Childhood wisdom, air pollution’s impact on brain health, science-backed procrastination tips, new bipolar research, and three books showcasing brain science and incredible storytelling.
Regular readers of this newsletter may be surprised to learn that I admire brevity. But it’s true.
I re-read Queen of Concision Jenny Offill’s Weather for book club last month and told a friend I wished I could write like that. Offill and other masters of restraint, like Sarah Manguso of 300 Arguments, know how to use just the words you need to describe only the moments that matter.
But to get better at micro essays, I’d have to practice, wouldn’t I?
The five of us are driving home. It’s dark, but only recently. We stop for a red light. Then: Green means go. “The moon is taking off with us,” my three-year-old says. At this age, he thinks the whole universe is here for just him. Growing up is about unlearning that kind of selfishness. Growing old is about relearning what a gift it all is.
My Latest Published Writing
- Air pollution is bad for your brain. It’s intuitive that air pollution would affect your lungs. But what we inhale influences every part of our bodies—including our brains. Air pollution is associated with a slew of mental health and neurological issues. bpHope asked me to cover the bipolar-specific implications for their audience, but what I found is relevant for us all: How Air Pollution Affects Bipolar Disorder: 7 Things You Need to Know. (MSN syndicated the article, too, a new outlet for me!).
- Outsmart procrastination with science. We all procrastinate, and lots of folks like to opine about how to overcome it. But the problem with most of the advice out there? There’s no research to back it up. Some of it is even exactly what experts would advise you not to do. For science-supported tips, read my latest for Everyday Health: 8 Tips to Beat Procrastination.
- What do the keto diet, GLP-1s, AI-assisted diagnosis, tweens screen use, and peer support have to do with bipolar disorder? As a health and science writer, there’s not much better than bridging the gap between complex scientific research and the people who need it most. That’s why I’m grateful to write about the latest developments in bipolar research and resources each month for bpHope. Read the latest here: Bipolar Research & Insights: Ketogenic Diet, GLP-1s, AI-Assisted Diagnosis, and More | March 2025 (bpHope)
Book Recommendations
Sharp: 14 Simple Ways to Improve Your Life With Brain Science, by Therese Huston, PhD
Sharp (out April 8, 2025) — is like a stack of some of the most useful articles you’ve ever read about how to leverage brain science to make your life better – professionally and personally. They cover how to make fewer mistakes, enhance creativity, make better decisions, and more. The tips are practical and quick— many take just minutes. But most importantly, Dr. Huston, a cognitive scientist at Seattle University, explains in depth why you’ll want to bother. She has a talent for translating a research paper’s mind-numbing methods section into a gripping story that sticks with you.
Recommended for anyone interested in neuroscience, psychology, self-help, science-backed mental health advice, and productivity.
*Thanks to Smith Publicity and Mayo Clinic Press for providing me with an advance review copy. See my disclosure statement for my policy on accepting books for review.
Get Stuff Done Without the Stress: 5 Secrets for Making the Best Use of Your Time and Achieving Your Goals for Greater Happiness, by Risa Williams, LMFT
I interviewed Risa Williams, LMFT, for an Everyday Health piece on procrastination. I had reached out because her compassionate approach to time management seemed like just the ticket for an emotional wellness story on the topic. So when our conversation wound down, and she offered me a review copy of her latest book, I knew it would be worth a read.
Inside, I found more of her warmth in a hold-your-hand format well-suited to the overwhelmed. You can skim for the big picture, find a clear reminder, or take your time and follow her step-by-step strategies, which you can tell work for real people. For visual learners, there are simple charts. Her writing is just like that one friend who always knows just what to text you back when you’re feeling the world close in.
Recommended for people seeking clear, kind help with getting things done in their personal and professional lives.
*Thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy. See my disclosure statement for my policy on accepting books for review.
James: A Novel, by Percival Everett
I’d heard the buzz about James, Pervical Everett’s retelling of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. But I couldn’t imagine what would compel me to spend more time in Twain’s world, the one I’d mentally filed away under b for “boys only” (and, if I’m honest, “boring”) after reading it for some class or another in my adolescence. But then James won the National Book Award. And the Kirkus Prize. And my brother swore it would be the perfect audiobook to keep me company for my solo drive up north last month.
Well, reader, he was right. They were all right. It’s a remarkable book. Its structural and linguistic brilliance are a treat for anyone who loves writing craft. But—and this isn’t always the case for technically dazzling books—it’s also a pull-you-in, readable story.
Recommended for anyone looking for a novel or audiobook or who loves craft or good storytelling or wants to feel smart and literary without suffering through a doorstopper.
Browse more books on my Bookshop | Read more reviews on my Goodreads
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