Jennifer Ashton M.D.

Two stars probably sounds harsh, but while I enjoyed the idea of monthly challenges to help me take better care of myself and implemented many of them through the last year, it just wasn’t a book that I enjoyed reading. I would rush through reading each challenge, which was more like a blog post, and found myself skimming most of the time. The sections were full of so much repetition and unnecessary expansion on really simple ideas. I feel like this book would have better for me personally at half it’s length. Not that 20-30 pages is difficult to read each month, but I don’t think it should have felt like such a chore to get to the core and benefits of each challenge.… (mer)

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (William Morrow) in exchange for an honest review.

This was an incredibly insightful and informative read!

First off, this book is so accessible. There is no medical jargon here. Everything is broken down in easy to understand language. Dr. Ashton does a fantastic job explaining the basic science behind COVID in a way everyone can comprehend.

Secondly, the book is also very practical. Dr. Ashton provides readers with advice that is realistically attainable which I appreciated. Sometimes books like these can prompt readers to do some lofty things, so I was happy to see that this book offered more grounded advice.

Throughout the book, she also shares anecdotal stories about her life during the pandemic which made the book relatable. Seeing a doctor go through similar struggles shows that this pandemic affects everyone in some way and that we all have a common struggle.

Since the virus is constantly changing, parts of this book are a little outdated. That was to be expected. Because of that, there is no discussion on the vaccines.

The book is generally, very well written. However, it is sometimes circular and repetitive. She will sometimes state the same ideas again, even though she just said it two pages ago.

Overall, this was a great read. I recommend it if you’re looking for some practical guidance in navigating our new normal!… (mer)

I listened to this book on audio. I was not too familiar with Dr. Ashton as I am not a main stream news junkie and she is the go to doc for ABC News. I
probably had seen her maybe on David Muirs' nightly. She basically lays out here a monthly focus on a particular health topic or issue which she resolved to address in her own life. From drinking to humor quite a few subjects are covered and she put together a strategy to change her behavior for the entire month. This was useful information to consider and apply in our own lives and improvements would certainly carry big benefits. I was surprised at how undisciplined the good doctor was in her own life. I would have thought a medical person would have things pretty much in control. Not so in many of these applications for her. So I guess another lesson learned is that doctors are just people too.… (mer)