Every month I pick three books worth your time. This month all three are about the same thing we talk about here: staying strong, sharp and independent as we get older. They’re all on the bestseller lists right now.
1. Protocols: An Operating Manual for the Human Body by Andrew Huberman, PhD
If you’ve listened to podcasts at all in the last few years, you’ve probably heard of Dr. Huberman. He’s a Stanford neuroscientist, and his health podcast is one of the most popular in the world. Protocols is his first book, and it’s built around one simple idea: small daily habits, done consistently, change how you feel.
He covers the basics that matter most at our age, including sleep, energy, mood and stress, and he includes protocols for getting stronger and leaner at any age. For each one he explains the science in plain language, then tells you exactly what to do.
It’s a big book at over 500 pages, but you don’t have to read it front to back. Pick the chapter you need most, probably sleep, and start there.
Great for: anyone who wants one solid reference book on the shelf for all-around health.
2. Heal Your Cells by Dr. Josh Axe and Dr. Will Cole
Ever feel like you’re doing everything right, eating well, taking your vitamins, getting your walks in, and you still feel worn out? That’s the question this book tries to answer. The authors argue that tiredness, brain fog, gut trouble and hormone changes are all early signs that our cells aren’t working the way they should.
The book walks you through foods that support your cells, like bone broth, pomegranate and fermented foods, along with ideas about meal timing. There’s also a quiz that tries to show whether one part of your body is aging faster than the rest.
One honest note from me: Dr. Axe comes from the natural and functional medicine world, and some of what he suggests, like supplements and fasting, is worth running by your own doctor first, especially if you take medications. The food advice, though, is something most of us can use right away.
Great for: readers who feel tired all the time and want a food-first plan to try.
3. Unbreakable: A Woman’s Guide to Aging with Power by Dr. Vonda Wright
Ladies, this one is for you. Dr. Wright is an orthopedic surgeon who has spent over 20 years helping people stay active as they age. Her message is simple: getting older doesn’t have to mean getting weaker.
She explains how menopause speeds up the loss of muscle and bone, which is what leads to falls, broken bones and losing your independence later on. Then she gives you a plan to fight back, covering nutrition, exercise and lifestyle, with a six-week exercise program, the blood and mobility tests worth asking your doctor about, and twenty easy anti-inflammatory recipes.
If you’ve read my posts on building muscle after 60, you know how much I believe in strength training. This book makes that case better than almost anything I’ve read.
Great for: any woman over 50, and honestly any man who wants to understand what his wife or sister is going through.
🏆 2026 IBPA Gold Winner — Health & Fitness Excellent fit for our menopause, wellness, nutrition, and healthy-aging discussions. The book is specifically described as evidence-based and covers lifestyle, hormonal and non-hormonal approaches.
Disclosure: Some of the books mentioned on Well After 50 may include affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend books I believe may be genuinely useful or interesting to people 50+.
Aging Well with Diabetes: A 10-Point Action Plan for Older Adults (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)
An essential guide to navigating diabetes for older adults and their caregivers.
Silver Winner of the 2026 IBPA Book Award for Health & Fitness
In Aging Well with Diabetes, Dr. Medha Munshi and Dr. Sheri Colberg provide practical advice to redefine living with diabetes in later life. As experts in geriatric care and diabetes management, they introduce a clear and accessible 10-step action plan to help you manage diabetes effectively while enhancing your overall vitality and independence.
Each step in the action plan is detailed with achievable goals, making it a crucial toolkit for anyone living with diabetes or caring for someone who does. The authors discuss:
• Comprehensive health management, including dietary adjustments, physical activity, medication management, and more • How aging and diabetes interact, detailing the physiological changes and challenges that come with managing diabetes at an older age • The diversity of experiences among older adults with diabetes and the importance of personalized treatment plans • Practical tips and strategies, such as modifying exercises to prevent falls and dietary tips that accommodate older digestive systems • Guidance for caregivers and health care providers on how to support older adults with diabetes
Whether you’re newly diagnosed or a long-time diabetic, this guide will empower you to take control of your health and manage your diabetes with confidence and grace as you age.
Disclosure: Some of the books mentioned on Well After 50 may include affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend books I believe may be genuinely useful or interesting to people 50+.
Just One Heart: A Cardiologist’s Guide to Healing, Health, and Happiness
A multiple award-winning, evidence-based guide to healing and strengthening the heart—from the inside out
Our hearts are under strain—physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.
Stress, anxiety, loneliness, and disconnection don’t just affect how we feel.
They change how our hearts function.
In Just One Heart, Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a Harvard-trained cardiologist and mindfulness teacher, offers a clear, science-grounded path to restoring health, resilience, and meaning through the heart–mind connection.
Drawing on the latest research from medicine, psychology, and neuroscience—and integrating time-tested wisdom from contemplative traditions—this book translates complex science into practical, everyday tools to help you:
Reduce stress and calm the nervous system
Build emotional steadiness and resilience
Support heart health beyond numbers and tests
Reconnect with purpose, connection, and what matters most
Part I explores the science of the heart–mind connection and the hidden drivers of modern heart disease, stress, and burnout.
Part II offers guided practices to cultivate the Seven Timeless Traits of the Heart:
steadiness, wisdom, openness, wholeness, courage, lightness, and warmth.
Interwoven throughout are reflections from Dr. Fisher’s own journey through anxiety and burnout, moving patient stories, and insights from more than fifty leaders in mind–body medicine and human flourishing.
Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a leader under pressure, or someone seeking greater clarity, calm, and wholeness, Just One Heart shows how caring for the heart—fully and wisely—can transform both health and life.
Disclosure: Some of the books mentioned on Well After 50 may include affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend books I believe may be genuinely useful or interesting to people 50+.
The Creative Way Forward: A Guide for Navigating Change in Work and Life
2025 IBPA Book Awards Gold Winner: Self-Help 2025 IBPA Book Awards Silver Winner: Best New Voice, Nonfiction 2025 Axiom Awards Gold Medalist in Personal Development 2024 Foreword INDIES Book Awards Bronze Winner: Career (Adult Nonfiction) 2024 American Book Fest Award Winner – Self-Help: General 2024 American Book Fest Award Finalist – Business: Motivational
“Martin’s well-researched and thoughtfully crafted book provides a road map for staying resilient, adaptable, and true to yourself in the face of life’s challenges.” -Daniel H. Pink, New York Times best-selling author of The Power of Regret and Drive
Learn How to Creatively Adapt, Improvise Solutions, and Embrace Change
Change is inevitable. If there’s one thing we can plan on, it’s that nothing will stay the same. Yet change can also be challenging, especially when it’s unexpected. In times of disruption when we most need to be creative, we’re often reactive. We hang on to what we know instead of being open to the vast possibilities of what’s next. Professional coach and consultant Jen Martin shows us another way: how to build your creative capacity and ability to improvise forward, even during life’s biggest twists and turns.For those navigating any type of change—whether at work or in life—Jen shares research-backed practices and tools to help you strengthen your agility and adaptability. In this book, you will learn:
The four-part Change Curve for navigating transitions
How to regulate your nervous system to be creative versus reactive
Why knowing “what’s core for you” is critical for being adaptive
Three powerful ways to reframe your perspective
The type of curiosity you’ll need in order to embrace what’s next
How to creatively navigate detours and setbacks on the journey
This book is a beautiful reminder that while the future is inherently uncertain, it’s precisely when we don’t have all the answers that we often come up with the most interesting ideas and discover the creative way forward.
We don’t choose books simply because they’re popular. We look for books that offer something worthwhile for people 50+.
When putting together our monthly Book Choices, we consider:
Useful information — Does the book teach, explain, or offer something readers can actually use?
Quality and credibility — Is the author knowledgeable and does the book have substance behind it?
Reader response — We look at reviews and what readers consistently say about the book.
Relevance to life after 50 — Does it speak to health, wellness, relationships, personal growth, aging, or simply enjoying life more?
Different kinds of books — We try to include a mix rather than recommending the same type of book every month.
Overall value — Would we feel comfortable suggesting the book to a friend?
The goal isn’t to find the “perfect” book. It’s to find books that might make your month a little more interesting, useful, or enjoyable.
Listen to Well After 50
I also talk about practical health and aging topics on the Well After 50 with Thomas Green podcast. If you prefer to listen while walking, driving, or relaxing at home, find Well After 50 on Spotify and check the show for available episodes.
Affiliate Disclaimer: Well After 50 may earn a small commission when you purchase products through links on this site, at no additional cost to you. I only share products I believe may be helpful to my readers. Your support helps keep Well After 50 going. Thank you!
