Jennifer Gunter

An Instant New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, and Publishers Weekly Bestseller! A Next Avenue Influencer in Aging 2021 #1 Canadian Bestseller Just as she did in her groundbreaking bestseller The Vagina Bible, Dr. Jen Gunter, the internet’s most fearless advocate for women’s health, brings you empowerment through knowledge by countering stubborn myths and misunderstandings about menopause with hard facts, real science, fascinating historical perspective, and expert advice. "I feel more equipped to care for my patients, challenge the patriarchy, and empower & educate thanks to her work and advocacy.” —Dr. Danielle Jones (Mama Doctor Jones) “An exhilarating read and a comprehensive review of all things menopause.” —North American Menopause Society “Gynecologist Gunter (The Vagina Bible) helps women navigate the ins and outs of menopause in this delightfully conversational and strongly feminist guide. Readers looking to separate menopausal fact from fiction should take note.” —Publishers Weekly “Gunter mixes sound medical information with a bit of humor and a lot of candor…[this] frank and expert guide provides an informative and reassuring look at a long, often baffling and infuriating phase of life.” —Booklist The only thing predictable about menopause is its unpredictability. Factor in widespread misinformation, a lack of research, and the culture of shame around women’s bodies, and it’s no wonder women are unsure what to expect during the menopause transition and beyond. Menopause is not a disease—it’s a planned change, like puberty. And just like puberty, we should be educated on what’s to come years in advance, rather than the current practice of leaving people on their own with bothersome symptoms and too much conflicting information. Knowing what is happening, why, and what to do about it is both empowering and reassuring. Frank and funny, Dr. Jen debunks misogynistic attitudes and challenges the over-mystification of menopause to reveal everything you really need to know about: *Perimenopause * Hot flashes * Sleep disruption * Sex and libido * Depression and mood changes * Skin and hair issues * Outdated therapies * Breast health * Weight and muscle mass * Health maintenance screening * And much more! Filled with practical, reassuring information, this essential guide will revolutionize how women experience menopause—including how their lives can be even better for it! “Read this book immediately.” —New York Times bestseller Ayelet Waldman, author of A Really Good Day and Love & Treasure “This is the new ‘it’ book for women who want to prepare for or understand what menopause is (and isn't).” —Dr. Jennifer Lincoln

Instant New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller! Boston Globe bestseller #1 Canadian Bestseller OB/GYN, writer for The New York Times, USA Today, and Self, and host of the show Jensplaining, Dr. Jen Gunter now delivers the definitive book on vaginal health, answering the questions you’ve always had but were afraid to ask—or couldn’t find the right answers to. She has been called Twitter’s resident gynecologist, the Internet’s OB/GYN, and one of the fiercest advocates for women’s health…and she’s here to give you the straight talk on the topics she knows best. Does eating sugar cause yeast infections? Does pubic hair have a function? Should you have a vulvovaginal care regimen? Will your vagina shrivel up if you go without sex? What’s the truth about the HPV vaccine? So many important questions, so much convincing, confusing, contradictory misinformation! In this age of click bait, pseudoscience, and celebrity-endorsed products, it’s easy to be overwhelmed—whether it’s websites, advice from well-meaning friends, uneducated partners, and even healthcare providers. So how do you separate facts from fiction? OB-GYN Jen Gunter, an expert on women’s health—and the internet’s most popular go-to doc—comes to the rescue with a book that debunks the myths and educates and empowers women. From reproductive health to the impact of antibiotics and probiotics, and the latest trends, including vaginal steaming, vaginal marijuana products, and jade eggs, Gunter takes us on a factual, fun-filled journey. Discover the truth about: • The vaginal microbiome • Genital hygiene, lubricants, and hormone myths and fallacies • How diet impacts vaginal health • Stem cells and the vagina • Cosmetic vaginal surgery • What changes to expect during pregnancy and after childbirth • What changes to expect through menopause • How medicine fails women by dismissing symptoms Plus: • Thongs vs. lace: the best underwear for vaginal health • How to select a tampon • The full glory of the clitoris and the myth of the G Spot . . . And so much more. Whether you’re a twenty-six-year-old worried that her labia are “uncool” or a sixty-six-year-old dealing with painful sex, this comprehensive guide is sure to become a lifelong trusted resource.

“A kick-ass book on menopause. Do yourself a favor and pick up this gem.”—Dr. Jen Gunter, bestselling author of The Vagina Bible and The Menopause Manifesto Menopause and perimenopause are no laughing matter―but that doesn't stop Amanda Thebe from approaching her 50s with a sense of humor. In this hilarious and personal account, the fitness trainer shares how she lost weight, dealt with her depression, improved her sleep, and overhauled her diet to survive―and thrive―during menopause. Now you can, too! Includes a Bonus Strength Training Guide for Women Over 40 At a time when menopause has become an urgent topic of public discussion, with the likes of Michelle Obama revealing their struggles for the first time, personal trainer Amanda Thebe shares her journey with bold and big-hearted writing that will be familiar to readers of Glennon Doyle. Readers will come away from the book with: A better understanding of your own hormones and how they factor in menopause and your overall health;Confidence to speak your truth about your menopause symptoms to your doctor, other health professionals, your family, and friends;Zero bull-sh*t tips for nutrition, fitness, vagina health, sex, and more. Amanda Thebe was working as a personal trainer and fitness coach when, at age 43, she started experiencing debilitating exhaustion, dizziness, and depression. The busy mother of two boys was used to traveling the world and climbing mountains. Now, she struggled to climb out of bed. After several failed doctor’s appointments, Thebe saw her gynaecologist, who finally named the source of her struggles: perimenopause, the period of 5-10 years before menopause, when a woman’s fluctuating estrogen levels put her at risk of depression, anxiety, headaches, and more ailments related to female hormone health. Empowered by information, Thebe began her journey back to her former self, overhauling her approach to diet, mental health, and exercise. In Menopocalypse, she explains how to deal with migraines, hot flashes, weight gain, exhaustion, poor sleep, vaginal dryness, and mood swings—offering tips that have worked for her and others. She shares information about hormone therapy. She even shares her own strength-training routine, complete with a suggested workout schedule, easy-to-follow instructions, and pictures of herself doing the exercises, so you can feel empowered, fit, and ready to tackle the day. Menopause isn’t fun, sexy, or cool, and a woman might spend one-third of her life in it—but that doesn’t mean women should suffer in silence without support. Let the outspoken and honest Amanda Thebe be your guide to surviving—and thriving—during menopocalypse.

The instant New York Times bestseller! "In The XX Brain, Lisa meticulously guides us in the ways we can both nourish and protect ourselves, body and mind, to ensure our brains remain resilient throughout our lives." --from the foreword by Maria Shriver The first book to address cognitive enhancement and Alzheimer's prevention specifically in women--and to frame brain health as an essential component of Women's Health. In this revolutionary book, Dr. Lisa Mosconi, director of the Women's Brain Initiative at Weill Cornell Medical College, provides women with the first plan to address the unique risks of the female brain. Until now, medical research has focused on "bikini medicine," assuming that women are essentially men with breasts and tubes. Yet women are far more likely than men to suffer from anxiety, depression, migraines, brain injuries, and strokes. They are also twice as likely to end their lives suffering from Alzheimer's disease, even when their longer lifespans are taken into account. But in the past, the female brain has received astonishingly little attention and was rarely studied by medical researchers-- resulting in a wealth of misinformation about women's health. The XX Brain confronts this crisis by revealing how the two powerful X chromosomes that distinguish women from men impact the brain first and foremost and by focusing on a key brain-protective hormone: estrogen. Taking on all aspects of women's health, including brain fog, memory lapses, depression, stress, insomnia, hormonal imbalances, and the increased risk of dementia, Dr. Mosconi introduces cutting-edge, evidence-based approaches to protecting the female brain, including a specific diet proven to work for women, strategies to reduce stress, and useful tips for restorative sleep. She also examines the controversy about soy and hormonal replacement therapy, takes on the perils of environmental toxins, and examines the role of our microbiome. Perhaps best of all, she makes clear that it is never too late to take care of yourself. The XX Brain is a rallying cry for women to have full access to information regarding what is going on in their brains and bodies as well as a roadmap for the path to optimal, lifelong brain health.

A shame-free, illustrated guide for people with vaginas—from periods to basic hygiene to safe sex—from TikTok's Dr. Lincoln. Dr. Lincoln has been sharing her expertise as an OB-GYN to her millions of followers on TikTok, and now in this accessible, illustrated guide she answers real questions about vaginal, sexual, and reproductive health for fans and new readers alike. Let's Talk About Down There is like the health class you wish you had—think evidence-based, myth-busting sex ed where shame gets tossed out the window—in a format that’s as approachable as a fifteen-second video. Addressing topics such as hormones, menstrual cups, and birth control, all with the help of infographics and illustrations, this succinct, vibrant handbook answers the questions that you may have been too embarrassed to ask, so you’ll be empowered to make more informed health choices and truly care for yourself.

Outsmart Your Enemies. Outrun the Galaxy. “Just please, remember what I told you. Run. Don’t stop running for anything.” Tina never worries about being 'ordinary'--she doesn't have to, since she's known practically forever that she's not just Tina Mains, average teenager and beloved daughter. She's also the keeper of an interplanetary rescue beacon, and one day soon, it's going to activate, and then her dreams of saving all the worlds and adventuring among the stars will finally be possible. Tina's legacy, after all, is intergalactic--she is the hidden clone of a famed alien hero, left on Earth disguised as a human to give the universe another chance to defeat a terrible evil. But when the beacon activates, it turns out that Tina's destiny isn't quite what she expected. Things are far more dangerous than she ever assumed--and everyone in the galaxy is expecting her to actually be the brilliant tactician and legendary savior Captain Thaoh Argentian, but Tina....is just Tina. And the Royal Fleet is losing the war, badly--the starship that found her is on the run and they barely manage to escape Earth with the planet still intact. Luckily, Tina is surrounded by a crew she can trust, and her best friend Rachel, and she is still determined to save all the worlds. But first she'll have to save herself. Buckle up your seatbelt for this thrilling YA sci-fi adventure set against an intergalactic war from internationally bestselling author Charlie Jane Anders.

A wry look at what the astonishing world of animal penises can tell us about how we use our own. The fallacy sold to many of us is that the penis signals dominance and power. But this wry and penetrating book reveals that in fact nature did not shape the penis--or the human attached to it--to have the upper...hand. Phallacy looks closely at some of nature's more remarkable examples of penises and the many lessons to learn from them. In tracing how we ended up positioning our nondescript penis as a pulsing, awe-inspiring shaft of all masculinity and human dominance, Phallacy also shows what can we do to put that penis back where it belongs. Emphasizing our human capacities for impulse control, Phallacy ultimately challenges the toxic message that the penis makes the man and the man can't control himself. With instructive illustrations of unusual genitalia and tales of animal mating rituals that will make you particularly happy you are not a bedbug, Phallacy shows where humans fit on the continuum from fun to fatal phalli and why the human penis is an implement for intimacy, not intimidation.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From Portland’s most acclaimed and beloved baker comes this must-have baking guide, featuring recipes for world-class breads and pizzas and a variety of schedules suited for the home baker. There are few things more satisfying than biting into a freshly made, crispy-on-the-outside, soft-and-supple-on-the-inside slice of perfectly baked bread. For Portland-based baker Ken Forkish, well-made bread is more than just a pleasure—it is a passion that has led him to create some of the best and most critically lauded breads and pizzas in the country. In Flour Water Salt Yeast, Forkish translates his obsessively honed craft into scores of recipes for rustic boules and Neapolitan-style pizzas, all suited for the home baker. Forkish developed and tested all of the recipes in his home oven, and his impeccable formulas and clear instructions result in top-quality artisan breads and pizzas that stand up against those sold in the best bakeries anywhere. Whether you’re a total beginner or a serious baker, Flour Water Salt Yeast has a recipe that suits your skill level and time constraints: Start with a straight dough and have fresh bread ready by supper time, or explore pre-ferments with a bread that uses biga or poolish. If you’re ready to take your baking to the next level, follow Forkish’s step-by-step guide to making a levain starter with only flour and water, and be amazed by the delicious complexity of your naturally leavened bread. Pizza lovers can experiment with a variety of doughs and sauces to create the perfect pie using either a pizza stone or a cast-iron skillet. Flour Water Salt Yeast is more than just a collection of recipes for amazing bread and pizza—it offers a complete baking education, with a thorough yet accessible explanation of the tools and techniques that set artisan bread apart. Featuring a tutorial on baker’s percentages, advice for manipulating ingredients ratios to create custom doughs, tips for adapting bread baking schedules to fit your day-to-day life, and an entire chapter that demystifies the levain-making process, Flour Water Salt Yeast is an indispensable resource for bakers who want to make their daily bread exceptional bread.

From the author of This American Ex-Wife comes an impassioned and entertaining defense of the autonomy, rights, and dignity of pregnant people Lyz Lenz's writing can "make you cry in one paragraph and snort-laugh in the next" (Chloe Angyal, Vice News). With a blend of wit, snark, and raw intimacy, Belabored shows how religious, historical, and cultural myths about pregnancy have warped the way we treat pregnant people: when our representatives enact laws criminalizing abortion and miscarriage, when doctors prioritize the health of the fetus over the life of the pregnant patient in front of them, when baristas refuse to serve visibly pregnant women caffeine. She also reflects on her own experiences of carrying her two children and seeing how the sacrifices demanded during pregnancy carry over seamlessly into the cult of motherhood, where women are expected to play the narrowly defined roles of "wife" and "mother" rather than be themselves. Belabored is an urgent call for us to trust women and let them choose what happens to their own bodies, from a writer who "is on a roll" (Bitch Magazine).

An entertaining and practical guide to getting through the day with less stress and better health, from the host of the hit TV series A User's Guide to Cheating Death. We make a ridiculous number of decisions every day--possibly even thousands. We make decisions about when to wake up, how to brush our teeth, what to have for breakfast, how to get our kids to school, the amount of coffee to drink, and on and on. Making so many decisions is tough. It can cause stock analysts to perform progressively worse over the course of a day. It can lead us to make poor decisions about the food we eat--the more brain fatigue we experience, the more junk food we consume. And the more deliberate the decision--that is, the more we need to think about it--the more fatiguing the process. There are many social forces at work that make how and what we choose an unnecessarily anxious process. But it doesn't have to be. In Relax, Dammit!, health policy expert Timothy Caulfield takes us through a regular day--from the moment we wake up to when we go to sleep--and shows the underlying science behind our actions and habits. What he reveals is that we make decisions that are based, to a lesser or greater extent, on misinformation. Whether he's studying cell phone use, bike commuting, or raw-milk cheese consumption, Caulfield shows that many of the things we believe to be healthier, safer, or just better, simply aren't. With solid grounding in current and reliable scientific findings, the author points to a less stressful way forward--which means we can all afford to relax a lot more. Insightful, sometimes controversial, and always entertaining, Relax, Dammit! is a surprising and liberating guide to modern life.

AS SEEN IN “THE PRINCIPLES OF PLEASURE” ON NETFLIX ALSO FEATURED IN BUSTLE • DAN SAVAGE LOVECAST • JEZEBEL • NEW YORK TIMES Find out how mindfulness is the key to cultivating desire, increasing sexual pleasure, and finding joy in intimacy. Studies show that approximately half of all women experience some kind of sexual difficulty at one point in their lives, with lack of interest in sex being by far the most common―and the most distressing. And when sex suffers, so do all other areas of life. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In Better Sex through Mindfulness, acclaimed psychologist and sex researcher Lori A. Brotto offers a revolutionary approach to improving desire, arousal, and satisfaction inside―and outside of―the bedroom. A pioneer in the use of mindfulness for treating sexual difficulties, Brotto has helped hundreds of women cultivate more exciting, fulfilling sexual experiences. In this accessible, relatable book, she explores the various reasons for sexual problems, such as stress and incessant multitasking, and tells the stories of many of the women she has treated over the years. She also provides easy, effective exercises that readers can do on their own to increase desire and sexual enjoyment, whether their goal is to overcome a sexual difficulty or simply give their love life a boost.

A Bustle Most Anticipated Book of January 2020 “Scalpel sharp.”—Kathy Reichs A young rookie medical examiner. A suspicious case. An underworld plot only she saw coming. From the New York Times bestselling authors of Working Stiff For San Francisco’s newest medical examiner, Dr. Jessie Teska, it was supposed to be a fresh start. A new job in a new city. A way to escape her own dark past. Instead she faces a chilling discovery when an opioid-overdose case contains hints of something more sinister. Jessie’s superiors urge her to close the case, but as more bodies land on her autopsy table, she uncovers a constellation of deaths that point to an elaborate plot involving drug dealers and Bitcoin brokers. Drawing on her real-life experiences as a forensics expert, Judy Melinek teams up with husband T.J. Mitchell to deliver the most exhilarating mystery of the year. Autopsy means “see for yourself,” and Jessie Teska won’t stop until she has seen it all—even if it means that the next corpse on the table could be her own.

Illuminates the far-reaching harms of believing that natural means “good,” from misinformation about health choices to justifications for sexism, racism, and flawed economic policies. People love what’s natural: it’s the best way to eat, the best way to parent, even the best way to act—naturally, just as nature intended. Appeals to the wisdom of nature are among the most powerful arguments in the history of human thought. Yet Nature (with a capital N) and natural goodness are not objective or scientific. In this groundbreaking book, scholar of religion Alan Levinovitz demonstrates that these beliefs are actually religious and highlights the many dangers of substituting simple myths for complicated realities. It may not seem like a problem when it comes to paying a premium for organic food. But what about condemnations of “unnatural” sexual activity? The guilt that attends not having a “natural” birth? Economic deregulation justified by the inherent goodness of “natural” markets? In Natural, readers embark on an epic journey, from Peruvian rainforests to the backcountry in Yellowstone Park, from a “natural” bodybuilding competition to a “natural” cancer-curing clinic. The result is an essential new perspective that shatters faith in Nature’s goodness and points to a better alternative. We can love nature without worshipping it, and we can work toward a better world with humility and dialogue rather than taboos and zealotry.

The truth about the potions, lotions, pills and needles, pummelling and energizing that lie beyond the realms of conventional medicine. Whether you are an ardent believer in alternative medicine, a skeptic, or are simply baffled by the range of services and opinions, this guide lays to rest doubts and contradictions with authority, integrity, and clarity. In this groundbreaking analysis, over thirty of the most popular treatments―acupuncture, homeopathy, aromatherapy, reflexology, chiropractic, and herbal medicines―are examined for their benefits and potential dangers. Questions answered include: What works and what doesn't? What are the secrets, and what are the lies? Who can you trust, and who is ripping you off? Can science decide what is best, or do the old wives' tales really tap into ancient, superior wisdom?In their scrutiny of alternative and complementary cures, authors Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst also strive to reassert the primacy of the scientific method as a means for determining public health practice and policy.

Watership Down is the compelling tale of a group of wild rabbits struggling to hold onto their place in the world—now a Emmy Award-winning Netflix animated miniseries starring James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, and Oscar and Grammy award-winning Sir Ben Kingsley. A phenomenal worldwide bestseller for more than forty years, Richard Adams's Watership Down is a timeless classic and one of the most beloved novels of all time. Set in England's Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of very special creatures on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stouthearted pair of brothers, they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, to a mysterious promised land and a more perfect society.

With The Diet Fix, weight loss expert Dr. Yoni Freedhoff offers a groundbreaking, useable guide to begin living happily while losing weight permanently. It is time to break the cycle of traumatic dieting. Despite the success stories publicized by Atkins, South Beach, Weight Watchers, and others, 90% of all diets end in failure. How can we fix the way we lose weight so that we make results last? Whether used on its own or in conjunction with any other diet, Dr. Freedhoff’s program shows how to replace a toxic dieting mindset with positive beliefs and behaviors. Dr. Freedhoff has uncovered the flawed thinking that sabotages even the most earnest weight loss efforts. The majority of dieting or weight loss programs call for regular sacrifice: Give up an entire food group; fight hunger day and night; undertake exhausting and grueling exercise regiments. These approaches are unrealistic, unhealthy, and make it nearly impossible to maintain results. Now, at last, there is hope. In The Diet Fix, Dr. Freedhoff offers a tested program for breaking down the negative thought patterns that prevent people from losing weight and keeping it off.  Through the course of years of research and patient treatment, he has developed a 10-Day Reset that supports losing weight while maintaining a healthy, enjoyable lifestyle. This reset is designed to eliminate the habits that so often lead to weight gain: use it to shut down cravings, prevent indulgences from turning into binges, and break up with the scale once and for all. The 10-Day Reset can make any diet more effective, whether it’s low-carb, low-fat, meal replacement, calorie tracking, or anything in between.