10 Healing Non-Fiction Books & Podcasts
These are 10 books and podcasts from 2024 that offer healing comfort, insight, information and affirmation during these tumultuous times
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An article in The NY Times today that referenced a term I hadn’t heard before.
The Times article, by Alexandra Alter, explained that a genre has emerged called healing fiction. These books, mostly by authors in Japan and Korea, are becoming increasingly popular as readers are looking for an escape from distressing news about wars, political animosity and environmental disasters.
“Fans of the genre say the heartwarming, whimsical stories offer comfort at a time when the world seems off-kilter and chaotic, and feel like an escape from distressing news about wars, political animosity and environmental disasters,” writes Alter.
I get it.
And, wow, this term ‘healing fiction’ is also really resonant.
It’s been a big time in the world, and especially for US politics. There is a lot to think about, to plan for, to reflect upon. I personally continue to have questions like - what am I doing to make a difference? Is this how our world really is? What can I contribute?
The Big Idea
I’ve also been wondering if there is a “healing” counterpart in non fiction.
Is there healing non-fiction?
I found myself reading and listening even more than usual to sources of inspiration and comfort - but in the non fiction section these past few weeks. In doing so, I was reminded of the wise words, the beautiful passages, the resonant thoughts of so many.
These books are healing non-fiction for me.
“Reading books is so profound because it denies you the ability to speak when confronted with an idea. You must listen. It isn’t a conversation. Sometimes it shouldn’t be a conversation. Sometimes you should just listen. Just listen.” @Mohamed Skandari
So I thought I’d share. Below please find my favorite reads and accompanying listens that lift and fuel. They are what I am going to call healing non-fiction, and all published in 2024. This post includes:
Healing non-fiction book recommendations and a bit of my why,
A standout quote from each that I chose to get a sense of the messages,
a bonus related primer- either a podcast or free audiobook, and
a visual.
These are books that have kept me thinking in 2024, all for different reasons. Some include topics I am grappling with, some confirm, expand or even go against my own ideas, and some are contributing to the People Based Learning project. Hope you might be able to take something from them, too.
Enjoy.
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I would love to know your healing non-fiction reads.
1. The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell
I adore
’s blunt and brilliant style. As a wordy/linguistics lover, I also appreciate that so much of her work is rooted in the importance of language. I still quote from her books Cultish and Word Slut all the time.This one brings light to common cognitive biases and helps rethink them. She grounds chapters in empirical studies and then expands through anecdotes.
Also, 🩷 look at the gorgeous cover art.
Notable quote, “You will face reality, you will not delude yourself. Mistaking an anecdote for an objective fact is dubious, but using a story to breathe life into an objective fact is nothing short of magic. The world can be so humbling, but only if you let it humble you.”
Check out this fabulous podcast with Amanda Montell talking about this book.
2. Assembling Tomorrow by Carissa Carter and Stuart Doorley (a Stanford d.school series)
If you are looking for a book that might give you a bit of hope, this is one.
@carissa carter is insightful, engaging, and playful. It’s also actually funny and academic at the same time. I particularly appreciate the book’s urgent optimism that we can both face the future and sort out the (technological & other) overwhelm around us. The authors offer actual tricks (!), tools, and activities that made me think about problem solving differently - in both practice and play.
*BONUS: There is even some short, beautiful fiction.
Notable quote, “Instead of accepting the inevitability of each step, you can consider it a chance to change things, to heal parts of the system left broken by the designs that came before.”
Check out this podcast on Assembling Tomorrow with the authors.
Also, Carissa Carter, Scott Doorley in—the Stanford Report.
3. Hope for Cynics by Jamil Zaki
Social neuroscientist Jamil Zaki always engages in such people oriented research. I loved his work on kindness, and this one explores why refusing to see possibility makes it impossible to solve problems. It made me rethink the word cynical.
Notable quote, “Acts of trust are the bedrock on which relationships are formed. The only way that strangers become friends and friends become best friends, the only way that we can build partnerships is through a willingness to count on one another.”
Check out this podcast (and other interesting and connected resources) with Jamil Zaki and Matt Abrahmson.
4. Indivisible by Denise Hamilton
In a world dominated by division, this read is a force for unity. An inclusion guide, whose work and words inject complexity into oversimplified issues, offers powerful, practical steps for moving from outrage to insight. It’s calm and beautiful and full of practical, straight forward ideas.
Notable quote, “Leadership is more than filling a seat. It’s creating room so that everyone can contribute.”
Rethinking Podcast primer with Denise Hamilton speaking with Adam Grant.
5. The Joy of Connections by Dr. Ruth Westheimer
The final book by the loved therapist is filled with practical exercises for overcoming loneliness and building relationships. You can hear her voice in the words (and using the link to the free audio book below you can actually hear her voice.)
Notable quote, “The joy to come front and center in your life, you also have to feel your emotions, even the sad ones. You have to mourn, let the tears pour out. If you bottle the sadness in, the joy gets bottled right along with it.”
Here is the free audiobook version. Would love to hear your thoughts!
6. New Happy by Stephanie Harrison
I love
’s instagram where she shares all sorts of videos explaining aspects of the New Happy concept.As opposed to Old Happy, which is individually sourced and rooted in things like wealth, fame and power, New Happy is about finding happiness in more connected ways, Iike in other’s happiness - A very People Based Learning idea. This book brilliantly combines her background in positive psychology and research color-popping visual elements help illustrate complex concepts. You know I love a good visual.Notable quote: Old Happy: "I'm the only one who is struggling."
New Happy: "We are all just trying to find our way."
A priming podcast with Stephanie Harrison available here.
She also has this website with ready to use resources to put ideas into practice.
7. The Power of Strangers by Joe Koehane
This is one of those rare books that makes thoughtful research both entertaining and useful. The stories are beautiful, winding, and enduring. At each pillar of the book, Koehane talks about how people were able to devise ways to safely communicate with and cooperate with strangers, suggesting that we could do the same now to deal with the bigger problems facing our societies. It’s funny and fun and needed right now.
Notable quote: “Why does the prospect of talking to strangers feel so unnatural, but when we do it, once we get past our initial anxiety, it feels like we’d been designed to act this way? The answer is, because we have been designed to act this way.”
Priming podcast as Guy Raz speaks to Joe Koehane about his book.
8. Sage Warrior by Valarie Kaur
This book is like poetry with a rebellious purpose- taking courageous action. It’s from the author of See No Stranger, which sits among my favorite books, and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project.
BONUS: There is also MUSIC that goes along with the book.
It is an profound experience.
Notable quote, “Deep listening is an act of surrender. We risk being changed by what we hear. When I really want to hear another person's story, I try to leave my preconceptions at the door and draw close to their telling. I am always partially listening to the thoughts in my own head when others are speaking, so I consciously quiet my thoughts and begin to listen with my senses.”
Give this priming podcast with Valerie Kaur a listen.
9. Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg
Charles Duhigg predates James Clear in his study of habits. He shares science through stories, uncovering research in accessible ways. With this method of weaving stories and studies, Duhigg reveals that effective communication is about understanding the underlying layers of every conversation: practical, emotional, and social. The book is practical, but not preachy.
Notable Quote: “So, to become a supercommunicator, all we need to do is listen closely to what’s said and unsaid, ask the right questions, recognize and match others’ moods, and make our own feelings easy for others to perceive. Simple, right? Well, no, of course not.”
Priming Podcast with Charles Duhigg.
10. The Work of Art by Adam Moss
Stephen Sondheim, Kara Walker, Ira Glass - a total of 43 artists (loosely defined) were interviewed at length, and their notes, their sketches, their journeys all noted tracing the process of creating art. Honestly, listen to the podcast below and you’ll want a copy for yourself. This is illustrated, full of visuals and words and beauty.
BONUS: This book is like looking through an artist’s diary.
Notable quote, “Art requires access to the imagination, a notoriously difficult place to visit. The imagination fuels an idea.”
This podcast with Adam Moss speaking to Daniel Pink is a must.
What are your healing practices? Do you have any healing fiction or non-fiction books you might recommend? How are you processing the world these days?