STRAIGHT NO CHASER HEALTH

In this guide, a veteran physician offers tips and tools for better health.

Sterling, a longtime public health advocate, believes the pursuit of well-being “shouldn’t be an obsession with avoiding death but should be one of facilitating the enjoyment of life.” His road map to vitality addresses a wide variety of everyday scenarios, both positive and negative, which he cleverly turns into opportunities for self-improvement. Dispensing advice while accentuating the positive, Sterling shares the bounty of his years in clinical practice, which includes practical care for both the body and mind. Concerning relationships, he promotes the exchange of “honest moments” between loved ones and offers counsel for cultivating a more mindful state while recognizing the realities of prioritizing conditions like depression and chronic ailments. Sterling’s enlightening discussions on maximizing longevity are solidly written and can be easily digested by new and veteran readers of self-help books. Two of the manual’s best features are the author’s writing style and tone, which remain accessible and affable throughout. His prose never strays from its positive vibe even when addressing life’s negative aspects, like the everyday toxins that surround readers. While the topics he presents can be construed as rudimentary, like the importance of smoking cessation, hydration, stress management, a balanced diet, and regular exercise, there is also more timely information on avoiding Covid-19’s serious complications with vaccinations and practicing safe sex. Whether newer information or old standards, the book forms a friendly reminder that in order to live longer, readers need to do the work. Caffeine junkies will find Sterling’s intriguing graphic on the pros and cons of coffee and tea consumption illuminating and surprising. The author also includes strategies on risk reduction and the maintenance of what he calls “invisible health” (how good living habits contribute to overall well-being when people are not exercising or dieting). He blends science and physiology into his recommendations and structures the book’s chapters so they can be absorbed as a whole or individually perused. Sterling arms readers with the tools and relevant facts to make informed, enriching choices to improve their health, garner more control over their longevity, and become happier. He encourages everyone to “move with purpose and in pursuit of that level of contentment.”

Empowering, universally applicable coaching on proactive personal growth and optimal health.