Looking for authoritative books on medicine and health from sources you can trust? Head for the Harvard Health Publications website, where recent titles include 4 Weeks to Healthy Digestion by gastroenterologist Norton J. Greenberger, alongside the bestselling Eat, Drink and Be Healthy by nutrition chair Walter Willett and The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide.
In 1975, HMS expanded its educational mission to include the general public by forming what has become Harvard Health Publications Division (HHP) and launching the Harvard Health Letter, a newsletter that translates the latest research findings into consumer-friendly news each month. In 1999, HHP launched a book-publishing program that today offers 30 titles. “All HHP books are written or edited by members of the HMS faculty,” said HHP chief editor of books Julie Silver, an HMS assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. “All address topics of broad interest in a clear, engaging style.”
Some books help readers translate recent discoveries into action. For example, Eat, Play and Be Healthy by W. Allan Walker serves up eating advice for children, while The No Sweat Exercise Plan by Harvey B. Simon helps adults learn health-enhancing exercise practices that stop short of vigorous exertion for sustained periods. Living Through Breast Cancer by Carolyn Kaelin and Beating Diabetes by David M. Nathan and Linda Delahanty explore specific diseases. How-to guides aim to ease patients’ symptoms, such as Healing Your Sinuses, by Ralph B. Metson. Other titles—Hot Flashes, Hormones and Your Health by JoAnn E. Manson and Testosterone for Life by Abraham Morgentaler—tackle important controversies in medicine.
To maximize your skills, take a look at Achieving Optimal Memory by Aaron P. Nelson or the just-published The Winner’s Brain by Jeff Brown and Mark Fenske. For help in shouldering a particular burden of illness, look to Raising an Emotionally Healthy Child When a Parent Is Sick by Paula K. Rauch and Anna C. Muriel.
Several titles simplify human biology. Your Developing Baby by Peter M. Doubilet and Carol B. Benson uses ultrasound images to explain how a fetus grows and develops.
Rather than take on book making and distribution, HHP partners with leading trade publishers. Silver and colleagues help faculty authors fine-tune their ideas and craft winning proposals. HHP also helps find writers for busy faculty members, who may lack experience in writing for lay readers.
Silver is always scouting new HMS authors. Books that will have broad appeal or may make important contributions to a specific category, such as psychology and self-help, are top priority.
“As physicians, we typically apply our knowledge one patient at a time. Through publishing, we have the opportunity to help greater numbers of people than we could ever hope to see in a career,” said Anthony Komaroff, editor in chief at HHP. “In the past 40 years, in no small measure because of studies conducted at HMS, medical research has shown how remarkably powerful lifestyle is in reducing one’s risk of disease. We’ve also learned that patients armed with good information can be a doctor’s most important ally in treating a disease. A good book can inform and motivate a patient to engage with their doctor in remarkably healing ways.”
A complete list of titles appears at www.HarvardHealthBooks.org. For general information about HHP, see www.health.harvard.edu.
