How to Be Well : Navigating Our Self-Care Epidemic, One Dubious Cure

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In this thoroughly researched and engaging book, journalist Amy Larocca delves into the vast and lucrative wellness industry, examining why women often feel unwell and how this perception has influenced our attitudes towards health and self-care.

With the wellness market now valued at an astounding 3.7 trillion dollars, concepts such as Peloton, Pilates, biohacking, colonics, and even ashwagandha have become part of our daily discourse.

Larocca scrutinizes the wellness movement, dissecting its promises and profits, while tracing its evolution and integration into women's lives. She questions how we have arrived at a point where we invest considerable money into products that may lack efficacy.

Through her exploration, Larocca ventures into communities that champion everything from activated charcoal toothpaste to green juice enemas, discussing what these practices entail and the scientific evidence supporting them.

She not only examines alternative medicine and trendy lifestyle choices but also embarks on her own journey of trying various wellness trends. The book ultimately provides a thoughtful critique of how the wellness industry reflects our societal views on care and self-improvement, highlighting its exploitation of deep-rooted fears surrounding uncertainty.

Larocca also explores the historical context of how the beauty and fashion industries have sold dubious remedies to women for decades, prompting us to continually return to their promises.

How to Be Well offers a frank and insightful look into the peculiar realm of wellness, revealing how the fundamental desire for self-care has transformed into a massive commercial enterprise.