Gail Gonzales’
Favorite Wellness Books

What I love most about Burning Bright is the wide range of healing modalities offered up. The author provides a blueprint for anyone wanting to find the roots of and heal their anxiety and burnout. Isn’t that all of us right now? From tea ceremonies to moon rituals, reiki and tapping to sound healing and forest bathing—and much more!—pick and choose what serves you. It’s really the perfect antidote to these unprecedented times.

It’s not an easy read but a required read for women, young and old. This book is a classic in the world of feminist non-fiction and a sort of initiation into living a wild and untamed life – what all women are meant to live. It’s an invitation to embrace your intuition, take back your body, and live unapologetically. Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes is just brilliant in the way she teaches through a mix of fairytales and parables.

Children and adults alike will benefit from the breathing and meditation exercises in this lovely kids book. I’ve given it to many friends with kids who report that bedtime has become a much more enjoyable experience with this book.

Since working from home, I’ve been making a big batch of superhero muffins each week. They’ve replaced my morning stop at Pret a Manger across the street from our Penguin Random House offices. So many dishes in this cookbook are hearty and filling but also healthy and nourishing.

My first job in publishing was with Louise Hay at Hay House. She’s passed on but still remains such an influential person in my life. She had a special knack for correcting the way people spoke. “Do not say ‘don’t forget’ to someone, always say ‘please, remember’ – make it positive.’” Louise always made you think twice about how the words you use and the thoughts you think influence your life and the larger universe. I often dip in and out of You Can Heal Your Life to get inspiration and guidance. Whether it’s finding a new affirmation or just continuing to strive to be in the present moment, it’s a book I can’t live without!