
Member Reviews

This book is a multipurpose: you can read it as a satire, exposé, or a guide to the wellness industry. There are several positive attributes of this book I would like to note: it is well organized and informative; it is funny; the voice Amy is using is spot on, you would want to quote from her book; and finally, it is not too long which is a blessing compared to some other nonfiction tomes nowadays. The natural audience for this book would be apparently younger women, but it can be recommended for mature people, too. The allure of 'being well' is strong for all ages.

I belive I am a well person, and yet, I am constantly drawn to information about wellness. It's hard to reconcile why that is.
Larocca unpacks the ever-growing behemoth of the wellness industry, through so many angles I feel I now understand the answer to why wellness is so attractive a subject. The author is a historian, user, and skeptic of all aspects of the wellness industry in a way that is not judgmental, but informative and approachable.
First we see that there has been a lack of holistic, fundamental medical practices in the U.S. that has led many to seek their wellness regimes and information. This led to a capitalist approach to wellness that wants to give everyone the magic fix or the secret to wellness... at a price. She debunks many myths, and also says what works for wellness, which is not exciting or glamorous. Sleep, clean water, whole foods, movement, and community. The absolute non-revolutionary nature of wellness that works is counteracted by the wellness industry, which needs consumers to consume.
A wonderful read for anyone looking to dive into the why of wellness as the industry it is today.

I think a lot of the negative reviews of this book are based on the title "How to Be Well." This book is not a how to, and is instead an examination of the different areas of wellness and how they are exploitative. This book is 300 pages, so it's not short necessarily, but it does feel like the author glosses over a lot of areas where she could have dived deeper. I almost wish she had chosen a few areas of wellness rather than the area as a whole. Regardless, if you've been questioning the wellness industry, this will be an interesting read for you. If you're involved in wellness at all, you may find this interesting (if you're open to criticizing it, of course) as the author says that she has been in some of these spaces herself. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it.
Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In How to Be Well, Amy Larocca looked at the ways we can discover our self-care when we are constantly bombarded with ads on social media and TV about how we can better ourselves. She was a fashion journalist and she studied fashion and watched countless fashion shows. She has first hand experience with navigating all the different suggestions on wellness we see in the world. There is many ideas on how to achieve beauty and look younger. We can color our hair, take collagen, take medication such as Ozempic, do meditation, exercise, and a number of other things we try to purse to make us better.
She explored the topics of the Oura ring and how this jewelry gathers data from our sleep patterns and fitness levels. It lets you know when it is time to go to bed to get our rest. She shared how she tried showers, gratitude journals, dimming lights, blue filtering glasses to try and boost her sleep score. Her heart rate variability goes up and down. Celebs have tried it from Gwyneth Paltrow to Kim Kardashian. Kim had a score of 95. She shared how she even tried Lumen and CGM. They track when we should consume food and exertion. She couldn’t locate any meaningful patterns.
This book is very well researched and explores tons of information on beauty and wellness. I liked how she looked at a number of different tips and techniques on everything we do to look and feel younger. It’s very eye opening what women are especially pressure to do. There is one chapter on men and how they are are expected to handle erectile dysfunction, baldness, and being fit. It was interesting to learn how we can be content and how we can catch after wellness.

It's no secret that society wants us to "Be Well". Almost every time somebody looks at a screen, magazine or billboard there is some new cure, diet or wellness secret being advertised and promoted. With social media and influencer popularity continuing there is ample opportunity for companies and practitioners to push their snake oil into the hands of consumers. With all the knowledge we've ever wanted at our finger tips it can be surprising how many people fall for unresearched, unbacked products with fun, attention grabbing packaging. Wellness investors have an endless supply of fleece vests and crazy biohacks that are going to make you the next hot thing! However, when looking around profiles there really doesn't seem to be anyone that truly sticks out...
"How to Be Well" by Amy Larocca is an in-depth analysis of our wellness culture and how we continue to fall for the same false promises that are just branded and packaged differently. Larocca, who was involved in the wellness craze herself examines how and why she fell for the latest trends and how she watched the people around her get involved in similar schemes. Nobody is perfect and we've all fallen for something but when will we stop falling and realize that there is no miracle product and we have to be content with what we can control.

This didn’t do it for me. The title makes it seem like you might walk away with something helpful in but the subhead isn’t accurate. There’s no map to navigate anything offered in the pages to come. Instead what you’ll find is a critique of the wellness industry…. or more specifically things that the author feels fall under the umbrella of the wellness industry.
The author seems to lightly bash the trends she references but often acknowledges the merit they might have for other people. It resulted in the construct feeling all over the place: questioning pseudoscience (fair!), looking into colonics (and maybe having one? It was unclear from one paragraph to the next? and then confirmed in the conclusion?) doing a semi-deep dive on body positivity and also touching on chronic illness. It was just inconsistent.
I feel like I’ve read the article version of this and the extended book version of it didn’t really bring anything to the table, it just kind of made me want to get a green juice...

I really enjoyed this critical take on some of the capitalist-driven wellness trends that were subjected to on a daily basis. I do wish that there had been some more alternatives offered, but I understand that this wasn’t the author’s point in writing this book.

Inaccurately named, as the author spends 100% of the book satirically reviewing popular wellness fads, with no attention given to the true determinants of wellbeing. This book irritated me. Maybe because despite the way she mocks ashwaganda smoothies and luxury doctor’s offices, she also admits to trying most of the ridiculous schemes herself. As a criticism of the industry, it was hard for me to take seriously since the writer admittedly uses her affluence and privilege to take advantage of the offerings she in turn calls unnecessary. Yes, she points out how classist and racist our pursuits of “wellness” often are, but in the same breath she admits spending $2K on a full-body scan just for peace of mind. It’s just icky because in the title she claims to have a solution, when in reality she’s just reviewing the snake oil for those of us who can’t afford it. 🤷🏼♀️ If anything, this is an interesting look at the range of products and services that exist in the billion-dollar wellness world. But I didn't get the actionable insights that I was looking for, which was disappointing.

How To Be Well by Amy Park cake an engaging,entertaining exploration of wellness trends from the glamorous my sensible, to the wealthy wackacadoodle, to the billionaire bizarre. All have one thing in common it seems; major wealth is probably needs to participate. In an age when most Americans can't afford basic healthcare, no less. I guess what it boils down to is if you're sick or die young, it's probably because of your income. However,I would guess that crystals or colonics, micro dosing or steaming your lady parts will make you well.. However,exercise,nutrition, water and sleep are good for you. That is the common sense conclusion. I enjoyed this book so much and want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. My opinions are my own.

We are all bombarded by wellness information — most of it absolute rubbish for someone’s profits. Author Amy Larocca takes a deep dive into the industry, everything from meditation (like helpful to the practitioner) to biohacking (sometimes useful) and clean beauty (possibly harmful).
This is an entertaining and well-researched look at how the wellness industry became such a behemoth — and is well worth a read before we all get sucked down the next rabbit hole.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for ARC.

I wasn't as big a fan of this book as I thought I would be. As someone who is a sucker for the latest wellness trend, but also knows it is mostly phony, I thought the scams would be covered in a different way. I appreciated the critiques like the parasocial relationship between a rider and their Peloton instructor and the absurdity of vagina steaming via Goop, but I was a bit disappointed in the lack of alternatives. There are some positives to things like exercise, meditation, etc. when they are done in a not bro-ey way. I didn't like the fact that it seemed a bit condescending to anyone who has tried the trends, and that she waited until the very last chapter to say that she has tried them and that there are basic ways to be well and positively influence the next generation. It seemed like a drawn out essay that could've been shorter on the pseudoscience and consumerist aspects of the wellness industry with a rushed conclusion.

Wellness products and services bombard my social media daily. Sometimes I don't even know that it's marketing. Reading Larocca's book about How to Be Well was an interesting dive into the industry and the many ways we are tempted to make purchases in the name of wellness and being well and better. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. A very interesting and thought-provoking book.

I received a free DRC of this book through Netgalley. The writing was well done and covered each topic without being too long-winded. It basically debunked (and saved me money) for all of the things we see advertised as things that will make us well or more well. I'm not sure if it covered what we actually need to be well in much detail, but at least our bank accounts will be well from not spending in quack cures.

This book is a sharp, entertaining dive into the ever-growing wellness industry. Larocca explores the concept of self-care and its role as the foundation of the billion-dollar wellness industry - encompassing clean beauty, the "glow" lifestyle, biohacking, and more. By weaving in history, politics, and cultural analysis, she offers a wide-ranging, eye-opening, and timely critique as "wellness" continues to dominate our lives.
While the book pulled me in with its wit and thoughtful exploration, it fizzled toward the end. I was hoping for more practical advice on navigating this overwhelming world without losing my mind or my wallet. It’s still a solid read if you’re curious about how wellness became such a massive cultural force, but don’t expect it to leave you with a clear roadmap.

This book was not exactly what I expected, but that doesn't mean it disappointed. The author spends a majority of the book moving between trends, products, services, icons, and historical events as she dives into the ideal of being well, an ever elusive state of being. In a consumer focused country with increasing pressure on (mostly) women to fit a specific mold, the idea of wellness has moved far and away from its original definition and goal. It is now something available for those with the pockets deep enough to buy it.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a good starting point for a person questioning the "wellness" industry.
It gives a good overview of the tactics used without going down too many rabbit holes.
#NetGalley

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this publication.
You need to read this book if you enjoyed the Netflix doc about why we overspend. It will explain everything in the wellness world and why we have consumed it all. There is more than meets the eye in the world of wellness. Do not miss this book.

An insightful study of the wellness industry that blends popular science, reporting, and personal recollections. After reading the introduction, I was expecting something in the vein of Bianca Bosker's hands-on approach, with the author going deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole of testing every possible product, treatment and practice, so I was a little disappointed when she (mostly) stayed level-headed. Still, I found her writing compelling.
Not being too familiar with various wellness products and services, I learned a lot of surprising facts. I was particularly captivated by the similarities between exercise classes like CrossFit or SoulCycle and organized religion. As the author writes, "Wellness will scrub your colon, your house, your conscience”.
Thanks to the publisher, Knopf, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Amy Larocca’s “How to Be Well” is an engaging and insightful guide to holistic wellness. I appreciate her honest tone and funny personal stories, although the writing could sometimes feel a bit longer than necessary. A tighter, more focused structure would have made the core message more impactful.
The history of wellness and mindfulness along with comparisons to the modern approach were fascinating, and this book is a compelling resource for those seeking a more balanced approach to healthcare.

How to Be Well: Without Spending All Your Money and Losing Your Mind by Amy Larocca is a thought-provoking dive into the massive (and often absurd) wellness industry. Larocca does a great job exploring how wellness has evolved from self-care to a billion-dollar machine, touching on everything from Pilates to biohacking to green juice enemas. It’s sharp, eye-opening, and at times laugh-out-loud funny.
Larocca excels at pulling back the curtain on wellness fads and exposing the class, gender, and racial dynamics that fuel the industry. Her background as a journalist shines through—there’s a lot of thoughtful analysis and well-researched history here. The book also raises important questions about why we keep chasing the following “miracle” cure and how wellness has become another way for women to feel they’re falling short.
But while the critique is strong, the book sometimes feels repetitive and scattered. Larocca spends much time unpacking the problem but less on what the average person can do about it. You might want more if you’re looking for practical advice or guidance on navigating the wellness world without losing your mind (and your wallet).
Overall, it’s a solid read if you’re interested in wellness's history and cultural critique. But if you’re looking for something actionable or deeply personal, this book might leave you feeling like it only scratched the surface. A good, not great, read.