The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care

by Rina Raphael

Book Overview

"Next-level revelatory."
--Sarah Knight, New York Times bestselling author of The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck

"Excellent...Rina really knows her shit...I'm so thankful for this book."
--Jameela Jamil, actress and host of I Weigh

Journalist Rina Raphael looks at the explosion of the wellness industry: how it stems from legitimate complaints, how seductive marketing targets hopeful...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1250793009
• ISBN13: 9781250793003
• Release Date: September 2022
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Read Before You Join the Gym or Buy a Supplement

I am a working member and participant in the “wellness industry.” I find it to be a frustrating and duplicitous space. Daily, I observe and listen to discussions of wild supplements and exercise regimes gleaned from YouTube or Social Media that are either useless or dangerous. The Gospel of Wellness is vital if you take supplements, exercise, follow fitness influencers, or read diet books. Snake Oil is abundant in this industry and full of people skilled at selling useless products and false promises. The allure of quick fixes and easy solutions can beguile even the most discerning among us. The Gospel of Wellness is an antidote to the seductive promise of effortless weight loss and body transformation sold 24/7 in our culture. What is wellness? We each have an image that is ours alone. To that image, there is a product being peddled. As we search for answers, they are looking for us, and suddenly, like divine intervention, we see an ad or video that provides straightforward answers to our concerns. Whether it be complex medical problems, weight loss, getting ripped, removing wrinkles, or growing hair - there is a book, video, product, or unique fitness method (based on ancient wisdom) - being sold to “help” you. However, true wellness is a long road, often requiring consistent effort over time—rarely achieved in just a few weeks. The Gospel of Wellness equips us to sift through the noise and recognize empty promises, helping us stay grounded in our judgment and reliable information, steering clear of flashy yet hollow offerings on our favorite platforms.