5 Books that will change the way you think about brain health

Women are increasingly feeling empowered to pull back the curtain on their journeys navigating the complex world of health and wellness. We’re here to help you do the same.

This diverse selection of reads, picked by the wmnHealth team, combines powerful storytelling with science, art, and lived experience to bring real issues affecting women’s mental and neurological health to light.

This summer, dive into these brain-focused books written by women. 

The Neuroscience of You: How every brain is different and how to understand yours

By Chantel Prat (Dutton, Penguin Random House) 

No two brains are alike, and this empowering read by psychologist Chantel Prat invites you to understand yourself — and others — better. The author delves into the science of how different brains function and influence the way individuals think and act — and the lasting impact that has on our lives. Instead of letting these differences divide us, she leaves us with one important lesson: Every brain deserves to be celebrated.   

Hungry Ghost

By Victoria Ying (First Second) 

Millions of people across the U.S. suffer from eating disorders, yet 80% go undetected. Author and artist Victoria Ying’s raw graphic novel tackles the difficult subject of disordered eating and trauma with grace, offering healing to readers — and the protagonist.  

Strong Female Character

By Fern Brady (Harmony) 

Autism has a gender problem — nearly 80% of females are misdiagnosed with other brain conditions and it can take up to decades to get clarity. This memoir by comedian Fern Brady weaves her journey of receiving a diagnosis in her 30s with a deep look into the toxic culture of ableism and sexism, which prevents women from getting effective healthcare in the first place.  

Elderhood: Redefining aging, transforming medicine, reimaging life

By Louise Aronson, M.D. (Bloomsbury Publishing) 

Aging is an inevitable part of life, yet we’re terrified of it. In this honest and compassionate read by geriatrist Louise Aronson, readers are compelled to shift the way we, as a society, think of the elderly. She draws on science and personal experiences of working as a physician to share what constitutes good elder care and how the American medical system can deliver it with compassion and a sense of humanity. 

Sisterhood Heals: The Transformative Power of Healing in Community

By Joy Harden Bradford (Ballantine Books) 
 
This practical handbook by licensed psychiatrist and "Therapy for Black Girls" podcast host Joy Harden Bradford delves into the power of community and offers tangible advice on how Black women can tap into their friends and support circles to find healing. The book will also be useful to any woman looking to foster healthy relationships.