The memoirs and self-help books GH editors turn to
As much as we all love getting lost in a good novel, sometimes you need a book to hold your hand through a difficult time or a memoir to inspire you to live big.
We asked the GH team for the one non-fiction book they'd recommend to others. From a foodie thesarus to a moving book about death, there's something here for you whatever you're after.
Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Timothy Ferriss
A Tribe Of Mentors compiled by Timothy Ferriss
'Ferris asked 200 leaders in their field the same 10 questions and responses he got are varied, interesting and really insightful.
Everyone from champion weightlifters to Barack Obama gave their take on ‘advice they would have given their younger selves’, top books they gift other people and what they’ve learnt on their journey. It's self-help and advice but in a really varied way, coming with completely different world views.'
Laura Cohen, GHI Commercial Director
Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn’t Food … and Why Can’t We Stop? by Chris van Tulleken
Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken
'This has changed what we buy, eat and the recipes we cook at home probably more so than any cookbook I’ve ever owned!'
Emma Bashagha, GHI Accreditation Sales Director
Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers
Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers
'At 200 pages, this is accessible and bitesized – I read this just before New Year to help me go into 2025 feeling brave!'
Grace Teer, GH Client Director
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
'I’ve never been more in awe of human physiology than while reading this book. The fact that we literally harbour and hold trauma in our physical bodies, be it childhood abuse, a stint in Afghanistan or even a serious break up, and those who have suffered emotional traumas have altered brain chemistry as a result, makes you realise just how our emotions and our experiences can physically impact us. Thinking about it has inspired me to pick it up again… every time I do I learn something new.'
Florence Reeves-White, GH Senior Beauty Writer
From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty
From Here To Eternity by Caitlin Doughty
'My recommendation is without a doubt a book called From Here To Eternity which is basically how different cultures deal with death; from Indonesian mummifications to Bolivian cranium dressing!
When my father died suddenly it really helped to process his passing and the way we look at death in our culture. That perhaps it this that makes loss such a difficult thing to deal with for a lot of people in the west.
The author, Caitlin Doughty, is a practising mortician and has a really humorous but profound way of writing.'
Kim Hawley, GH Health & Wellness Tester
The Uncomfortable Truth by Anna Mathur
The Uncomfortable Truth by Anna Mathur
'I read this self-help book from psychotherapist Mathur last year and her wise words have really stayed with me. The premise is all about accepting the harsh realities of life - not everyone will like us, bad things will happen, we are all going to die one day - and letting that knowledge set you free. The chapter on people-pleasing, and how we give away our power when we chase after other people's affirmation, really resonated with me and has made me rethink some of my behaviours.'
Joanne Finney, GH Books Director
Letters Of Notes: Love by Shaun Usher
Letters of Note: Love by Shaun Usher
'This book is a compilation of letters throughout history focused on love in all it’s beautiful, weird and sometimes sad forms. Each carefully selected letter comes with a brief bio to provide context about the writer/recipient, allowing the letters to give facinating insight into people from all walks of life. It’s a small and short book making it easy prefect for carrying around and dipping in and out of.'
Jo Jo Anastasiou, GHI Senior Food and Drink Tester
Educated by Tara Westover
Educated by Tara Westover
'This memoir cured me of my non-fiction slump. It follows Tara through her young life under the rule of her father, a survivalist Mormon who isolates his family from society and is constantly preparing for the end of the world. The sheer determination of Tara, who seeks a formal education and compromises her loyalty to her family to do so, is something I found extremely moving – and a welcome reminder of what a privilege it is to be able to see things from other points of view. I read this on a train from Cornwall to London and didn’t look up once!'
Abby Allen, GH Sub Editor
Hardest Geezer: Mind over Miles by Russ Cook
Hardest Geezer: Mind Over Miles by Russ Cook
'I read this over Christmas and could barely put it down. Russ Cook shares his experience of being the first person to ever run the full length of Africa (the equivalent of 386 marathons). You don't need to be a runner. The book is full of his adventures, his challenges (including getting kidnapped in the jungle) and his determination.'
Megan Geall, GH Homes Writer
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
'This is a unique memoir – a look at how running has been the beat of author Murakami's days; the genesis of his writing – and an exploration of how to live life to the full within your personal limits. The accounts of his long-distance runs are so vivid you can feel the heat, share his pain, taste the sweat. And as someone who has run for years and aspires to run long-distance, I feel like he was speaking to me directly... pared back, yet moving and inspiring.'
Sarah Maber, GH News and Features Director
Boys in the Trees: A Memoir by Carly Simon
The Boys in the Trees by Carly Simon
'Carly Simon’s autobiography is so evocative of a particular time - darkly unsettling, while at same time full of love. A reminder that women who seem to have it all have always lived through a lot.'
Liz Moseley, GH MD
The Flavour Thesaurus by Niki Segnit
The Flavour Thesaurus by Niki Segnit
'Perhaps unsurprisingly for a Cookery Editor, my favourite non-fiction book is a food one, although in my defence it’s not a cookbook. The Flavour Thesaurus by Niki Segnit (and its follow-up book, The Flavour Thesaurus More Flavours), is an encyclopaedia of flavours and ingredients that explores through a mixture of scientific and anecdotal notes the what’s and why’s of how ingredients pair well together.
For anyone interested in food it’s an invaluable reference tool, and one that lived on my bedside table for ages, just waiting to be dipped into and enjoyed in fascinating, bite-sized chunks. Both editions now live permanently on my work desk and get thumbed constantly!'
Emma Franklin, GH Cookery Editor
In Extremis by Marie Colvin
In Extremis: The Life of War Correspondent by Marie Colvin
'This is the incredible account of Marie Colvin's life, the most bad ass war correspondent that ever lived. She wore an eye patch, could drink anyone under the table, and was braver than all her male counterparts put together. Such an inspiring read.'
Stacey Smith, GHI Senior Editor
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