle by offering dependable literary resources that can help answer questions and offer guidance.

These following five books cover a wide range of topics, from changing bodies and friendships, to social manners and etiquette. Whether read together with a parent, amongst a group of girls, or individually, these books are great to have on hand as a reference guide to the myriad of changes girls experience as a result of growing up.  

Girl to Girl: Honest Talk About Growing Up and Your Changing Body

By Sarah O’Leary Burningham, Illustrated by Alli Arnold

TCBR Take: This book covers the gamut of taking care of and understanding body changes both internally and externally. The concrete and tangible topics, coupled with a relatable and interesting format that is sprinkled with colorful illustrations and charts, makes this book a terrific resource. Information is disseminated in an unintimidating manner, which has the ability to douse confusion in a practical and useful way.

Publisher’s Synopsis : Being a girl isn’t always easy, and growing up is far from a walk in the park. This time of transition is particularly confusing without a confidante to help. Meet Sarah O’Leary Burningham, a real-life big sister here to coach preteens through all of life’s big moments, from first bras to first periods. Filled with letters and testimonials from real girls—as well as confidence-boosting advice and myth-busting sidebars—this fun, accessible, and highly visual book is a must-have for every girl navigating her way through the preteen years.

Ages 8-12 | 136 pages| Chronicle Books| November 2013 | ISBN 9781452102429

The Girls’ Q&A Book on Friendship: 50 Ways to Fix a Friendship Without the DRAMA

By Annie Fox, M.Ed., Illustrated by Erica De Chavez

TCBR Take: Perhaps one of the most challenging preadolescent and adolescent rites of passage is learning to cope with disappointments, confusion, and conflicts in social situations. This book offers guidance for some of the most common and confusing scenarios girls encounter. The Q & A format is highly effective and Annie Fox’s approach is non-judgmental and positive. Fox encourages readers to be introspective and reflective before taking action, which is a wonderful practice and tool in handling a variety of relationships.

Publisher’s Synopsis:  A new girl stole my bff! What do I do? • Why does she keep breaking promises? • Are they really “just kidding?” • Why is my friend being so mean? • How do I find new friends?! • Why are people mean to each other?

When you’ve got great questions like these, you need great answers—ASAP! But where do you find them? Right here in The Girls’ Q&A Book on Friendship: 50 Ways to Fix a Friendship Without the DRAMA

50 puzzling friendship questions from real girls, each one insightfully illustrated

50 clear answers to help you make your next best move

25 Super Friend secrets from older girls

5 Quizzes to test your friendship skills

Annie Fox has written a book that gives 8–12-year-old girls the tools and confidence to handle any friendship challenge with courage, empathy and respect. Because that’s the kind of girl the world needs more of!

Ages 8-12| 136 pages | Electric Eggplant | October 2014 | ISBN: 978-1502353443  

The Care and Keeping of You 1: The Body Book for Younger Girls

By Valorie Schaefer,  Illustrated by Josee Masse (Medical consultant, Cara Natterson, M.D.)

TCBR Take: The Care and Keeping of You series is a staple guide for young girls and a favorite amongst healthcare professionals, parents, and teachers. The information is factual, detailed, and for some girls, too personal to comfortably discuss openly, which is why having a straightforward guide like this is extremely helpful. The chapters are organized simply by body area, which allows for easy accessibility to information. The illustrations and varying fonts temper the subject matter appropriately for the targeted age range.

Publisher’s Synopsis: Our best-selling body book for girls just got even better! With all-new illustrations and updated content for girls ages 8 and up, it features tips, how-tos, and facts from the experts. You’ll find answers to questions about your changing body, from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to bras, periods to pimples, and everything in between. Once you feel comfortable with what’s happening, you’ll be ready to move on to the The Care & Keeping of You 2!

Ages 8 and up | 104 pages | American Girl | March 2012 | ISBN: 978-1609580834

The Care and Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls

By Cara Natterson, M.D., Illustrated by Josee Masse

TCBR Take: This book goes into more depth on the topics covered in The Care and Keeping of You 1 , delving into not only the “what” but also the “why” and “how” to deal with the sometimes volatile and uncontrollable emotional state of preadolescence. In addition, there’s more emphasis on taking good care of the mind, body and spirit, by advocating for things such as good sleep and body image. In both of these books, knowledge is imparted to young girls with the message of living a healthful life with positive self-esteem and confidence.

Publisher’s Synopsis : This thoughtful advice book will guide you through the next steps of growing up. With illustrations and expert contributors, this book covers new questions about periods, your growing body, peer pressure, personal care, and more! Written by Dr. Cara Natterson for girls 10 and up, The Care & Keeping of You 2 follows up the original bestseller with even more in-depth details about the physical and emotional changes you’re going through.

Ages 10 and up | 96 pages | American Girl | February 2013 | ISBN-13: 978-1609580421

How Rude! The Teen Guide to Good Manners, Proper Behavior, and Not Grossing People Out

By Alex J. Packer, PH.D.

TCBR Take : This detailed reference guide for teenagers is suitable for both boys and girls and covers topics ranging from basic table manners to Facebook etiquette. At almost 500 pages, it is a comprehensive and practical source that utilizes frankness and humor to address relevant and current issues. The format and writing style is entertaining, which is a brilliant and innocuous approach for the targeted teenage audience.

Publisher’s Synopsis: Explaining etiquette from A (“Applause”) to Z (“Zits”), Alex J. Packer blends outrageous humor with sound advice as he guides readers and explains why manners and etiquette are important—because people who know how to handle themselves in social situations come out on top, get what they want, feel good about themselves, and enjoy life to the fullest. Full of practical tips for every occasion, How Rude! is a serious etiquette encyclopedia—and a hilarious read. In 480 pages, this revised and updated edition describes the basics of polite behavior in all kinds of situations at home, in school, online, and in the world .  

Ages 13 and up | 480 pages | Free Spirit Publishing | May 2014 | ISBN 978-1-57542-454-5

This list of “Five Guide Books for Girls on Body Changes, Growing Up, Friendships, and Etiquette” was curated by Gi Hallmark. Follow along with our Health Books for Kids and Books for Girls category to discover more great books just like these ones.

• X (Twitter)

Gi Hallmark, founder of The Children's Blog, is a freelance writer and mother of two lovely girls. She currently resides in Charlotte, NC, where she enjoys reading and reporting about a variety of children’s topics. For more information, visit: www.thechildrensblog.com or follow @thechildrnsblog on Twitter.

A great bunch of books for teen girls. I love the How Rude book the best. Some really need help with rudeness, in my opinion!

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Prepare for Your Child's Puberty Lesson at School. Shop Now!

“Our goal is that children everywhere will have the knowledge to make wise choices in the care of their bodies.” – Dr. M

I’m a Girl: My Changing Body (8-9 yrs.)

Describes the early signs of puberty including breast buds, body odor change, and a change in emotions.

Description

I’m a Girl, My Changing Body is the second book in the Girl Series ( 8-9 years old)

Your daughter is starting to notice changes in her body, and you see her growing up before your eyes.

This is the first of two books that talk about puberty. This book is for young girls, 8-9 years old, who are entering early puberty.

The storyline in this book is a continuation from the first book in the series, I’m a Girl, Special Me . Now, the three girls are a little older, and Dr. M uses colorful and accurate illustrations to teach them about the physical changes they can expect as they enter puberty. These changes include breast buds, a change in body odor, and a change in emotions.

Here are a few pages from the book

What Our Readers Say…

By Moriwaki via Amazon

My wife heard Dr. Metten speak at a parent education night and bought the book there. We left it laying about so of course our kids picked it up and devoured it. The text and images are clear and informative and give simple medical explanations for changes. The anatomy drawings are also very clear and present information in a non-judgmental way. This book opened up a lot of discussion over the last couple of years with our children, and also answered questions they might not have thought to ask (body odor, budding etc.) allowing them to come to us to answer questions instead of guessing or relying on notoriously mis-informed elementary school peers. Highly recommend. Easy, accurate book for kids to be able to read to understand their anatomy and development.

By Kindle Customer via Amazon

I bought this book for my 8 year old daughter, and it’s absolutely perfect for what I was looking for. It explains the beginning stages of puberty through a cute story line, with three girls (not all white, which I appreciate!) and their interaction with a family friend who is a doctor. It’s scientifically accurate without going into too much detail, and doesn’t introduce sex or intimacy, which is something my daughter isn’t quite ready for, yet. I definitely recommend if for parents/guardians wanting to start paving the way for these important conversations.

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Comparing Similar Puberty Changes in Boys (Age 11+)

26 Children's Books That Foster A Healthy Body Image In Kids

Senior Reporter, HuffPost Life

Developing a positive body image lays a strong foundation for success in kids.

While there are many things parents can do to promote self-esteem and body acceptance, one of the most powerful ways to enrich children’s minds and teach valuable lessons is through books.

With this in mind, we’ve rounded up 26 children’s books that foster a healthy sense of body image in kids.

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The Care & Keeping of You 1: The #1 Body Book for Younger Girls

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The Care & Keeping of You 2 Book

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Just For You

Fresh ideas and advice for the next generation of growing girls

Filled with head-to-toe answers to girls' questions, from hair care to healthy eating, periods to pimples, and more

Designed and written for girls ages 8-10 who are wondering about all the changes their bodies are going through

Features how-tos, facts from the experts, and letters written to American Girl from real girls looking to learn

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28 best self-improvement books of all time for life-changing reading

I only share books I know and love. If you buy through my links, I may earn a commission (learn more).

You can listen to podcasts, watch documentaries, or book a coaching session, but one of the best ways to transform your life is timeless: reading books.

The impact that self-improvement books have had on my life is massive . I’ve turned to them for inspiration, courage, and actionable tactics to help me get to where I dream of being, whether that’s moving abroad, starting businesses, or overcoming lifelong shyness.

In this post, I’ve curated the best self-improvement books of all time , including the best productivity books , self-help books , and inspiring non-fiction to change your life.

Browse the categories below to find the best recommendations, take your pick, and feel inspired by these motivating books in the year ahead.

(For the latest bestsellers, you can also enjoy my list of the best personal growth books to read in 2024 .)

The best self-improvement books ever written

Prioritize what matters, the one thing by gary keller and jay papasan.

Read  The ONE Thing   for … a fantastic reminder of the power of focus and single-tasking in your life and work.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unfocused, The ONE Thing  is one of the best personal development books to read next. It’ll show you how to  identify and prioritize the one task that will make everything else easier .

As millions of readers have discovered, this can change everything . I read this productivity book early in my twenties and it’s stuck with me ever since.

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

Read  Four Thousand Weeks   for…  an inspiring read that will encourage you to look at the bigger picture and think about what’s most important during your time on earth.

This  life-changing book  is about productivity, but  a different type of productivity  than the definition we’re used to.

Oliver Burkeman defines productivity as prioritising what matters to us in the grand scheme of things: the four thousand weeks we have to live our lives. It’s such a fantastic book – I think everyone should read it.

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

Read  Essentialism  for…  a powerful reminder of the value of doing less (and doing the right things).

I read  Essentialism  just after  The ONE Thing , and the two books share the message that simplicity and a narrow focus are the best tools for productivity . I really needed to hear this twice. If you do too, I’d wholeheartedly recommend reading both books – they’re equally fantastic.

Build habits

Atomic habits by james clear.

Read  Atomic Habits   for…  one of the best self-improvement books of all time about changing your habits and your life.

How could I not mention Atomic Habits in a list of the best personal development books? This five-star bestseller is your guide to the habits, thoughts, and systems that will get you where you want to be .

Whether you want to feel fitter, write every day, change careers, or anything else, the book and its huge readership show that daily habits really can transform your life. If you already love it, here’s my pick of the best books like Atomic Habits .

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-free Productivity by David Allen

Read  Getting Things Done  for…  a reminder that productivity correlates with how relaxed and clear-headed you feel.

Getting Things Done  is one of the best self-improvement books of all time to help you organize your mind, create systems for success, and get more done.

The main takeaways from the book? 1) Get things out of your head and onto lists or systems. 2) If you can do something in less than two minutes, do it now .

Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention – and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari

Read Stolen Focus for… a crucial guide to winning back your focus and paying attention in a world that wants to distract you.

Have you lost your ability to pay attention? As one of the most popular personal development books to read in 2023, Stolen Focus is Johann Hari’s groundbreaking examination of why so many of us can’t focus – and how to regain the art of thinking deeply .

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport

Read  Deep Work   for…  an in-depth look at one of the best tools to stand out and reach your goals in today’s age of distraction: your focus.

Cal Newport is one of the very best writers of productivity books . I read his advice throughout high school, university, and my business journey – it’s influenced so many of my habits and routines, especially his writing in Deep Work .

This is an essential guide for  anyone seeking focused success  and joyfully slow, imaginative ways of thinking in our fast-paced and distracted world.

Get motivated

Tools of titans: the tactics, routines, and habits of billionaires, icons, and world-class performers by tim ferriss.

Read Tools of Titans for… the tactics, routines, and high-leverage tools of world-famous athletes, creative minds, and other icons, delivered in a book that’s perfect to read in bite-sized chunks for daily inspiration.

Like millions of others, I’ve long been a fan of Tim Ferriss’s podcast. His books are also instant purchases for me. I think Tools of Titans is his best book for life advice, productivity tips, and tactics from world-class performers to apply to your own life.

You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero

Read You Are a Badass for… a kick in the pants and a reminder that you are capable of so much when you stop playing small.

I needed to read this book at the  start of my twenties . Sure, it’s got a really cheesy title, but  You Are a Badass  gave me the push I needed to  shake up my life  (in my case, leaving a job that made me feel like rubbish and starting my own business).

With tough love and honesty, Jen Sincero writes some of the best self-improvement books to help you overcome your self-doubt and get out of a rut.

Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins

Read Awaken the Giant Within for… Tony Robbins’s bestselling personal development book that will either change your life… or make you feel like you’re watching an infomercial.

The main takeaways? You can transform your life by changing your beliefs to ones that empower you , identifying your values, and focusing on what’s in your control. There’s a huge amount of actionable advice in this book to put into practice.

Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins

Read Can’t Hurt Me  for… one of the best motivational books you can read when you feel stuck and want to change your life.

David Goggins’s bestselling debut is one of the best books to transform your life fast , especially if there are problems that you have the power to change. It won’t be gentle and there will be cursing, but it’ll get you moving pronto.

Stop Living on Autopilot: Take Responsibility for Your Life and Rediscover a Bolder, Happier You by Antonio Neves

Read Stop Living on Autopilot for… your wake-up call to stop coasting and make courageous changes in your life.

If you love reading self-help books that make you want to take action, read this bestseller from success coach Antonio Neves.

Stop Living on Autopilot is an inspiring book to help you recommit to your life, find your drive, and take action in the next 30 days . Rather than focusing on quick fixes and short bursts of inspiration, it’s all about setting the groundwork for lasting happiness.

Think Big: Take Small Steps and Build the Future You Want by Dr Grace Lordan

Read   Think Big   for… the inspiration to think bigger and take bolder leaps in the year ahead, starting with small steps that compound to create big changes.

How would your life change if you started thinking bigger? If you dreamed bigger dreams , set bigger goals, and made bigger changes?

This is one of the most inspiring personal development books you can read. I love Dr Grace Lordan’s advice on taking ambitious and actionable steps to build the future you want.

Leave your comfort zone

The comfort crisis: embrace discomfort to reclaim your wild, happy, healthy self by michael easter.

Read   The Comfort Crisis   for…  one of the best non-fiction books of recent years, revealing the evolutionary mind and body benefits of living at the edges of your comfort zone and reconnecting with the wild.

The Comfort Crisis  is one of the most inspiring and engaging non-fiction books I’ve read in the last couple of years. It’s also fascinating. Pick up a copy and learn how  embracing discomfort  is actually a path to reclaiming your happiest and healthiest self.

Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness by Steve Magness

Read Do Hard Things for… a tough-love guide to achieving your biggest goals in the face of challenges, adversity, and discomfort.

What does resilience really mean? According to Steve Magness, performance expert and author, we usually get it wrong.

Do Hard Things is his exploration of the science of real toughness and how you can work with your body to transcend discomfort and find strength you never knew you had.

The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer by Steven Kotler

Read The Art of Impossible for… lessons from the elite performers – athletes, artists, scientists, CEOs, and more – who have changed the definition of what’s possible.

What are you truly capable of? A lot , explains Steven Kotler in this inspiring guide to peak performance. The Art of Impossible will show you how to stretch your potential, exceed your expectations, and achieve your most impossible dreams .

Memento mori

The emperor’s handbook: a new translation of the meditations of marcus aurelius.

Read  Meditations  for…  what’s thought to be the first self-help book of all time, written as private journal entries two thousand years ago. I love The Emperor’s Handbook translation by Scot and David Hicks.

Thanks to bestselling writers like Ryan Holiday , the Stoics have surged in popularity over the last decade. Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations is one of the most accessible starting points, and it’s full of wisdom that’s just as relevant today .

Including advice on overcoming anxiety, navigating low self-esteem, and even getting out of bed, turn to this bible of Stoic wisdom whenever you’re feeling lethargic, lost, or under the weather.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Read  When Breath Becomes Air  for…  one of the most moving memoirs about the beauty and fragility of life by Paul Kalanithi.

This isn’t a standard self-improvement book, but reading it will absolutely transform your life – and remind you of the importance of making the most of the time you have .

As Paul Kalanithi shares in this remarkable book, one day he was a doctor treating the dying, and the next he was a patient coming to terms with the little time he had left. When Breath Becomes Air became an instant classic – and still deserves a place on every bookshelf.

Nurture creativity and play

Big magic: creative living beyond fear by elizabeth gilbert.

Read  Big Magic  for…  one of the best books about creativity to inspire you to step forward with your ideas and dreams.

Big Magic  is my go-to book for   nurturing creativity . When I need inspiration, courage, or a kick in the pants, I pick up my well-annotated paperback copy   (or listen to the  fantastic audiobook  read by Liz Gilbert.)

The main message of the book is that you are creative just by being a human. And you can create, be, and do so much during your lifetime. If someone else is doing the things you dream of, why can’t you?

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Read The Artist’s Way for… Julia Cameron’s classic guide to nurturing creativity and a clear mind.

Even if you haven’t heard of Julia Cameron, you might have heard of “morning pages”, her strategy for putting pen to paper first thing in the morning as a sort of “spiritual windshield wipers” .

Described by Tim Ferriss as “the most cost-effective therapy I’ve ever found”, you can read all about this in The Artist’s Way book and accompanying journal .

Be a good person

Rules for a knight by ethan hawke.

Read  Rules for a Knight  for…  award-winning actor Ethan Hawke’s timeless guide to life’s most important questions, channeling the ancient teachings of Eastern and Western philosophy.

Written as an unforgettable fable, this wonderful book is told from the perspective of a knight who, fearing he may not return from battle, wants to leave a record of all he knows.

What follows is  a compass for his children to live good, meaningful lives  in his absence – and  a life-changing book  for readers young and grown. The timeless words are brimming with wisdom, and the lovely hardcover makes for a perfect gift.

Look after your body and mind

The body keeps the score by bessel van der kolk.

Read The Body Keeps the Score  for… one of the most popular  books about trauma  and the mind-body connection, reaching bestseller lists and helping millions.

One of the  most recommended books by therapists , The Body Keeps the Score is a fascinating guide to the little-known connections between body and mind .

As you read the book, you’ll be more conscious of how you feel in your body – how you’re holding your breath, feeling tense in your shoulders, or tightening muscles. The  On Being podcast episode with Bessel Van Der Kolk  is fabulous too.

Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach

Read Radical Acceptance for…  Tara Brach’s timeless guide to inner freedom and a more compassionate world.

Tara Brach is one of the very best writers on mindfulness and loving-kindness, especially here in Radical Acceptance .

This infinitely wise book is your invitation to embrace every moment of your life and aspect of yourself. As thousands of five-star reviews endorse, it’s a life-changing book.

The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim

Read The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down for… a beautifully illustrated and gently wise book about slowing down and noticing the beauty in the world.

If you want to breathe more deeply, open your heart, and  calm your anxiety , this delightful guide by Haemin Sunim is one of my top recommendations.

It’s one of the best self-help books for  soothing and beautiful writing  that’s brimming with wisdom, reassurance, and comfort when you need it most. I love to open the book to a random page for peace and reflection on busy days.

Nurture your relationships

The course of love by alain de botton.

Read The Course of Love  for… one of the most impactful books you can read about navigating the ups and downs of romantic relationships.

Although The Course of Love  is structured as a novel, it’s interjected with The School of Life philosopher Alain de Botton’s trademark comments on the psychology, sociology, and philosophy of love.

It’s a guidebook to love , really, and offers fascinating answers to the questions that definitely aren’t covered in school: why is love never smooth sailing? Why do our partners infuriate us? And why is our partner so uniquely infuriating? 

Come as You Are by Dr Emily Nagoski

Read   Come as You Are   for…  the most accessible and confidence-boosting exploration of female pleasure you can read.

Any woman – and just as importantly, anyone in a relationship with a woman – should read Come as You Are .

With groundbreaking science and research into previously uncharted territory, Emily Nagoski has created a book that’s so full of a-ha moments, it  might just change your romantic relationships .

Create a balanced life

How to keep house while drowning by kc davis.

Read How to Keep House While Drowning for… a gentle approach to cleaning and organizing your home that realizes just how difficult it can be.

From illness to postpartum exhaustion and ADHD, there are a million different reasons why it’s so hard to stay on top of housework.

Written by KC Davis, a therapist and busy mother of two, the book will introduce you to six principles that will revolutionize the way you approach home care – without a single to-do list – and return your home to the sanctuary you deserve.

At Your Best: How to Get Time, Energy, and Priorities Working in Your Favor by Carey Nieuwhof

Read At Your Best for… an actionable self-help book about time management (but also energy management) that will get you in the best position for success.

What does it look and feel like when you’re at your best in your work, relationships, and health?

With a holistic view of the pillars behind peak performance, At Your Best is one of the best self-improvement books of all time for getting your time, energy, and priorities working in your favor.

For more of the best personal development books of all time , you might also like:

• 11 best new personal growth books to read in 2024
• 5 books to help you set your resolutions in January
• 15 best productivity books for 2023 (& all time)
• 15 life-changing books that will stay with you forever

Lucy Fuggle is a professional writer, reader, and creator of Tolstoy Therapy. Drawing on her love for books and a degree in English Literature, she started Tolstoy Therapy in 2012 and has shared the most feel-good, cozy, and beautiful books for over a decade. After working as a content specialist with leading companies for nearly 10 years, she now focuses on her own websites and books ( Mountain Song , Your Life in Bloom , and Simple Business ). She grew up in England and now lives in Denmark with her husband. For more book recommendations, subscribe to Tolstoy Therapy's weekly email to inspire your reading list.

20 Best Books About Puberty for Boys to Navigate Preteen and Teen Changes

Puberty is weird and confusing for boys and girls alike. It’s awkward for both parents and teens to address all the changes tweens and teens experience during puberty from fluctuating hormones and new feelings to physical changes like stretch marks , body hair — and of course — that new body odor smell.

Talking about puberty with kids can be especially rough for boys who may not have a dad or other male figure in their life to guide them through the trials and tribulations of growing up. Sex ed classes at school often aren’t enough to really cover the different emotional and social changes that happen to preteen boys during this time.

If you want to help your son learn about puberty without embarrassing them, there are tons of great educational books about puberty out there that break it down. A book can be an option to help you and your child navigate puberty smartly rather than have them get upset or call you “cringy.” 

Related: Guide to Puberty for a Growing Teenage Boy

Let’s take a look at our favorite 20 books about puberty for boys that can help bridge the discomfort. Here are some of the best puberty books that cover everything from growth spurts to personal hygiene to sexuality to having healthy relationships.

Editor’s Note: We know raising kids can be hard. That’s why we’re dedicated to making your life easier with the latest and greatest parenting advice and products. We wanted to let you know that if you chose to purchase one of the items featured in this post, we may receive a small commission for it.

Best Puberty Books About Physical Changes for Boys

From growing pains to constant hunger to facial hair, here are 8 books that help explain the physical changes that boys go through during puberty.

1. “Boy’s Guide To Becoming a Teen: Getting Used to Life in Your Changing Body” by the American Medical Association

The American Medical Association developed this useful book that provides answers to the most common health questions boys have about their developing bodies. Backed by trusted sources, this book educates parents and their children about the reproductive system, proper nutrition, skincare, relationships, feelings and more.

Get it on Amazon

2. “What’s Going On Down There?: A Boy’s Guide To Growing Up” by Karen Gravelle

This illustrated puberty guide is written as though an older brother is teaching his younger brother about what’s going on down there. It gives honest advice and practical information about body changes, confidence, smart choices about sex, consent, safe social media use, body image and sexual harassment.

3.  “ What’s Happening To Me?: An Illustrated Guide To Puberty” by Peter Mayle

A classic book about puberty that helps answer the big questions that kids ask. It has a lighthearted and reliable approach that allows parents and caregivers to discuss topics such as what an erection is, why we get pimples, what a wet dream is and why hair grows in places it never did.

4. “Growing Up For Boys” by Alex Frith

This is a great book to educate boys and parents about the physical, mental and emotional changes that occur during puberty. It offers advice on how to manage and prepare for those changes while maintaining a sense of confidence as they transition into adulthood.

5. “So That’s What’s Happening: An Illustrated Guide to Your Changing Body” by Gina Dawson

This illustrated puberty guide is a factual, relaxed, and down-to-earth book that gives parents and their preteens or teenager the appropriate information about the changes that happen during puberty. It preaches that everyone is different and that is completely okay and normal. 

Topics that the book covers include body changes, how the male and female reproductive systems work, how sperms meet an egg, erections, moods, and family relationships.

Get it on Amazon  

6. “Help Your Kids with Growing Up: A No-Nonsense Guide to Puberty and Adolescence” by Robert Winston

As the title says, this book demystifies and destigmatizes the confusing process of puberty. It prepares parents and eases their worry about the uncertain teenage years and allows them to feel confident about their children growing up. It covers topics that are relevant to today’s kids such as social media, sexting, cyber security, identity and gender.  

7. “The (Nearly) Teenage Boy’s Guide to (Almost) Everything” by Dr. Sharie Coombes

This puberty book is extremely unique because it is co-written by a child, adolescent & family psychotherapist, Dr. Sharie Coombes uses her neuroscience expertise to help boys understand themselves. This guide includes chapters on hormones, changing bodies, family, relationships, stress and family.

8. “What’s Happening to My Body? Book for Boys: Revised Edition” by Lynda Madaras with Area Madaras

Lynda Madaras’ “What’s Happening to My Body” is a straightforward book that educates parents and their children about essential puberty information. It explains why the body changes size and shape, the importance of diet and exercise, and what happens during a growth spurt. 

Best Books About Personal Hygiene for Boys

The life of a teenager is busy and complicated. It may also mean they’ll forgo their personal hygiene habits . Here are 4 books to help boys understand the importance of taking care of themselves.

1. “Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys” By Cara Natterson

This male puberty guide is written by a pediatrician. “The Body Book for Boys” is great for giving answers about body hair, acne, voice changes, and other male body changes during puberty. It also provides tips and advice about healthy eating, personal hygiene habits and how to take care of themselves.

2. "The Body Book for Boys” by Rebecca Paley, Jonathan Mar and Grace Norwich

This detailed puberty guide gives straightforward tips and information for boys about their growing bodies. It covers topics from bad breath, vocal changes, braces, acne, girls, and relationships to shaving. It’s a great conversation starter about embarrassing questions including illustrations, bullet points, Q&As and a few quizzes

3. “Personal Hygiene? What’s that Got to Do with Me?” by Pat Crissey

This book was developed for children with autism , Asperger’s Syndrome, and learning and developmental disabilities. It provides easy-to-understand information explains how others view someone who neglects personal hygiene. It includes hands-on activities with worksheets, cartoons and quizzes to help reinforce the information. 

4. “Growing Up Great!: The Ultimate Puberty Book for Boys” by Scott Todnem

This book focuses on helping boys transition through puberty as healthily and confidently as possible. It discusses all the health changes that occur with a focus on hygiene and coping mechanisms to deal with difficult emotions such as exercise and mindfulness. 

Books That Teach Boys About Sex and Dating

Puberty is an exciting time because that’s when your child may start to develop romantic feelings and impulses for others. It’s important for parents to teach boys about things like sexuality, safe sex , consent , and how to have healthy relationships as a teen and an adult. Here are 8 books that teach boys about sex and dating.

1. “Sex, Puberty, and All That Stuff: A Guide To Growing Up” by Jacqui Bailey

This book includes sections for girls and boys so that one gender can learn about the other. Topics include contraception, dating and sexual activity, pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and homosexual impulses.

2. “It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health” by Robie Harris

This reassuring book gives a respectful look at puberty questions and provides the appropriate information to young people so they can make responsible choices. Topics range from gender identity, emergency contraception, sexually transmitted infections, conception and birth control. 

3. “Middle School Makeover: Improving the Way You and Your Child Experience the Middle School Years” By Michelle Icard

Middle school is rough but this book can help. Author Michelle Icard wrote this book to provide an in-depth look at the current issues that middle schoolers face today. It provides a research-based thorough explanation of neurological development that occurs within the adolescent brain. Topics include social media , peer exclusion, dating, identity, and social dilemmas.

4. “The Boys Body Book: Fourth Edition: Everything You Need to Know for Growing Up YOU! (Boys & Girls Body Books)” by Kelli Dunham, RN, BSN

Written by a nurse and stand-up comic, this book provides the honest truth about what goes on inside and outside of a boy’s body during puberty. It covers changes in life, relationships and the body and topics such as texting and social media, friendship and peer pressure, leadership and more.

5. “Does This Happen to Everyone?: A Budding Adult’s Guide to Puberty” by Jan Von Holleben and Antje Helms

This book answers 70 questions young people have about sex, sexuality, love, crushes and puberty. It normalizes sexuality and provides the appropriate sex education that many parents may feel uncomfortable teaching their kids about.

6. “The Teenage Guy’s Survival Guide: The Real Deal on Going Out, Growing Up, and Other Guy Stuff” by Jeremy Daldry

In today’s social media-driven world, this book gives the real deal about all the different issues guys want to know about growing up. It covers topics and gives advice about dating, sexuality, kissing, emotions, peer pressure, shaving and drugs. 

7. “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Puberty―and Shouldn’t Be Googling: For Curious Boys” by Morris Katz

This illustrated graphic novel informs and entertains boys aged 10 and up about body changes, health, personal hygiene and sexuality. It dives into the issues that young people currently face such as cyberbullying , masturbation, consent, social media, Internet porn, feminism and toxic masculinity. 

8. "Wait, What?: A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up" by Heather Corinna and Isabella Rotman

This comic book guide revolves around the lives of five friends as they talk about everything that they're going through, physically, mentally and emotionally. Some of the tricky subjects include sexual and gender identity, crushes, relationships, boundaries, consent, body image, gender roles and stereotypes.

For even more resources to help teach boys about puberty and sex check out: Teen Stretch Marks and Growing Pains: Causes and Treatments . 

About Katharine

24 Life-Changing Healing Books

Alice Nuttall

Alice Nuttall (she/her) is a writer, pet-wrangler and D&D nerd. Her reading has got so out of control that she had to take a job at her local library to avoid bankrupting herself on books - unfortunately, this has just resulted in her TBR pile growing until it resembles Everest. Alice's webcomic, writing and everything else can be found at https://linktr.ee/alicenuttallbooks

View All posts by Alice Nuttall

If you’re looking for help with a specific health problem, then there are clinical guides that can support professional therapy and medical help. Want to work on building motivation and positive feelings in your day-to-day life? There are books which give you a toolkit to achieve this. If you’re feeling alone, reading memoirs of others who have been through similar tough times can help. And fiction is always a good way to explore how other humans have processed the difficult times in life.

While this rundown of healing books can’t fix the problems of the current world, they can help you feel a little better, and perhaps contribute to your own healing.

Self-Help and Self-Care Healing Books

Hell Yeah Self-Care! A Trauma-Informed Workbook by Alex Iantaffi and Meg-John Barker

Journalling can be a great way to work through things that are bothering you and find ways to build the life you want, but sometimes the concept can be a bit daunting. In this workbook, there are writing prompts and many other activities that will help you work on mindfulness and build self-care into every aspect of your life.

The Trans Self-Care Workbook: A Coloring Book and Journal for Trans and Non-Binary People by Theo Nicole Lorenz

It’s currently a scary time for trans people all across the world, and while self-care can’t effect serious systemic change, it can provide some small relief from the onslaught of everyday life. Lorenz’s book celebrates trans joy, teaches body neutrality and positivity, looks at building and maintaining relationships, and has plenty of awesome colouring pages and journaling prompts.

Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang

In a world where we’re primed to see rest as a luxury or indulgence, focusing on taking time out for ourselves is a crucial part of healing from overwork, stress, and the other impacts of capitalist society on our mental and physical health. In this book, Pang argues for frequent rest as a necessity for human health and fulfillment, using examples from history as well as plenty of scientific backing.

The Black Girl’s Guide To Self-Care: A 30-Day Self-Care Workbook by Kristin D. Hemingway

Systemic racism and societal pressures have taken an immense toll on the physical and mental health of Black women and girls, and while self-care cannot solve these society-wide problems, it is still a radical and important act. This workbook teaches Black women and girls to centre themselves and focus on their joy, instead of constantly putting others’ wants first; with plenty of practical exercises to create a personalised self-care plan, this book is an important part of your toolkit towards self-healing.

Light Magic for Dark Times: More than 100 Spells, Rituals, and Practices for Coping in a Crisis by Lisa Marie Basile

I’ve written before about my journey back into witchcraft as a way of feeling some kind of control while the world burns. One of the best books I found during this journey is Light Magic for Dark Times , a practical guide for witches who want to engage in self-healing, world-healing and political magic. With spells for everything healing-related, including one to recharge after activism, this book is empowering in every sense of the word.

A Spell in the Wild: A Year (and Six Centuries) of Magic by Alice Tarbuck

Another fantastic book for people who want to explore magical empowerment for the first time, or go deeper into their magical practice, A Spell in the Wild details writer and witch Alice Tarbuck’s year gaining a deeper connection to her own magic. Tarbuck talks about the healing aspect of getting back in touch with nature, as well as exploring why witchcraft has had a recent resurgence amongst people feeling the pressures of modern life.

Brown Girl Like Me: The Essential Guidebook and Manifesto for South Asian Girls and Women by Jaspreet Kaur

In this healing manifesto aimed at South Asian women and girls, Jaspreet Kaur looks at tackling social and life problems piece by piece, avoiding overwhelm and burnout. Brown Girl Like Me combines interviews with inspirational women and pragmatic advice, looking at feminism, microaggressions, and body confidence, amongst many other topics.

You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience: An anthology , edited by Tarana Burke and Brené Brown

#MeToo founder and campaigner Tarana Burke and academic/podcaster Brené Brown join forces in this empowering, healing book. Exploring Black vulnerability and resilience in a society where Black people are targets of systemic and institutional violence, the book collects essays from several well-known Black contributors, including Laverne Cox, Imani Perry and Austin Channing Brown.

Memoirs About Healing

What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo

Foo’s memoir is a heavy but ultimately healing book, recounting her diagnosis with complex PTSD following an abusive childhood. Following neglect and parental abandonment, Foo lived an outwardly successful life, but was dealing with the impact of her parents’ abuse; What My Bones Know deals with her journey to heal from her past. The memoir looks at different kinds of therapy, as well as the subject of generational trauma, and while it’s a hard read, it’s ultimately hopeful.

Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay

Renowned feminist writer Roxane Gay has written many spectacular essay collections, but Hunger is a stand-out book about trauma, healing and recovery. After experiencing an act of horrific sexual violence as a teenager, Gay struggled with her physical and mental health for years. Hunger looks at trauma, fatphobia in society, and how to reclaim your right to take up space.

Hijab Butch Blues: A Memoir by Lamya H.

In this memoir, Lamya H. writes about the tensions she experienced growing up, both as a queer Muslim and as a South Asian woman in a Middle Eastern country. As a teenager, Lamya attempted to hide her sexuality, but after moving to the United States, she was able to come out. Hijab Butch Blues follows Lamya as she draws on her faith to build her sense of identity and understand her sexuality.

The Apology by V

Written by the author of The Vagina Monologues , The Apology is a tough read, but an ultimately uplifting and healing one. As a child, V was first sexually and then physically abused by her father, violations which, understandably, had a massive impact on her life, causing her to become angry and engage in many self-destructive behaviours as a teen and young adult. After becoming a successful writer and feminist activist, V realised that, although her father was long-dead, she could write the apology that she had always hoped he would give her, and find healing and closure through her own words.

Transitional by Munroe Bergdorf

Part memoir, part essay collection, Transitional is Munroe Bergdorf’s exploration of how we all transition in different ways throughout our lives. Bergdorf reflects on her life growing up as a young Black trans woman in the UK, coming out at university and the beginning of her modelling career, but also looks more broadly at sex, race, gender and politics. Transitional is a thought-provoking read, with the uplifting message that it is always possible to live authentically.

Behind Bars by Lady Unchained

After trying to defend her sister from being attacked in a bar, Lady Unchained was sent to prison. During the 11 months of her sentence, she began writing poetry as a way to process the trauma and isolation of her time inside. Behind Bars explores the racism and violence of the prison system, but also the resilience of incarcerated people.

Medical and Mental Healing Books

Break Free from OCD: Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder with CBT by Dr. Fiona Challacombe, Dr. Victoria Bream Oldfield and Paul M Salkovskis

As someone living with OCD, I know how consuming intrusive thoughts and compulsive rituals can be. Healing from OCD is a struggle, but it’s possible, and Break Free From OCD is recommended by a huge number of OCD charities and specialists as one of the best books to support recovery. The techniques in the book will be helpful for everyone dealing with OCD patterns, or other kinds of obsessive thoughts and anxieties.

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr. Julie Smith

Clinical psychologist Julie Smith has plenty of experience helping people with mental illness, or people who are struggling with low mood and difficult thoughts. Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? gives the reader useful tools on dealing with anxiety, managing guilt, and learning how to become more confident. Designed for readers to dip into based on what they’re currently concerned about, this book is a helpful healing guide for everyone.

Needing to Know for Sure: A CBT-Based Guide to Overcoming Compulsive Checking and Reassurance Seeking by Martin N. Seif, PhD and Sally M. Winston, PsyD

Uncertainty is one of the most difficult things to deal with (in my experience, at least) — and sadly, almost nothing in life is certain. If you, like me, have issues with repeated checking and a desperation to finally find absolute certainty that, deep down, you know you’ll never be able to achieve, this book will help. With CBT-based practices built from clinical experience, Needing to Know for Sure will help you break the cycle of checking.

Self-Care for People with ADHD: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Prioritize You! by Sasha Hamdani, MD

Neurodivergence isn’t a mental illness, but living as a neurodivergent person in a neurotypical world can make it much more likely that you deal with anxiety, depression, and other consequences of stress. In Self-Care for People with ADHD , Sasha Hamdani, MD describes ways to negotiate life without hiding your neurodivergence, radical self-acceptance, and how to find people who support you.

Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works by Evelyn Tribole, M.S., R.D. and Elyse Resch, M.S., R.D., F.A.D.A.

Diet culture is toxic, and restrictive eating is hugely damaging, but such a central part of modern society. Intuitive Eating is a fantastic healing resource for anyone who wants to reset their relationship with food, building a healthy, stress-free attitude to eating rather than keeping a damaging focus on restriction and calorie-counting. The book is useful for everyone who has struggled with food and eating, whether they’ve experienced eating disorders or are simply unhappy with their relationship with food.

I’m Telling the Truth, But I’m Lying: Essays by Bassey Ikpi

This essay-based memoir collection follows Bassey Ikpi’s journey after being diagnosed with bipolar II, her struggle with anxiety, and her creative work as a slam poet. Ikpi describes the challenges of negotiating the world while living with mental illness, her hospitalisation and recovery, and how she challenges preconceptions of “being normal”.

The Sawbones Book: The Hilarious, Horrifying Road to Modern Medicine by Justin McElroy and Sydnee McElroy

A more lighthearted offering (despite the often-gruesome subject matter), The Sawbones Book is a fun romp through medical history by the hosts of the popular Sawbones podcast. Looking at historical methods of healing, the book is frank and funny, and reminds us that, whatever the flaws with the modern medical system, at least we don’t have to deal with quite so much bloodletting or mercury.

Healing Fiction al Books

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy

Mackesy’s drawings, posted on his Instagram account, went viral during lockdown, and the short animated film based on the book was a smash hit over Christmas 2022, watched by thousands and ultimately winning an Oscar. The book is a beautifully-illustrated story featuring four unlikely friends, who are hurt and heal together, learning lessons that we can all relate to.

Are You the F**king Doctor?: Tales from the bleeding edge of medicine by Dr. Liam Farrell

Although this book is based on Liam Farrell’s real-life experience as a doctor, it falls more into the category of fiction — telling real stories would breach patient confidentiality, so instead, Farrell uses them as inspiration for fictionalised tales from the front lines of medical practice. The book is a hilarious collection of short vignettes describing interactions between a long-suffering doctor and his patients, and the oddness of life in the healing sector.

A Library of Lemons by Jo Cotterill

Healing from grief can be a long and difficult process, and fiction can sometimes be the best way to explore it. In this children’s novel, Calypso is dealing with the death of her mother, with little help from her father, who has emotionally shut down in his grief. Calypso begins to heal through her friendship with new girl Mae, but getting to know Mae’s loving family brings Calypso’s own home situation into sharp relief, causing a confrontation that shows Calypso and her father that they need to confront and process their grief.

For more literary support in healing, try our list of Literary Healing Quotes . If you want to get in touch with your emotions and work on your inner sense of self, have a look at the recommendations on our list of 16 of the Best Books on Emotional Intelligence .

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• Books About Death

25+ Best Life-Changing Books: Fiction & Nonfiction

Updated 09/28/2023

Published 12/13/2019

Cassie Barthuly, BA in English

Contributing writer

Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure .

Literature often deals with the big mysteries of life. When it comes to making the most of your life, how to change your life, and looking for new things to learn, books will provide that and more. However, there are some books that transform the way you think thanks to brilliant writing, evocative storytelling, and transformative ideas. 

We’ve compiled a list of books that range widely across genres, styles, and tastes. No matter what you like, you’re sure to find something that tickles your fancy here.

Jump ahead to these sections:

Life-changing self-help books, life-changing books about philosophy, life-changing fiction books, life-changing books about your body, health, and wellness, life-changing books about the world and history.

Self-help sometimes gets a bad rap for being too "touchy-feely." These books will help you make real changes if that’s what you want to do.

1. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert 

In Western society, we’ve put an aura of mystery around creative people. Many stories are told about the "requirements" of creativity. Living a miserable life, pushing away friends, abusing substances, possibly committing suicide seems like the cost of a creative life, yes?

Gilbert answers this with an emphatic no in Big Magic . Creativity can change your life, but if you harness it, only in good ways.

View Book on Amazon

2. Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

Hollis’ tone mimics Instagram captions: sometimes inspirational, sometimes heartfelt, always readable. She covers issues that women everywhere face.

From balancing family guilt to child-raising to careers, she covers it all. With a relatable tone and a focus on hard work, this is an easy read by Hollis. If you like this book, she wrote another called Girl, Stop Apologizing . 

3. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth 

We’ve all heard about "gifted kids." Sometimes, it turns out that gifted is just a synonym for the rich, which can be discouraging before you even start. Duckworth disagrees.

She acknowledges, of course, the benefits of having a secure home, food security, and wealthy parents. But she believes in a quality called grit, which she defines as "passion and perseverance." Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance serves as a case study in where grit can take you. 

4. Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Rhimes rocketed to TV writer fame with her work on popular shows like Grey’s Anatomy. But her scope as a writer goes beyond TV.

Year of Yes   chronicles the story of a year, in which she vowed to say "yes!" to everything that scared her. Her journey to places she couldn’t even imagine is inspiring. 

5. G’morning, G’night by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Have you heard about Lin-Manuel Miranda’s infamous positive tweets? He wishes his followers good morning and good night with quick bursts of inspiration in G'morning, G'night . With bits of wisdom like "Don’t get stuck in the comments section today," this is perfect for a quick read. 

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Sometimes, it feels like you should do a little soul-searching. Examining what you believe, and why, is an important part of getting older. 

6. Five Dialogues by Plato

In the philosophy world, Plato ranks with Socrates, Aristotle, and other greats. It’s easy to assume that his work is only digestible by geniuses.

Who sits down to read Plato on their lunch break, anyway? Surprisingly, Five Dialogues  isn’t too hard to read. With plenty of wisdom that will stretch your mind, it’s still comprehensible by the average reader. Plato focuses on life and death, two subjects that might inspire you to start end-of-life planning .

7. A Little History of Philosophy by Nigel Warburton

Philosophy is multi-faceted, crazy, and exciting. It’s been influenced by social climate, religions, wars, and independent minds that refused to conform to any mold.

It’s hard to get a handle on, though. Things have changed so much in the past decade, let alone the past millennia. The easy-to-comprehend history in A Little History of Philosophy  serves as a great intro to the world of philosophy. 

8. Nature and Selected Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Emerson was one of the greatest American essayists of all time. He examined the world through the lens of his Transcendentalist beliefs and became wiser for it. By considering how man impacts nature, and vice versa, Emerson has a lot of wisdom to share in his Nature and Selected Essays . 

9. At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails by Sarah Bakewell 

Do different schools of philosophical thought seem too highbrow for you? Consider reading this book. Bakewell’s book relies on a simple premise: personalization.

At the Existentialist Cafe   sets the stage in 1933 Paris, where a group gathers over cocktails. Each character represents a philosophical concept or school of thought: humanism, existentialism, and more. 

10. The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell 

The Problems of Philosophy  is often included in introductory philosophy syllabuses. That’s because it’s easy to read and provides breadth, not depth. If you’re a beginner to philosophy, Russell orchestrates a life-changing introduction.

View Book on Amazon  

Fiction has the power to change our worldviews, relationships, and even our lives. 

11. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Don’t be scared away by the size of this novel. Rand challenges popular conceptions of free will, mankind, and individuality in Atlas Shrugged .

By championing free will, she challenges the reader to consider just how much control they have over their own life. 

12. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

One Hundred Years of Solitude  chronicles the rise and fall of a mythical town and the people that live in it. Truth and magic, as championed by one family, take center stage in this gripping novel.

It tackles greed, wealth, the power of love all through the generations of this family who run this town.

13. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Despite the controversy sparked by Huckleberry Finn , it’s easy to dismiss it. An adventure down the Mississippi River, narrated by a boy who can’t stay out of trouble, with no doubt, many have heard about it.

But Twain uses Huck, as his boyish narrator, to examine a lot of truths about humanity. Why are we sometimes so willing to be fooled? What is honor, and why does it matter? What makes someone good? Twain examines all these questions, and more, under the guise of a romp down the Mississippi. 

14. Hamlet by William Shakespeare

One of Shakespeare’s most classic plays, Hamlet  deals with concepts of responsibility and mortality. What should filial loyalty require? How far should it go?

As a tragedy, Hamlet’s life is headed downhill from the start. But the lessons he imparts along the way, through clever twists and lengthy monologues, are unforgettable.

15. All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater

This magical realism novel deals with miracles and the desert. A wild, strange book, All the Crooked Saints  examines trauma recovery through an odd, poignant lens. In the story, the Soria family has been performing miracles for years.

Miracles are a two-part business, though. If someone comes to them to be healed from inner darkness, the Sorias can only perform one miracle. The second part, confronting and moving on from the darkness, can only be done by the pilgrim themselves. 

Making sure you have a healthy relationship with your body is crucial. 

16. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande

Gawande, a Boston surgeon, knows all about end-of-life decisions. He’s the one who sometimes has to break the tragic news to families. And while his top priority is doing so with empathy and compassion, it’s still difficult. If you’re interested in children’s books on death , this might not be a great option. But that very angle sparked Being Mortal .

It’s an examination and a critique of modern attitudes and systems set up to handle aging and end-of-life in our society. If you’d like to get a more in-depth take before you read, we’ve created a Being Mortal book review.

17. WomanCode by Alisa Vitti

Women’s health and bodies are sometimes considered taboo. WomanCode  focuses on hormonal health from a holistic perspective, which can revolutionize your body.

With a detailed plan, Vitti provides a food-based plan, not a restrictive diet. Vitti promotes listening to your body and achieving balance. Prior to writing her book, Vitti dealt with PCOS. She developed a food-based plan to help herself get better, which provided a test drive for the plan. 

18. The Sleep Revolution by Arianna Huffington

Have you ever heard anyone brag about how they don’t get enough sleep? Huffington challenges this mindset in her groundbreaking book The Sleep Revolution . The Internet brims with tips and tricks.

Turn off your devices before bed, go to sleep at the same time every night…Does any of it work? Huffington’s book isn’t another “how to get to sleep” book. It exposes societal attitudes toward sleep—often treated like a waste of time—and how that impacts every corner of our lives. 

19. Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

Sometimes, being brave is all it takes to revolutionize your health, wellness, and confidence. If you’re struggling with these things,  Daring Greatly  might be exactly what you need. If you’re an avid Netflix watcher, you might recognize this. Netflix produced and retitled it as The Call to Courage.

Brown examines the power of vulnerability. Some of us have been taught to avoid it at all costs. Brown talks about how this costs us socially, professionally, and personally. Even though it’s about vulnerability, it’s also one of the best books on grief.  

20. It Was Me All Along by Andie Mitchell

Self-love seems to be a buzzword these days. In It Was Me All Along , Mitchell examines its importance when it comes to our relationships with our bodies.

We’re all familiar with dieting slogans and fads. And that culture has produced extreme TV shows, books full of "advice," and more. But as a society, we’re slowly realizing how this approach can foster eating disorders and other issues. 

Mitchell’s book doesn’t fall into those pitfalls, though. Rather than adopting extreme measures, this is a story of balance and acceptance. 

History helps us to understand how the world we live in today came to be, and it deserves examination. 

21. Art in Time: A World History of Styles and Movements by Gauvin A. Bailey, Stella Paul, Alistair Rider, Matthew P. McElway 

Does art influence people, or do people influence art? The answer is both. Art has always been informed by the religious, social, and political climates surrounding its creation.

Art in Time  provides a comprehensive history of the art that has changed our world. 

22. The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World by Niall Ferguson

There were plenty of options to pay aside from cash, credit, or check back in the day. However, in  The Ascent of Money , Ferguson examines how the exchange of money changed the world.

Our governments are centered around economic systems, and that can change everything. Your salary, life quality, career, opportunities: They all stem back to money and economics. And that’s always been in constant flux.

Centuries ago, paper money held no sway. Plastic was unheard of. Societies relied on barter systems. But as currency changed, so did careers, personal lives, and more. 

23. The Making of the Middle Ages by R. W. Southern

The Middle Ages are often dismissed as a vague, bleak time period. That isn’t true! Southern examines the vivid Middle Ages with the attention they deserve in The Making of the Middle Ages .

By reviewing the Middle Ages, you can see how much they impacted your modern life today. At a time of religious and social conflict, they informed the way we think. From the Crusades to the Anglican Church, and more, the Middle Ages impacted Western thought more than any other time period. 

24. A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn

Many American histories can erase or ignore the stories of minority groups. Women and men of color are equally ignored when narrating a national history.

A People's History of the United States  takes a different tack, by revising popular "truths" in our history books. When reading a history book, you might wonder what isn’t being told. That happened to Zinn, too. Then he grew up and wrote a book himself, about everything that wasn’t shared in your typical U.S. history book.

25. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany by William L. Shirer

World War II influenced the modern age like no other period in history. The impact is still being felt today, and  The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich  examines how and why.

Today, we worry about past conflicts sowing seeds for future ones. Where did that come from? World War II largely sprung from World War I. And what about the women’s movement? Or the insistence on a national identity for Jews everywhere? World War II pushed all these things into motion. 

Finding The Perfect Book

You might love nonfiction books only, or love a good graphic novel. No matter what you like, definitely keep searching around. You’re sure to find a life-changing book, waiting for you on the shelves of your local library or bookstore.

Even after reading this and you’re still stumped, there are plenty of recommendations from other friends about these books. You’ll never know what changes your life until you try!

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25 Life-Changing Books That Will Leave a Lasting Impression

Posted: January 25, 2024 | Last updated: January 25, 2024

The world of books is vast and promising. There truly is a book out there for everyone, whether you believe it or not. Some texts have made a significant impact on a large amount of people, which brings us to this post. If you want to find something to read that will leave a lasting impression on your life, you can’t go wrong with any of the books discussed here. 

1. The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us From Violence by Gavin de Becker

This book gives readers permission to be harsh when advocating for their well-being, all on the premise that the fear of being rude leads us to compromise on our joy. If you struggle with people-pleasing tendencies, add this book to your shelf.  

2. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

This title may seem odd for this list, but it reminds me how the universe has always been filled with nonsense. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy teaches us to laugh at absurdity to save ourselves from drowning in despair. 

3. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

This may be a painful read, but that’s precisely why it’s crucial. The text teaches us the significance of advocacy and raising one’s voice to help others. The strength and resilience you can witness in this book is transformative.

4. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Like Orwell’s dystopian approach, Atwood’s piece takes readers to a world of a theocratic regime that policies women’s bodies. A popular read in many high schools; The Handmaid’s Tale was one of the first feminist novels that rose to critical acclaim. 

5. Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

This piece compels women to embrace the fierce attributes of their instinctual nature instead of shying away from them. You can be nurturing, motherly, and care for the home while also being a no-nonsense woman who doesn’t take excuses from anybody. 

6. A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Dugard

This chilling read of an author’s distressing and traumatizing past, followed by her recovery, left readers in awe. It puts our own struggles into perspective and encourages us to keep going, even under extreme circumstances. 

7. When God Was a Woman by Merlin Stone

This book allows us to contemplate how much of history is erased due to patriarchy and colonialism. It’s a shame that patriarchal god mythology replaced goddess mythology. 

8. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

As you learned about the power of connections and the significance of finding peace in the unknown, you can find joy in unexpected places. Le Guin is a talented author, and her words of wisdom have impacted a generation of readers. 

9. The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

This book transforms our understanding of how racism functions in the U.S. and renews our perspective on social structure in both historic and current times. 

10. The Choice by Dr. Edith Eger

Written by a psychotherapist and Holocaust survivor, this story is compelling. As the title suggests, the book focuses on the choice one has in their liberation.

11. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

This book has helped readers power their passion for animal rights from a young age. While intended for children, this book is significant for fueling a cause.

12. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Many have read this title in their teens and have gathered lessons that stuck ever since. The text questions high school’s hypocrisy, giving many teenagers an avenue for their justified frustrations.

13. Adult Children of Alcoholics by Janet Geringer Woititz

This book has served to acknowledge children who grew up in dysfunctional households. As many readers experience the feeling of being seen, this compelling read quickly becomes empowering.

14. The Explosive Child by Ross Greene

For parents, this book has offered immense insight into the uncertain domain of parenting children who show extreme tempers and challenging behaviors. Knowing how to deal with such situations without blaming the parent or the child can be powerful.

15. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

Many readers found this children’s novel an interesting love story as it helped them see relationships in a new light. The seething pain of lost love can help adults and children alike to come to terms with the uncertainty of relationships.

16. Comfortable With Uncertainty by Pema Chödrön

This book was many people’s first introduction to mindfulness and meditation practices. Other titles by the same author, When Things Fall Apart and The Places that Scare You, have helped others in tough times.

17. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

This classic book leaves one with many empowering ideas on self-discovery, love, and the treasures we had all along. It’s a classic self discovery book for all the right reasons.

18. Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann

This gorgeous novel combines ordinary yet distinct narratives from all walks of life in a seamless concoction. Centered in New York City, the book gives the city’s people a voice. 

19. Pollyanna by Eleanor Porter

This 1913 novel may be a classic children’s book and offers an optimistic point of view in an era where such messages weren’t often shared. While the story may not be everyone’s cup of tea, everyone can benefit from looking at life from a positive lens. 

20. Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire With God, Not Food by Lysa TerKeurst

This book offers many emotional and spiritual motivations to meet the goals of a healthy life. It teaches readers not to shame and silence their cravings but to listen to them, not by engaging in physical pleasures but by spiritual ones.

21. How To Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by K.C. Davis

This book proposes ideas that are the exact opposite of the Konmari method. Moving away from the obsession with minimalism, this text intended for neurodivergent people reminds us of how keeping our home minimal is morally neutral, helping many unlearn the shame.

22. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

This incredible piece helps readers place less importance on always doing the right thing and overthinking every decision they made. If you feel lonely and isolated, this book will touch you deeply.

23. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

This book challenges the notion of eternal recurrence by focusing on the importance of a person’s life. The universe may repeat itself, but a person has only one life, and whatever events unfold within occur once.

24. Love’s Executioner by Irvin Yalom

This is a book about ten patients with very human yet challenging dilemmas. As readers witness the contradictions of Yalom’s human responses and his position as a psychiatrist, much is to be learned. 

25. Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide To Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab

This title and other books by Nedra Tawwab on setting boundaries are game changers.

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Did you look at the solar eclipse too long? Doctors explain signs of eye damage

By Sara Moniuszko

Edited By Allison Elyse Gualtieri

Updated on: April 8, 2024 / 3:42 PM EDT / CBS News

Did you look up at the solar eclipse without your safety glasses ? Looking at the sun — even when it's partially covered like during the eclipse on April 8 — can cause eye damage.

There is no safe dose of solar ultraviolet rays or infrared radiation, said  Dr. Yehia Hashad , an ophthalmologist, retinal specialist and the chief medical officer at eye health company Bausch + Lomb.

"A very small dose could cause harm to some people," he said. "That's why we say the partial eclipse could also be damaging. And that's why we protect our eyes with the partial as well as with the full sun."

But how do you know if you've hurt your vision? We asked eye doctors what to know.

Is it a sign of eye damage if your eyes hurt after looking at the eclipse?

Your eyes likely won't hurt if you look at the eclipse without protection — but that doesn't make it any less dangerous.

In fact, the painlessness is part of why the event is so concerning to eye care professionals, said Dr. Jason P. Brinton, an ophthalmologist and medical director at Brinton Vision in St. Louis. 

"Everyone knows don't look at the sun. If you go out on a bright day and try to look at the sun — it's very uncomfortable, very bright. So most people intuitively associate that with something they should not be doing," Brinton said. "But with the eclipse, so much of that is blocked and so that natural sense of discomfort and aversion to the brightness is not there."

In some cases, the sun can also damage the cornea, which can be painful, Brinton says.

"The good news is that this fully heals without lasting issues, so this is why we don't think about this aspect as much. The retinal issues, on the other hand, are painless and can have permanent, lasting effects on vision," he said.

What are other signs of eye damage from looking at a solar eclipse?

Hashad says there are a few "alarming signals" to be aware of, including: 

• Blurred vision
• Scotomas, or dark spots: "You just see a black area or a black spot in the field of vision," Hashad said. 
• Color changes:  "You don't see the colors the same way you were seeing it before," he said.
• Distorted lines:  Hashad says this is clinically known as metamorphopsia, which makes lines appear warped, distorted or bent.

"This could be happening unilateral or bilateral," he said. "So it doesn't necessarily happen in both eyes. It could be affecting one over the other or both eyes together."

Issues may not be apparent immediately, either, sometimes appearing one to a few days following the event.

And while some will regain normal visual function, sometimes the damage is permanent. 

"Often there will be some recovery of the vision in the first few months after it, but sometimes there is no recovery and sometimes there's a degree to which it is permanent," Brinton said. 

What should you do if you show symptoms of eye damage?

If you're experiencing any symptoms of eye damage, Hashad suggested people "immediately" seek an ophthalmologist's advice.

"Seeing an eye care professional to solidify the diagnosis and for education I think is reasonable," Brinton said. 

Unfortunately, there isn't a treatment for solar retinopathy, the official name for the condition.

"Right now there is nothing that we do for this. Just wait and give it time and the body does tend to heal up a measure of it," Brinton explained.

That is why prevention is so important, and remains the "mainstay of treatment of solar retinopathy or solar damage to the retina," Hashad explained. 

How long is too long to look at a solar eclipse without glasses?

Any amount of time looking at the solar eclipse without glasses is too long, experts said.

"Damage from the solar eclipse could happen to the retina in seconds," Hashad said. "That's why we don't want people to stare even for a short period of time — even if for a few seconds to the direct sun — whether eclipsed or even partially eclipsed."

Sara Moniuszko is a health and lifestyle reporter at CBSNews.com. Previously, she wrote for USA Today, where she was selected to help launch the newspaper's wellness vertical. She now covers breaking and trending news for CBS News' HealthWatch.

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Here Are the Differences Between Netflix’s ‘3 Body Problem’ and the Book So Far

Netflix’s 3 Body Problem has been receiving rave reviews lately, both for its sci-fi-based premise and brilliant execution of the source material. The TV series is based on Hugo Award-winning novel The Three Body Problem , penned by Chinese author Liu Cixin.

Showrunners D.B. Weiss, David Benioff, and Alexander Woo have mostly stuck to the book in terms of what’s being shown onscreen. However, there are still some noteworthy changes that the fans will be intrigued to know about!

** SPOILER ALERT: This post spoils some parts of all 3 books and the first season of the Netflix series. **

Change of protagonist

In the book, Wang Miao, who is a nanoscientist by profession, is projected as the protagonist. However, in the show, this character is split into three: Auggie Salazar (Eiza Gonzalez), Jack Rooney (John Bradley), and Jin Cheng (Jess Hong). All three characters are given the characteristics and responsibilities exhibited by Miao in the book. Salazar becomes the nanoscientist tasked with research around the expected alien attack, and another direct parallel between the two characters is her nanotech fibers demolishing the massive ship Judgement Day in the fifth episode (similar to what Wang does in the book).

Similarly, Jack Rooney and Jin Cheng undergo the 3 Body virtual experience, which helps them discover human elements who are working together to facilitate the San-Ti attack. In the text, it is Wang who experiences these events by himself.

In the books, Sophons are defined as proton-size supercomputers sent by Trisolarians (San-Ti in the show) to intercept communication between humans and stall scientific progress through data manipulation. They serve a similar purpose in the show, with the major difference being that one of the Sophons is represented by a woman who wears a sword on her back. Apart from that, her way of communicating with other characters (video-calling being the best way to explain it) is not present in the text.

Three Body Problem Game

The representation of the Three Body Problem Game is mostly similar in both the book and the TV series, with just one stark difference: In the novel, it is played through a VR (virtual reality) suit, while in the show, one needs a VR chrome helmet to play it. In the series, it is said that the technology involved in the game is far ahead of what humans are capable of, as it is a work of the advanced San-Ti.

Depiction of Saul Durand’s romantic life

In the season finale of the show, Saul Durand (Jovan Adepo) becomes a Wallfacer, a strategist who is tasked with fighting the San-Ti in secrecy, since the San-Ti can’t comprehend human attributes like lying and can’t read minds. The Wallfacers serve as the only hope for mankind. In the books, Saul’s parallel is Luo Ji, and there is a major difference between the two characters among many similarities: the on-off romance shown in the series between Durand and Auggie Salazar is absent in the books, where Luo Ji ends up dating a novelist and is later obsessed with creating a fictional partner.

(featured image: Netflix)

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March 27, 2024

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

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What is the '3 Body Problem'? Astrophysicist explains concept behind hit Netflix show

by Cody Mello-Klein, Northeastern University

"3 Body Problem," Netflix's new big-budget adaptation of Liu Cixin's book series helmed by the creators behind "Game of Thrones," puts the science in science fiction.

The series focuses on scientists as they attempt to solve a mystery that spans decades, continents and even galaxies. That means "3 Body Problem" throws some pretty complicated quantum mechanics and astrophysics concepts at the audience as it, sometimes literally, tries to bring these ideas down to earth.

However, at the core of the series is the three-body problem, a question that has stumped scientists for centuries.

What exactly is the three-body problem, and why is it still unsolvable? Jonathan Blazek, an assistant professor of physics at Northeastern University, explains that systems with two objects exerting gravitational force on one another, whether they're particles or stars and planets, are predictable. Scientists have been able to solve this two-body problem and predict the orbits of objects since the days of Isaac Newton. But as soon as a third body enters the mix, the whole system gets thrown into chaos.

"The three-body problem is the statement that if you have three bodies gravitating toward each other under Newton's law of gravitation, there is no general closed-form solution for that situation," Blazek says. "Little differences get amplified and can lead to wildly unpredictable behavior in the future."

In "3 Body Problem," like in Cixin's book, this is a reality for aliens that live in a solar system with three suns. Since all three stars are exerting gravitational forces on each other, they end up throwing the solar system into chaos as they fling each other back and forth. For the Trisolarans, the name for these aliens, it means that when a sun is jettisoned far away, their planet freezes, and when a sun is thrown extremely close to their planet, it gets torched. Worse, because of the three-body problem, these movements are completely unpredictable.

For centuries, scientists have pondered the question of how to determine a stable starting point for three gravitational bodies that would result in predictable orbits. There is still no generalizable solution that can be taken out of theory and modeled in reality, although recently scientists have started to find some potentially creative solutions, including with models based on the movements of drunk people.

"If you want to [predict] what the solar system's going to do, we can put all the planets and as many asteroids as we know into a computer code and basically say we're going to calculate the force between everything and move everything forward a little bit," Blazek says. "This works, but to the extent that you're making some approximations … all of these things will eventually break down and your prediction is going to become inaccurate."

Blazek says the three-body problem has captivated scientific minds because it's a seemingly simple problem. Most high school physics students learn Newton's law of gravity and can reasonably calculate and predict the movement of two bodies.

Three-body systems, and more than three-body systems, also show up throughout the universe, so the question is incredibly relevant. Look no further than our solar system.

The relationship between the sun, Earth and our moon is a three-body system. But Blazek says since the sun exerts a stronger gravitational force on Earth and Earth does the same on the moon, it creates a pair of two-body systems with stable, predictable orbits—for now.

Blazek says that although our solar system appears stable, there's no guarantee that it will stay that way in the far future because there are still multi-body systems at play. Small changes like an asteroid hitting one of Jupiter's moons and altering its orbit ever so slightly could eventually spiral into larger changes.

That doesn't mean humanity will face a crisis like the one the Trisolarans face in "3 Body Problem." These changes happen extremely slowly, but Blazek says it's another reminder of why these concepts are interesting and important to think about in both science and science fiction.

"I don't think anything is going to happen on the time scale of our week or even probably our species—we have bigger problems than the instability of orbits in our solar system," Blazek says. "But, that said, if you think about billions of years, during that period we don't know that the orbits will stay as they currently are. There's a good chance there will be some instability that changes how things look in the solar system."

Provided by Northeastern University

This story is republished courtesy of Northeastern Global News news.northeastern.edu .

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The physical sensations of watching a total solar eclipse

Regina G. Barber

Science writer David Baron witnesses his first total solar eclipse in Aruba, 1998. He says seeing one is "like you've left the solar system and are looking back from some other world." Paul Myers hide caption

Science writer David Baron witnesses his first total solar eclipse in Aruba, 1998. He says seeing one is "like you've left the solar system and are looking back from some other world."

David Baron can pinpoint the first time he got addicted to chasing total solar eclipses, when the moon completely covers up the sun. It was 1998 and he was on the Caribbean island of Aruba. "It changed my life. It was the most spectacular thing I'd ever seen," he says.

Baron, author of the 2017 book American Eclipse: A Nation's Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World , wants others to witness its majesty too. On April 8, millions of people across North America will get that chance — a total solar eclipse will appear in the sky. Baron promises it will be a surreal, otherworldly experience. "It's like you've left the solar system and are looking back from some other world."

Baron, who is a former NPR science reporter, talks to Life Kit about what to expect when viewing a total solar eclipse, including the sensations you may feel and the strange lighting effects in the sky. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Baron views the beginning of a solar eclipse with friends in Western Australia in 2023. Baron says getting to see the solar corona during a total eclipse is "the most dazzling sight in the heavens." Photographs by David Baron; Bronson Arcuri, Kara Frame, CJ Riculan/NPR; Collage by Becky Harlan/NPR hide caption

Baron views the beginning of a solar eclipse with friends in Western Australia in 2023. Baron says getting to see the solar corona during a total eclipse is "the most dazzling sight in the heavens."

What does it feel like to experience a total solar eclipse — those few precious minutes when the moon completely covers up the sun?

It is beautiful and absolutely magnificent. It comes on all of a sudden. As soon as the moon blocks the last rays of the sun, you're plunged into this weird twilight in the middle of the day. You look up and the blue sky has been torn away. On any given day, the blue sky overhead acts as a screen that keeps us from seeing what's in space. And suddenly that's gone. So you can look into the middle of the solar system and see the sun and the planets together.

Can you tell me about the sounds and the emotions you're feeling?

A total solar eclipse is so much more than something you just see with your eyes. It's something you experience with your whole body. [With the drop in sunlight], birds will be going crazy. Crickets may be chirping. If you're around other people, they're going to be screaming and crying [with all their emotions from seeing the eclipse]. The air temperature drops because the sunlight suddenly turns off. And you're immersed in the moon's shadow. It doesn't feel real.

Everything you need to know about solar eclipse glasses before April 8

In your 2017 Ted Talk , you said you felt like your eyesight was failing in the moments before totality. Can you go into that a little more?

The lighting effects are very weird. Before you get to the total eclipse, you have a progressive partial eclipse as the moon slowly covers the sun. So over the course of an hour [or so], the sunlight will be very slowly dimming. It's as if you're in a room in a house and someone is very slowly turning down the dimmer switch. For most of that time your eyes are adjusting and you don't notice it. But then there's a point at which the light's getting so dim that your eyes can't adjust, and weird things happen. Your eyes are less able to see color. It's as if the landscape is losing its color. Also there's an effect where the shadows get very strange.

Crescent-shaped shadows cast by the solar eclipse before it reaches totality appear on a board at an eclipse-viewing event in Antelope, Ore., 2017. Kara Frame and CJ Riculan/NPR hide caption

You see these crescents on the ground.

There are two things that happen. One is if you look under a tree, the spaces between leaves or branches will act as pinhole projectors. So you'll see tiny little crescents everywhere. But there's another effect. As the sun goes from this big orb in the sky to something much smaller, shadows grow sharper. As you're nearing the total eclipse, if you have the sun behind you and you look at your shadow on the ground, you might see individual hairs on your head. It's just very odd.

Some people might say that seeing the partial eclipse is just as good. They don't need to go to the path of totality.

A partial solar eclipse is a very interesting experience. If you're in an area where you see a deep partial eclipse, the sun will become a crescent like the moon. You can only look at it with eye protection. Don't look at it with the naked eye . The light can get eerie. It's fun, but it is not a thousandth as good as a total eclipse.

A total eclipse is a fundamentally different experience, because it's only when the moon completely blocks the sun that you can actually take off the eclipse glasses and look with the naked eye at the sun.

And you will see a sun you've never seen before. That bright surface is gone. What you're actually looking at is the sun's outer atmosphere, the solar corona. It's the most dazzling sight in the heavens. It's this beautiful textured thing. It looks sort of like a wreath or a crown made out of tinsel or strands of silk. It shimmers in space. The shape is constantly changing. And you will only see that if you're in the path of the total eclipse.

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Watching a solar eclipse without the right filters can cause eye damage. here's why.

So looking at a partial eclipse is not the same?

It is not at all the same. Drive those few miles. Get into the path of totality.

This is really your chance to see a total eclipse. The next one isn't happening across the U.S. for another 20 years.

The next significant total solar eclipse in the United States won't be until 2045. That one will go from California to Florida and will cross my home state of Colorado. I've got it on my calendar.

The digital story was written by Malaka Gharib and edited by Sylvie Douglis and Meghan Keane. The visual editor is Beck Harlan. We'd love to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at [email protected].

Listen to Life Kit on Apple Podcasts and Spotify , and sign up for our newsletter .

NPR will be sharing highlights here from across the NPR Network throughout the day Monday if you're unable to get out and see it in real time.

Correction April 3, 2024

In a previous audio version of this story, we made reference to an upcoming 2025 total solar eclipse. The solar eclipse in question will take place in 2045.

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How an indie bookstore in Arizona survived Amazon, COVID-19 and BookTok over 50 years

Changing Hands Bookstore for 50 years has been a community gathering space and a safe haven for book lovers of all levels.

With two popular locations in metro Phoenix, Changing Hands is no Arizona hidden gem. Instead, the bookstore has forged deep ties into the community it grew along with. It has survived the rise of Amazon and a global pandemic and cemented itself as the place to go for book recommendations and good conversations among friends and authors.

How has Changing Hands managed to survive and thrive? Maybe it has something to do with the foundation it was built on.

Celebrate: How to attend Changing Hands Bookstore's 50th anniversary parties

Changing Hands begins: 3 book lovers with a dream and $500

Gayle Shanks, Tom Brodersen and Bob Sommer met in 1972 while volunteering at an alternative school in Phoenix and bonded over their love of reading. For years, they talked about their dream to open a bookstore that would double as a community gathering space.

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"It was just part of what we did and we knew the importance of books in our own lives. And we also loved the ideas that were in books," Shanks said.

"And so the idea of being a bookseller, which we thought meant you got to read books, to sell books, but really to just talk about books all day long with people who came in to buy them was our idea of the ideal job."

Brodersen purchased a struggling used bookstore's inventory for $500. It included books, bookcases and the oldest cash register they'd ever seen.

Now they had the supplies. They just needed the right space in the right location to attract book buyers.

On April 1, 1974, the first Changing Hands Bookstore opened in a 500-square-foot space on Fifth Street in downtown Tempe.

"We had this idea that books could change people's minds and help them become more critical thinkers," Shanks said.

"So, we thought we were going to have this bookstore that was going to be a place where people could come and talk about ideas that they had either read in books or were thinking about. And it's grown into a much bigger space, or two spaces."

Changing Hands moves to Mill Avenue

In 1978, Changing Hands moved to a bigger, more prominent storefront on Mill Avenue in Tempe, adjacent to the Arizona State University campus. In 1980, Brodersen stepped down, and in 2000 Cindy Dach joined the team. She became a co-owner in 2006.

The Mill Avenue store was a hit.

"I fell in love with Changing Hands in their original location on Mill when I went to ASU," said customer Jeff Moriarty. "I was a poor college student, so I frequently stopped in to browse the aisles and pick out cheap books to read and escape for a while.

"The place was so warm and inviting, and I came to realize it was the people who made it that way. The books were just the way they loved to connect with people and the community."

In 1998, rents in downtown Tempe were rising and Changing Hands moved again, this time to a plaza at McClintock Drive and Guadalupe Road in south Tempe, where they still are to this day.

"I was heartbroken when they moved off of Mill, but they kept that same love that made them so special," Moriarty said. "It wasn't the building that made them who they were, it was the spirit (and books) they filled the place with."

Changing Hands Bookstore, First Draft Book Bar open in Phoenix

On May 30, 2014, Changing Hands expanded beyond Tempe when it opened a second store at Third Avenue and Camelback Road in Phoenix.

The owners wanted this location to have a little something extra.

The First Draft Book Bar serves up coffee, wine, beer and snacks in the middle of the brick-walled store. Seating is at the bar and in an adjacent room called The Commons, which doubles as a community gathering/co-working space and an event space for readings and other activities.

Authors such as Barbara Kingsolver and Terry Tempest Williams and poets including Alberto Ríos and Norman Dubie have come to speak at Changing Hands through the years.

"At some of the early events, we didn't have much space," Shanks said. "We had a mezzanine (at the Mill Avenue store) and two stairways and people would sit all around the mezzanine and on the steps. I mean, if the fire department had ever came, we would have been in really big trouble. But it was really amazing."

How Changing Hands withstood Amazon, the pandemic and BookTok

These special experiences may have been precisely what sustained Changing Hands through the rise of Amazon and the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns.

The ease of having a seemingly limitless selection of books delivered to your door or your Kindle contributed to hundreds of chain and independent bookstores nationwide closing their doors.

"There were many, many moments when we didn't know how we were going to go on," Shanks said. "Amazon hitting us in the face was really difficult for a while, the recession hit us hard, and then of course there was a pandemic and we had to close our store for nine months."

"And we didn't know if we were going to be able to open the stores again, because who knew what was going to happen?"

But Changing Hands Bookstore continued to focus on its strength: listening to customers.

"Our ear was always to the ground and the ground was always our customers and our community, and as long as we listened, they told us what they needed. We wanted it to be their bookstore, not our bookstore," Shanks said.

According to an article at publishersweekly.com , booksellers across the digital and physical spaces have seen increased sales over the last couple of years thanks in part to TikTok's latest craze: BookTok. It's a TikTok space where people share what they're reading, show off special collectors editions and, of course, influence the algorithm.

"BookTok has definitely grown a certain segment of the readership that shops in our store and I feel really fortunate that they do," Shanks said. "We had 25 chain bookstores in the Valley at one point in the '90s, and Changing Hands managed to survive in spite of the fact that in five miles from us in every single direction, there was a chain bookstore."

And while Shanks isn't totally in love with all of the books from BookTok that bring customers in, she does love that it gets people started on their reading journey.

"Once you start reading, you get hungry for more," Shanks said.

Changing Hands Bookstore at 50: Still going strong

Thanks to the community support, Changing Hands Bookstores has enjoyed 50 years of passing down the tradition of reading from generation to generation.

"I couldn't even begin to comprehend how much time and how many purchases I've made there over the years, and every bit of it is fabulously well spent," Moriarty said. "Changing Hands is an absolute gem. We're ridiculously lucky to have them and the amazing people who've kept it going for 50 years."

As for the future, Shanks simply wants things to keep going as they are.

"Someone came in the other day and said, 'My mom brought me into the store when I was still in her womb, and this was the first place she ever took me, and I grew up in your store,'" Shanks said. "It's a really good feeling and I think in great part because that's why we wanted to be in business."

"I hope we have many more generations of readers who grow up in our store and continue to support us."

Meredith G. White is the entertainment reporter for The Arizona Republic | azcentral.com . You can find her on   Facebook  as Meredith G. White, on   Instagram  and X, formerly known as  Twitter , as @meredithgwhite, and email her at   [email protected] .

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