Health & Medicine

The Health & Medicine Collection showcases hand-picked fiction and nonfiction titles that focus on the physical and mental health of the human body. This diverse Collection represents the breadth of literature examining human health throughout history, from nonfiction accounts of historical epidemics to novels whose protagonists face mental health conditions.

Scarcity Brain

by Michael Easter

Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Mental Health, Space, Self Discovery, Globalization, Religion & Spirituality, Science & Technology

Tags Self-Improvement, Health, Science & Nature, Philosophy, Leadership, Psychology, Psychology, Mental Illness

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Shift

by Hugh Howey

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Power & Greed, Fate, Science & Technology, Safety & Danger, Appearance & Reality, Future, The Past, Death, Community, Politics & Government, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Good & Evil

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Survival Fiction, Health, Education, Food, Technology, Horror & Suspense

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Small Steps

by Peg Kehret

Publication year 1996

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Disability, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery, Friendship

Tags Life-Inspired Fiction, Coming of Age, Health, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, World History, Biography

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Spillover

by David Quammen

Publication year 2012

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Science & Nature, Animals, World History, Health

Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic is a 2012 narrative nonfiction work about the relationship between animal infections and human disease. It was nominated for several awards and won the Science and Society Book Award, given by the National Association of Science Writers, and the Society of Biology (UK) Book Award in General Biology. In Spillover, Quammen’s narrative alternates between the outbreak and eventual discovery of recent emerging diseases, and the scientific discoveries... Read Spillover Summary

Starry Messenger

by Neil Degrasse Tyson

Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Space, Education, Truth & Lies, Science & Technology, Order & Chaos, Community, Gender Identity

Tags Science & Nature, Philosophy, World History, Politics & Government, Animals, Education, Diversity, Disability, Food, Health, Internet & Social Media, Military & War, Race & Racism, Religion & Spirituality, Social Justice, Technology, Philosophy

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Stella

by McCall Hoyle

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Friendship, Animals

Tags Realistic Fiction, Animals, Health, Grief & Death, Trauma & Abuse, Children`s Literature, Disability

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Stiff

by Mary Roach

Publication year 2003

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Science & Nature, Grief & Death, World History, Humor, Health

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers is a nonfiction book about the cultural history of the human cadaver, written by Mary Roach. Roach explores how, for nearly two thousand years, the deceased human body has been used in research and experimentation leading to some of the most consequential innovations of the medical, scientific, and mechanical (among others) fields throughout human history. Across cultures and civilizations, death has been shrouded in mystery and taboo, yet... Read Stiff Summary

Still Alice

by Lisa Genova

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Psychology, Psychology, Health

Still Alice, by Lisa Genova, tells the story of a Harvard cognitive psychology professor, Alice Howland, and her descent into early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. When the novel opens, Alice is unaware of her disease; although she recognizes that she has become a touch more forgetful lately, she chalks this up to getting older and keeping a busy academic schedule. However, her lapses soon become worse, and a series of tests confirm that she has early-onset Alzheimer’s... Read Still Alice Summary

Stolen Focus

by Johann Hari

Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Science & Technology, Literature, Education, Mental Health

Tags Psychology, Self-Improvement, Health, Science & Nature, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Leadership, Psychology, Mental Illness

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Strength in What Remains

by Tracy Kidder

Publication year 2000

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Tags History: African , Immigration & Refugeeism, World History, Health, Biography

Strength in What Remains is a nonfiction book by Pulitzer Prize-winning nonfiction writer Tracy Kidder. It chronicles the story of a Burundian man named Deogratias (Deo). Deo, a Tutsi, survived a genocide that embroiled Burundi and Rwanda—especially in 1993-94. Deo fled the hospital where he had a medical school internship. Without any resources, he made his way to Rwanda only to be forced to escape violence there, return to Burundi, and finally travel to America... Read Strength in What Remains Summary