I found the beginning to the Gospel of Wellness absolutely fascinating. Author Rina Raphael sets out to unpack the $4.4 trillion wellness economy. Wellness, as she explains, is "the active pursuit of well-being outside the realm of medicine. It’s more than just avoiding sickness; it encompasses prevention and maintenance: nutrition, fitness, sleep, community support, and stress management. It’s the choices we make to feel better physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually."

And a lot of good points are made, for example: wellness is "almost an aspirational obsession for some and close to religious dogma for others." When wellness is treated more like fashion than health, "it's not always pressed upon reporters to investigate wellness companies' claims." "America inadvertently incentivizes the delay of motherhood."

At the same time, I wanted a stronger through line for the book. Raphael provides good context, but that had the side effect of making some parts seem a bit of jumpy as she integrated so many different thoughts, historical tidbits, scientific findings, etc.

Overall, though, I think this is an important book given the place of wellness in our culture as well as the economy - but maybe one that's been overlooked given its focus on women.

A note on the audio production: I listen to something like 150-200 books a year, and have for several years. This was one of the worst productions I've encountered. I'm not sure if the narrator was sometimes closer to the mic than others, or if the difference was due to initial recording vs. pickups, but there were many portions of the book when the sound was suddenly different for a sentence or two. It was jarring and didn't make for the best reading experience.

I started listening to the book and just did not feel like I wanted to keep hearing it. Once I stopped and listened to some podcasts I did not want to go back and keep listening; therefore, I can't say it kept my interest or attention.

That was so fascinating… and alarming lol. I’ve definitely been a victim of multiple wellness and fitness industry MLM cults. I love that this was narrated by the author! She’s so fun and refreshing. I hope to read more from her soon!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of this title!

I found "The Gospel of Wellness" by Rina Raphael to be an insightful read that challenged your perspective on the wellness industry. As someone who is interested in wellness, I appreciated the well-researched critique of an industry that often preys on people's dreams and insecurities.

The author's examination of various aspects of the industry, including supplements, fitness companies, and Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop, shed light on the marketing tactics that are often used to sell wellness products. You found the book to be informative and appreciated the author's feminist perspective. Overall, it was a thought-provoking read that makes you think critically about the wellness industry.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This was an interesting read that dives into the almost religious fervor around wellness these days. I appreciated the push back against the pseudoscience of our obsession with chemicals in skincare products as well as organic food and what those concepts actually mean--as well as what they don't. But it covers so much ground it's hard to follow, and I found a lot of the discussions around dieting and sugar and food quite triggering as someone who's had an ED.

"The truth is that deep within the underbelly of self-care—hidden beneath layers of clever marketing—wellness beckons with a far stronger, more seductive message than health alone. It promises women the one thing they desperately desire: control."

Whew, what a relatable, funny, infuriating, vindicating read. I loved this book. LOVED it. It's now swept through my friend group and led to many MANY discussions and tangents about the range of topics under the wellness umbrella--self care rituals; exercise communities; MLMs; alternative medicine and why western medicine is failing women; maternal health; etc. Rina Raphael is a sardonic, well-researched documentarian; she took this book in surprising and interesting directions; and I will certainly be reading more from her.

This is a great choice for a nonfiction book that will engage your book club, buddy reads or book community in engaged conversations.

For fans of:
Cultish by Amanda Montell

Related Reading:
The Cost of Living by Emily Maloney

Thank you so much to Henry Holt & MacMillan Audio for the arcs!
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A lot of the things Raphael discusses in this book are real, and are serious issues- spiritual materialism, toxic positivity, privilege, orthorexia, first-world problems, I could go on - so I was hyped to listen to her research and conclusions on these topics, to see if there'd be any new ideas on how to tackle them. Unfortunately, this was just so...blah. Nothing really groundbreaking or original. No fresh insights or solutions. Just preaching to the choir.

I’m not a huge self help reader, but this one was really good and super relatable. The author dug deep into her research on how the average American woman feels and basically that we’ll do pretty much anything to feel more deserving and at peace with ourselves. There were so many “wow, me too” moments for me in this book and a lot of validation for my feelings as an average mom and housewife.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the chance to listen to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Since 2020, I’ve been updating my idea of wellness on a daily basis. After reading this book, that definition continues to change. This book provides a lot of insight and even more to think about, but ultimately, wellness is individualized in what you need.

I took away two major things from this book: how wellness is evolving and how marketing creates said evolutions.

Just like we’ve seen changes in other industries, there’s no one size fits all. Not one workout works for everyone, or skincare routine, or literally anything. Truthfully, it reassures readers to not feed into what you see online or what your favorite influencer is doing because there’s a chance it’s not for you (as hard as this is).

It really gave CULTISH vibes, and since I’m one who loves to workout and try the latest skincare regimen, I was really fascinated with Raphael’s findings. My only complaint is that it tends to jump around a bit and doesn’t have a consistent flow, but also see the POV of having an ever moving thought process of one thing leading to another. In the end, it’s all connected.

From a marketing perspective, it was fascinating how one word can increase sales. Gluten free, organic, “me time,” etc. I think everyone understands how marketing is always finding the flashiest ways to grab consumers, so learning just a few steps beyond what I see on labels was eye opening.

Big thank you to Henry Holt for the ARC copy!

Content warnings: eating disorders, fat shaming

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for free access to the audiobook of The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, and the False Promise of Self-Care by Rina Raphael in exchange for an honest review.

This is an excellent introduction to the ways in which capitalism and diet culture are so pervasive. Raphael explores the gendered messages that surround "self-care" and how it often perpetuates more shame and guilt, especially for women. Ladies, we are being targeted by all sides by so many industries. The messages that we have received since childhood teach us to internalize perfectionism, which inherently works against our ability to become our most authentic and free selves. If you're looking for help becoming more critical about the messages you receive about your health and wellness, this is a great place to start.

However, this book is not without its flaws. In all of her exploration of various health and wellness topics, Raphael neglected to mention the fact that nutritionists are not overseen by any type of regulatory body. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist without proper education or credentials. Nutrition guidance is highly dependent on individual factors and diet plans are NOT one size fits all. If you are seeking help with your nutritional needs, please please please, I beg of you, seek out a registered dietician, and ideally a registered dietician who uses a HAES framework and is Intuitive Eating certified. Nutritionists are part of the problem of diet culture and can do enormous amounts of damage by spreading misinformation and fatphobia.

Overall, I thought the intention of this book was good. I think this is a pretty thorough exploration of the different manifestations of wellness culture and how marketing, fear mongering, and placing the burden of change on individuals rather than the harmful systems play a large part in increasing stress, counter to what self-care espouses. However, I think there were opportunities missed here to take a more definitive stand on the harm being done to people, and how wellness culture disproportionately affects minorities; women, people of color. queer people. Raphael uses peer reviewed research and statistics to back up her arguments, but I still found something lacking. Her narrative almost seemed to be ambivalent at points. The takeaway message almost seemed to be, "Watch yourself and what you take in from wellness and self-care culture, but there's not much we can do to change the system." I think we can and must do better than that.

For fans of “Fitness Junkie”, “The Gospel of Wellness” dives into the deep, dark, and Goop-y world of wellness. It’s fascinating, sinister, and so worth the read!

This book is perfect for fans of "Maintenance Phase" and I truly enjoyed listening to Rina Raphael read her writing. She did a great job of covering various health and wellness topics that have seeped into our daily lives. As someone who's bought into the hype, this book only furthered my growing disillusionment with the wellness industry. Raphael discusses diet, spirituality, health and wellness inequality, fads, and so much more. The history of where wellness began and how it's going to affect us in the future, is so complex, and she does a great job making this book a primer to start being more critical about wellness.

I wish the book had discussed a bit more about the cultural appropriation of wellness. Yoga, meditation, and acupuncture are cultural practices that have very much been co-opted by wealthy white women. I think there's a way to talk about that, even if you're not part of the cultures they come from, and it is a good reminder to have when you're speaking critically about the American obsession with "exotic" forms of wellness.

I found this book really enjoyable, and it definitely held me over between episodes of Maintenance Phase and watching TikTok doctors slam dunk on gurus spreading misinformation. I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

thank you to NetGalley and to Macmillan Audio and to Goodreads. I recievwed the audio and the paperback book. Everything I write is of my own thoughts feeling and opinions. I am not compensated in any way for my review.
I loved this book! the author is down to earth on some of the latest trends in wellness. She really nails it on the head with all the topics covered.

Deeply researched and well written, THE GOSPEL OF WELLNESS is a fascinating dive into the wellness industry. This book is perfect for fans of the podcast THE DREAM. My only criticism is the author's narration of the book. Despite her background in journalism, her lack of enunciation or sheer mispronunciation in her narration was irritating (gluten and kombucha were two examples that were spoken A LOT).

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The wellness industry is a phenomenon that has captured my attention since my early 20s. As a nursing student, I studied the effects of college on health lifestyle factors on students. These days, as an integrative health coach, there's a lot to love about wellness and a lot to despise, particularly following the past three years. <I>The Gospel of Wellness</I> details pieces of the industry and how it promises women more control in their lives, in a culture that is often dismissive. Raphael details areas of wellness, like nutrition, exercise, beauty products, etc., and how they have begun to fall short of their promises for healthier lives.

Overall, I agree with much of the messaging: much of wellness is built on pseudoscience, fear, and capitalism. However, I felt as though it diverged from the original thesis and the ideas were fairly disorganized, not really settling into an argument. Equating wellness to religion was an interesting theory, but I expected much more around the cultier aspects of wellness, not a judgement for those who find meaning and purpose outside of organized religion. I'm all for criticism of white women, but it often felt misplaced in the discussions, especially when I'm guessing that this is her intended audience as she makes zero mention of the rampant cultural appropriation, overt white supremacy, and ableism that plagues the industry.

There needs to be a bit more nuanced discussion on integrative wellness, which takes medicine and evidence based alternative therapies into consideration. We need all of it and dismissing all of health care or all of "wellness" and all that it entails can get us into trouble. While she did go into this a bit, it felt like the argument here could have been more organized and fleshed out.

I found that she had a much better argument against the toxic individualism and capitalism that plagues us versus the intense need we have in this divided society for more community care. The wellness industry really tends to uphold patriarchy, toxic diet culture, white supremacy and racism, and ableism, which depend on capitalism to uphold it. The book was at its strongest when it was criticizing big businesses and the anti-science movement that take advantage of the lack of access to health care providers that really listen. Raphael set up an admirable case for building community, but never really got there. I wish she went all in on what she really wanted to talk about, and went less judgy on the individuals who enjoy their Peloton and a little astrology. (Hi, it's me.)

This would be worth a read if you are in the wellness industry as a business owner like me! We all could use a bit of perspective. Also, if you enjoyed <I>Cultish</I> this might be a good one to check out.

The journalist author of The Gospel of Wellness shares her findings as she explores how and why the wellness industry has grown and how commodified wellness disproportionately affects women.

What is wellness? How much of wellness is tied to vanity, a fear of ageism, and the illusion of control? Raphael examines these questions and shares consumer statistics.

Pseudo-science and celebrities and social media influencers play a major role in the wellness industry. Who are the so-called wellness experts? Are influencers paid to market clean beauty and clean food brands replacing health experts? Algorithms are creating a new reality for those who only get their health and wellness information on social media.

Diet culture has shifted to wellness culture, and there are close ties between wellness diets and disordered eating. (Side note–I am so tired of targeted ads for women being all about weight loss, diets, and changing our bodies.)

Gyms and subscriptions (ex. Peloton and Soul Cycle) have created a space for belonging and inspiration for wellness seekers, much like worship services.

Overall, Raphael’s book reminds the reader to think critically before jumping on the latest wellness bandwagon with eyes wide open to the probability that marketing and profit may be major factors in the latest wellness trends. I wouldn’t expect any entirely new information from this book, but it takes a closer look at the wellness marketing that has become a part of our daily lives.

I really enjoy listening to non-fiction on audio, especially when the authors are sharing thought-provoking information and asking the reader to question the status quo. If you do too, I recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this one. I went into it thinking it was going to be a critique on the Goop lifestyle, but it ended up being a lot more than that. I found it to be a really thoughtful commentary on burnout culture, consumerism, marketing, the health industry, and more.

There are points where the author gets it right, but I would never recommend this to anyone actually trying to unlearn everything the wellness industrial complex has taught us. It gives way too much allowance to companies like goop and other psuedoscience mess. Two truths can exist simultaneously: the medical establishment was not built for women, but that does not mean pseudoscience is the answer. Would recommend reading a book like Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison instead.

I'm not sure what I expected from this book, and yet I was left feeling slightly disappointed.

The Gospel of Wellness sets out to explore how and why American women have become semi-obsessed with wellness culture. Through a combination of investigative reporting and personal accounts, Rina Raphael touches on beauty, fitness, nutrition, "biohacking," and more.

The writing is clear and approachable, and it does a good job of summarizing each aspect of wellness culture. I particularly enjoyed the "flashback" sections as a way of seeing how these ideas and fixations are not new—they just have really great marketing behind them now.

One of the key takeaways from this book is how a lack of research and education into women's issues in particular is part of what's led to this boom in the wellness industry. Any time that point was made, though, I wanted Raphael to go deeper. Sure, we've replaced traditional products or modalities with ones that have even less research, but what can we do about that?

Or, when she makes the point that we're encouraged to "silence the mind" when we have legitimate complaints that deserve to be voiced and heard, I'm left wondering, okay, so what can we do about that? Talk to our friends? Write our representatives? Take another spin class?

I was also thrown by the fact that one chapter (rightfully!) discusses that the BMI is bullshit (my words, not hers), but then she goes on to mention obesity multiple times. What is considered "obese" if we're stepping outside of the (highly flawed) BMI? She never defines this.

By the end of the book, I was left wondering if I'm the right audience for this message. For one, not a lot of what was presented here was new to me (for example, the chapter on fitness was largely reminiscent of the similar chapter in Cultish). And then I was wondering if I missed what the message even was.

Not every book needs to be an indictment on capitalism, but it felt to me like this book would benefit from being an indictment on capitalism. After all, if marketing is the driving force behind the wellness industry, and if we're spending all this money in an effort to feel better but are opting for products and modalities that don't actually serve and support us, then isn't capitalism to blame here? At least in large part? I know that can make things feel even bigger and outside of our control (we can't simply choose to dismantle capitalism tomorrow, after all), but if we're going to go there, let's go there! Let's dismantle capitalism through our daily decisions. Let's question the whole system. Let's radicalize our lives.

This book does not advocate for that, though. At least not explicitly.

Instead, the message of the book seems to be that we need to decide why we are choosing what we're choosing, focusing on what feels good to us and is ideally/hopefully backed by research. If that's the case, then I already knew that and didn't need this book to tell me that. I suppose there's value in another person giving you permission to do that, and if the information in this book is new to someone, I can see how it would be life-changing.

I hope this book finds its audience and helps this industry be transformed (in any and all the ways that's possible).

I hadn't heard a lot about this book so I didn't really go in with high hopes. HOWEVER, I very much enjoyed this book. I feel like every woman or person who find themselves into wellness fads, NEEDS to read this book. It's a NEED. Myself included. From fitness fads to the cult of Goop- Rina debunks the dangerous claims and talks about why we find ourselves so sucked in. This book is accessible and easy to read/listen to and I think the author does a fantastic job with the narration. If you enjoyed books such as INVISIBLE WOMEN or CULTISH- this may be a book that you'll enjoy,