My Top Ten: Books That are Helping Me Thrive Through Menopause and Midlife

I don't know if you know this about me, but I am a bibliophile. I am addicted to second-hand bookstores, local bookstores, and Amazon Prime. My dream would be to have a bookstore like Meg Ryan had in "You've Got Mail" and a sliding library ladder like Belle in "Beauty and the Beast"! I collect children's books and grown-up books, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, research, autobiographies, self-help; basically ALL  the books. So it's not surprising that when I became focused on women's health and the menopause transition, I started reading and collecting.
I have read ALOT of books on the topic over the last two years. And in my opinion, there are a few books every woman 35 and older should have in their TBR stack
(that's To Be Read, for those of you who aren't bibliophiles!). Read on to see which ten books are my go to for information, a good laugh and inspiration.

If I Could Only Have Ten Books on Women's Health (that would be awful, but here ya go!)
​Pt. 1: The First Five

First, "Women's Bodies, Women's Health by Christiane Northrup, MD in my opinion is an all inclusive text covering all things women's health from the first period through menopause. If you love research, this has the most up to date research and information. Dr. Northrup honors female intuition, the female energy systems and really empowers women to take control of their own body and health journey. 

Second, "The Menopause Manifesto", by Dr. Jen Gunter addresses the myths and misunderstandings of Menopause head on with hard facts, historical perspectives and expert advice. She offers practical advice for preparing for your first doctor visit to discuss the menopause transition, managing symptoms and clearing up misconceptions.  She is funny and passionate.  One of my favorite quotes from the book: "I also declare that what the patriarchy thinks of menopause is irrelevant. Men do not get to define the value of women at any age."

Third, "Menopocalypse" by Amanda Thebe tells her story and how she learned to thrive during her menopause transition.  She shares lots of tips on dealing with symptoms ranging from mood swings to vaginal dryness.  She includes an easy to follow strength training routine in her book (She got me back at it!) with pictures. Her book is the least sciencey on the list, which makes it a quick read.

Fourth, " The Joy of Movement" by Kelly McGonigal, PhD is not menopause focused but the information is so pertinent for us. Kelly uses science and storytelling to show us how movement is connected to joy, happiness, meaning and connection. It's full of brain research( which my nerdy brain loves) but it is easily digested and understood.
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Fifth, " What Fresh Hell is This" by Heather Corinna is honest and funny. I absolutely love their voice and her inclusivity of diverse people.  They are also a storyteller (and if you haven't noticed, I love a good story). I feel like their book is like sitting down with your bestie over a glass of wine, if your bestie was a comedian with expert knowledge on women's health. She includes a section specifically on post menopause and one on herbal suggestions. 
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There you have it, my first five and girlfriend, I'm just getting started. My little bibliophile menopausal heart is so happy. One of my favorite things is to share books with people.  So, print this post and head to your local bookstore or open up that Amazon cart and start shopping. (And stay tuned for next weeks post with 5 more recommendations!)