“Health Promotion and Aging: Practical Applications for Health Professionals,” by Steven Albert, professor of behavioral and community health sciences, School of Public Health (Springer Publishing Company, 2025)
Health in later life involves more than just medical care, diet, or exercise—it requires a comprehensive approach to anticipating the physical, cognitive, and social changes that come with aging. The ninth edition of “Health Promotion and Aging” explores threats to health in old age, such as declining muscle mass, chronic conditions, medication use, and social isolation. It provides evidence-based tools to assess these threats and build a personal "health reserve" to maintain function and wellbeing. The textbook addresses key questions about the value of preventive services and the importance of empowerment and goal-setting — such as focusing on weight management rather than weight loss. It challenges conventional thinking on healthy aging, from redefining falls prevention to evaluating digital tools for cognitive health. With practical advice for both professionals and individuals, the book underscores how advances in community support, clinical care, and chronic disease management can make healthier aging a reality for everyone.
“The Forgotten Teachers: How Nature Wrote the Story of Life,” by Brian Isett, senior bioinformatics researcher, Hillman Cancer Center; illustrations by Claudia Bicen (Enchanted Lion Books, September 2025)
“The Forgotten Teachers” charts the evolution of life on Earth under the mentorship of six ancient teachers: Ocean, Air, Theia, Sun, Plants, and Symbiotes. Ideas from the fields of evolutionary biology and neuroscience, accompanied by watercolor illustrations by Claudia Biçen, guide this factual, yet mytho-poetic, exploration of the story connecting all of life. The book presents the thought experiment: what if the collective DNA of life on Earth told a story? What would that story be about? The answer is revealed in "The Forgotten Teachers," a set of natural forces that shaped our evolutionary past and still offer important lessons today, on thriving, interconnection and sustainability.
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