Greystone Books

"Vallely transports the reader to places few will ever go: the very edges of the earth and of human endurance."
—Evan Solomon

In this gripping first-hand account, four seasoned adventurers navigate a sophisticated, high-tech rowboat across the Northwest Passage. One of the "last firsts" remaining in the adventure world, this journey is only possible because of the dramatic impacts of global warming in the high Arctic, which provide an ironic opportunity to draw attention to the growing urgency of climate change.

Along the way, the team repeatedly face life-threatening danger from storms unparalleled in their ferocity and unpredictability and bears witness to unprecedented changes in the Arctic habitat and inhabitants, while weathering gale-force vitriol from climate change deniers who have taken to social media to attack them and undermine their efforts.

• Heart-stopping adventure story: navigating treacherous icebergs with a chicken on the mast is just one of many nail-biting maneuvers from this action-packed book.
• Perfect for readers of The Art of Racing in the Rain: Guirec and Monique’s bond is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
• Inspirational: Guirec shows that all you have to do is believe to achieve something big.
• Photographs and maps: show the epic voyage and provide breaks in the text.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR by The New Yorker and Science News 

What happens when you try to recreate a woolly mammoth—fascinating science, or conservation catastrophe? Jurassic Park meets The Sixth Extinction in Rise of the Necrofauna, a provocative look at de-extinction from acclaimed documentarist and science writer Britt Wray, PhD.

In Rise of the Necrofauna, Wray takes us deep into the minds and labs of some of the world’s most progressive thinkers to find out. She introduces us to renowned futurists like Stewart Brand and scientists like George Church, who are harnessing the powers of CRISPR gene editing in the hopes of “reviving” extinct passenger pigeons, woolly mammoths, and heath hens. She speaks with Nikita Zimov, who together with his eclectic father Sergey, is creating Siberia’s Pleistocene Park—a daring attempt to rebuild the mammoth’s ancient ecosystem in order to save earth from climate disaster. Through interviews with these and other thought leaders, Wray reveals the many incredible opportunities for research and conservation made possible by this emerging new field.

But we also hear from more cautionary voices, like those of researcher and award-winning author Beth Shapiro (How to Clone a Woolly Mammoth) and environmental philosopher Thomas van Dooren. Writing with passion and perspective, Wray delves into the larger questions that come with this incredible new science, reminding us that de-extinction could bring just as many dangers as it does possibilities. What happens, for example, when we bring an “unextinct” creature back into the wild? How can we care for these strange animals and ensure their comfort and safety—not to mention our own? And what does de-extinction mean for those species that are currently endangered? Is it really ethical to bring back an extinct passenger pigeon, for example, when countless other birds today will face the same fate?

By unpacking the many biological, technological, ethical, environmental, and legal questions raised by this fascinating new field, Wray offers a captivating look at the best and worst of resurrection science.

Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute.

A fully updated edition of the Lower Mainland’s bestselling walking guidebook, featuring a wider range of trails than ever before.

Since its first edition in 1976, 109 Walks has guided more than 100,000 locals and visitors alike to the best viewpoints, urban forests, and coastal headlands of British Columbia’s stunning Lower Mainland. This latest edition continues and builds on the legacy of its beloved predecessor with more than twenty completely new trails, a striking selection of photographs, and updated directions that include GPS coordinates for easier route-finding. True to its origins, the book includes clearly written, carefully detailed route descriptions for each walk, along with helpful personal notes about points of natural and historical interest to visit along the way. This edition also features more options in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, Surrey, and the Fraser Valley—as well as walks that take less than three hours to complete—making it more accessible and expansive than ever before.

Still accurate, authoritative, and highly affordable, 109 Walks is an indispensable insider’s guide for exploring British Columbia’s Lower Mainland in all seasons.

• Informative side bars that teach readers about the importance of forests and temperature regulation.
• Engaging backmatter that explores other ways animals cool down around the world.
• A fascinating introduction to learning about animals, nature and forests for younger kids.

• Backmatter about Maud Lewis’ life and legacy
• Notes from the author and illustrator about how Maud has impacted their lives

"Bathurst is a restless, curious writer… After reading this book, I found myself listening in a richer and more interested way." — Guardian

A profound, beautifully written exploration of sound by a young woman who lost her hearing, then regained it.

In this surprising and moving book, award-winning writer Bella Bathurst shares the extraordinary true story of how she lost her hearing and eventually regained it and what she learned from her twelve years of deafness. Diving into a wide-ranging exploration of silence and noise, she interviews psychologists, ear surgeons, and professors to uncover fascinating insights about the science of sound. But she also speaks with ordinary people who are deaf or have lost their hearing, including musicians, war veterans, and factory workers, to offer a perceptive, thought-provoking look at what sound means to us.

If sight gives us the world, then hearing—or our ability to listen—gives us our connections with other people. But, as this smart, funny, and profoundly honest examination reveals, our relationship with sound is both more personal and far more complex than we might expect.

“Beautifully written… a riveting account of how melodies and rhythms connect us, and help us deal with alienation and anxiety.”—Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score

In this captivating blend of science and memoir, a health journalist and former cellist explores music as a source of health, resilience, connection, and joy.

Music isn’t just background noise or a series of torturous exercises we remember from piano lessons. In the right doses, it can double as a mild antidepressant, painkiller, sleeping pill, memory aid—and enhance athletic performance while supporting healthy aging. Though music has been used as a healing strategy since ancient times, neuroscientists have only recently discovered how melody and rhythm stimulate core memory, motor, and emotion centers in the brain. But here’s the catch: We can tune into music every day and still miss out on some of its potent effects.

Adriana Barton learned the hard way. Starting at age five, she studied the cello for nearly two decades, a pursuit that left her with physical injuries and emotional scars. In Wired for Music, she sets out to discover what music is really for, combing through medical studies, discoveries by pioneering neuroscientists, and research from biology and anthropology. Traveling from state-of-the-art science labs to a remote village in Zimbabwe, her investigation gets to the heart of music’s profound effects on the human body and brain. Blending science and story, Wired for Music shows how our species’ age-old connection to melody and rhythm is wired inside us.

• Engaging informational side bars with wild facts about mushrooms (such as how some are so strong they can grow through cement, and others can glow in the dark!)
• Backmatter that dives further into the science
• Important life lessons (including how to help each other and keep our homes clean)

• How trees talk to each other (hint: through the wood wide web!)
• Why trees are important in the city
• How trees make us healthy and strong
• How trees get sick, and how we can help them get better

A captivating cultural and scientific history of orchards, for readers of Michael Pollan's The Botany of Desire and Mark Kurlansky’s Salt.

Throughout history, orchards have nourished both body and soul: they are sites for worship and rest, inspiration for artists and writers, and places for people to gather. In Taming Fruit, award-winning writer Bernd Brunner interweaves evocative illustrations with masterful prose to show that the story of orchards is a story of how we have shaped nature to our desires for millennia.

As Brunner tells it, the first orchards may have been oases dotted with date trees, where desert nomads stopped to rest. In the Amazon, Indigenous people maintained mosaic gardens centuries before colonization. Modern fruit cultivation developed over thousands of years in the East and the West. As populations expanded, fruit trees sprang from the lush gardens of the wealthy and monasteries to fields and roadsides, changing landscapes as they fed the hungry.

But orchards don’t just produce fruit; they also inspire great artists. Taming Fruit shares paintings, photographs, and illustrations alongside Brunner's enchanting descriptions and research, offering a multifaceted-—and long-awaited—portrait of the orchard.

A swashbuckling tale of leaving home, and the joy of adventure.

Drawn to the horizon since she was small, the heroine of this story longs to discover what lies beyond it. She builds herself a boat, with the help of her parents, who know they cannot keep her on the little island they call home.

With courage, joy, and the gift of the most brilliant of swords from her parents, she sets off. She sails through storms, faces down sea monsters, and comes to the aid of lost sailors. In the market of a distant port, she finds a child, who she adopts as her own. The young boy shares her desire to explore and see the world, so together, they set sail once more. After years of adventuring, they find the island that was once her home. Coming to rest on the shore, our heroine sends her son off on his own voyage, with the most brilliant of swords.

Beautifully illustrated, this immersive book celebrates the great joys of the voyage itself. It captures the experience of finding your own way in the world, and letting your child do the same. The Voyage is a tribute to living beyond fear, of leaving home, and returning to it.

An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids

From bestselling hiking guidebook author (and dad) Stephen Hui comes a collection of fun-filled hikes field-tested by parents and kids.

The best thing about hiking with kids is appreciating nature as a whole family. But hiking with kids can be challenging when little ones get tired, cold, or hungry. This book carefully chooses trails for kids of a variety of ages and skill levels, ranging in distance from 2km/1.2 miles (great for toddlers) to 12km/7.5 miles (for older or energetic kids). All are easy to get to so kids have more time to explore stops at suspension bridges, hollow trees, ghost towns, beaches, lakes, and vistas. Each route features a clear reference map and full-colour photos, plus:

• a description of trail highlights
• detailed directions to the trailhead
• a snapshot of the best season, difficulty, length, high point, and elevation gain
• a fun fact related to the plants, animals, or history of the trail

The author will donate a portion of royalties to Take a Hike Foundation.

• Sheet music of Buffy Sainte-Marie's beloved song
• Notes from Sainte-Marie and Flett about their inspiration for the song and illustrations

In this funny and heartwarming picture book, a grandfather shows his love and appreciation for a grandmother as he persuades her to attend a local dance with him.

“Fun and feisty—these memorable characters are a delight to know and revisit.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Grandfather is tending his garden when a loudspeaker announces a dance in the local park. He asks Grandmother to join him, but she has many reasons to delay their outing: she needs to put eyeliner around her eyes—which are as sad as a moonless night—and color in her hair—which is as gray as an autumn cloud. Grandfather counters with loving arguments of his own: her sad eyes look like stars and her hair is as perfect and white as a summer cloud.

Playful illustrations complement this touching banter, which culminates in a trip to the dance where Grandmother tells Grandfather, “You are as pretty as the moon.”

An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids

Readers of Susan Cain's Quiet and Daniel Pink's When will appreciate this passionate investigation into creativity and the human brain—from the perspective of an author investigating her own brain after a concussion.

Author and journalist Hilde Østby was cycling to work one day when she crashed head-first into a stone bridge. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and prescribed rest and relaxation. But her brain was anything but restful: ideas for new writing projects popped into her head at a frenzied pace. Never before had she had so many 'aha' moments. But at the same time, simple tasks like walking through an airport felt impossible. Had the concussion made her—like the stereotype of the tortured artist—more creative but less able to function in society? Or was there something else at play? What makes a person creative, anyway?

In The Key to Creativity, Østby takes readers on a deep-dive into why we are creative and what conditions must be present in order for us to make our best work: whether that be a painting, a piece of writing, or simply a good email. Using characters from Alice in Wonderlandfor inspiration, Østby investigates why we have ideas that seemingly come out of nowhere, like the Cheshire Cat, and how we can quiet our inner critic, like the rule-obsessed Queen of Hearts. Along the way, she speaks with artists of all stripes and interviews psychiatrists and neurologists who specialize in understanding what happens in the brain when we are at our most creative. She discovers that having a tortured and lonely existence isn't necessarily conducive to producing great art—and that being able to complete a task, on time, and according to your and others' expectations, is as important as being able to think outside the box.

Østby soon learns that she needs to make changes in her own life to recover from her brain injury and to give structure and life to her ideas. This engaging and groundbreaking book debunks the myth that you need to be a genius in order to be an artist or inventor. All you need is an idea and the tools to make your creative dream come true.

• How to engage with nature in fun and respectful ways
• Connection and empathy with living things
• Mindfulness, observation, and imagination

A Swedish doctor shares his country’s secrets to longevity, outlining 10 Scandinavian lifestyle choices that lead to better sleep, less stress, improved fitness, and overall health and wellbeing.

A short guide to a long life, The Nordic Guide to Living 10 Years Longer is a pragmatic little book that channels the simple, healthy lifestyle of Scandinavia. Swedish doctor and public health expert Bertil Marklund covers broad ground in just over 100 pages, providing a comprehensive guide to Swedish lifestyle choices you can make today, including disconnecting from technology, getting 30 minutes of exercise a day, and ditching fad diets.

We can all adopt the 10 tips outlined in the book without completely rethinking the way we live. With his practical and realistic advice, Dr. Marklund gives you the power to make a difference in your own life–today, and in the future.

• Rhyming lyrics are easy to read and memorize and fun for the whole family.
• Perfect for kids aged 3 to 8 who love dancing, singing, and the ocean.
• The history of this famous ballad is explored in vivid illustrations!

• Sheet music so budding musicians can play along. 
• A note from illustrator Lauren Soloy about the fascinating history of “I’s the B’y,” its distinctive words and phrases, and life in modern-day Newfoundland.

“Beautifully written… a riveting account of how melodies and rhythms connect us, and help us deal with alienation and anxiety.”—Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score

In this captivating blend of science and memoir, a health journalist and former cellist explores music as a source of health, resilience, connection, and joy.

Music isn’t just background noise or a series of torturous exercises we remember from piano lessons. In the right doses, it can double as a mild antidepressant, painkiller, sleeping pill, memory aid—and enhance athletic performance while supporting healthy aging. Though music has been used as a healing strategy since ancient times, neuroscientists have only recently discovered how melody and rhythm stimulate core memory, motor, and emotion centers in the brain. But here’s the catch: We can tune into music every day and still miss out on some of its potent effects.

Adriana Barton learned the hard way. Starting at age five, she studied the cello for nearly two decades, a pursuit that left her with physical injuries and emotional scars. In Wired for Music, she sets out to discover what music is really for, combing through medical studies, discoveries by pioneering neuroscientists, and research from biology and anthropology. Traveling from state-of-the-art science labs to a remote village in Zimbabwe, her investigation gets to the heart of music’s profound effects on the human body and brain. Blending science and story, Wired for Music shows how our species’ age-old connection to melody and rhythm is wired inside us.

An award-winning science journalist explains what Earth’s frozen waters tell us about the past, present, and future of humanity.

“The Kingdom of Frost,” or what scientists call the cryosphere, refers to all of Earth’s frozen waters. Glaciers, ice caps, and fields of Arctic snow—the cryosphere is vital to our survival. It supplies us with water and helps cool cities from Bangladesh to Bangkok, Los Angeles to Oslo.

In this captivating, eye-opening account, esteemed Norwegian writer Bjørn Vassnes interweaves brilliant climate reporting with the fascinating story of Earth’s frozen world. He draws on cultural history and anthropology to tell us how the cryosphere once helped to spark life on Earth—and how it continues to sustain us despite its shrinking size.

And he answers pressing questions such as: What will happen if it all disappears?

"Beautiful, poignant and poetic. This story will weave its way into the hearts and minds of readers for generations."
—Monique Gray Smith, author of My Heart Fills With Happiness

From beloved Indigenous icon Buffy Sainte-Marie comes a chapter book inspired by oral histories and traditions. On a prairie reserve, Tâpwê receives a mysterious gift from Kokhom (grandma)—and finds himself on an unforgettable adventure. 

Tâpwê can’t wait to spend a week with his cousins on the other side of the Cree reserve—especially since Kokhom, his grandma, has given him the most amazing gift: a Magic Hat with bluebirds and grass snakes that come to life! Tâpwê is so excited that he soon forgets Kokhom’s advice: Watch out for tricksters!

Tâpwê’s adventure is everything he imagined. He meets his cousins, takes part in a powwow, and sleeps in a tipi. But soon he’s reminded of Kokhom’s words. Is his new friend Wâpos leading him astray with mischief?

Tâpwê and the Magic Hat draws on a rich Indigenous tradition of storytelling and features:

• A memorable cast of characters from both imagination and legend. 
• A glossary and pronunciation guide of Cree words used in the book. 
• A note to parents and teachers from Buffy Sainte-Marie about trickster stories. 
• An important message for young readers about being yourself, and learning to dance to the beat of your own heart.
• Features black and white illustrations throughout.

An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids 

Kids 9 to 12 will laugh out loud while reading this adventurous graphic novel, which brings an African folk tale to life for a new audience. 

When Sarra’s parents die, they leave her with an important warning: never let Dan Auta, her little brother, cry. But Dan Auta loves to make trouble. He hitches a ride on the back of a bird, pokes the eye of the king’s son, and even pees on the king’s head. Making sure he doesn’t cry is much harder than Sarra thought!  

But Dan Auta’s unbridled curiosity and determination may be exactly what everyone needs: a terrible monster called the Dodo is attacking the city… and Dan Auta is the only one with the courage to take him on. Dan Auta features:

• A delightful celebration of mischief and bravery 

• A portrait of the extraordinary things kids are capable of when they follow their own paths 

• Lively illustrations from renowned illustrator Piet Grobler

• Supplementary material that explains the folk tale’s significance

Three local experts reveal their favorite places to watch birds in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

In Best Places to Bird in the Prairies, three of Canada’s top birders reveal their favorite destinations for spotting local birds in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. They highlight thirty-six highly recommended sites, each of which has been expertly selected for the unique species that reside there. With exclusive lists of specialty birds, splendid color photography, and plenty of insider tips for finding and identifying birdlife year-round, the book is accessible and easy-to-use—an indispensable resource that will inspire both novice and seasoned birders to put on their walking shoes, grab their binoculars, and start exploring.

The destinations they feature are as varied as the birds that are found there, ranging from rural to urban, easily accessible to remote. The authors provide clear maps, detailed directions, and alternative routes wherever possible to ensure the experience is satisfying for first-time visitors and experienced birders alike.

A powerful and wise story about finding the courage to be yourself, despite the pressure to conform.

Abtin is nothing like the rest of his family. The Moleskis are fiercely competitive sports champions, and they expect Abtin to become a great athlete too. But Abtin is a reader, an artist, and has his own way of doing things. Despite his family’s best efforts, Abtin remains stubbornly himself. Wanting his family to be proud of him, he comes up with a plan to make them happy: a plan that doesn’t go quite as expected…

Written and illustrated by two celebrated Iranian creators, Champ is a book for anyone who marches to the beat of their own drum: for the artists in a science family, or the readers in a sports family. It is a book for those around the world who have resisted and continue to do so, no matter what.

An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids

Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute

• How to tackle common canine fears, such as loud noises, the vet, separation anxiety, and other dogs.
• How to manage a dog’s natural fear responses through positive reinforcement.
• How to keep your dog, yourself, and others safe when they are fearful or reactive.
• How to create safe havens for your dog, and make yourself a secure base for them no matter where they are.

Based on the unforgettable ode to the greatest game on ice, The Hockey Song is a perfect gift for the hockey fans and young players in your life.

Oh! The good ol’ hockey game is the best game you can name.
And the best game you can name is the good ol’ hockey game.

Played before, after, and during hockey games across North America, Stompin’ Tom Connors’ iconic song evokes the pure joy the good ol’ hockey brings to players and fans alike. Gary Clement’s illustrations bring the song to life through depicting a pick-up game on a cold city rink. A father and son are soon joined by skater after skater, until the whole community is grabbing a stick—passing, shooting, scoring, and having the time of their lives. 

A fresh take on a classic song, The Hockey Song is a tribute to hockey, winter, and having fun with the best game you can name.

• Roger Crozier, Detroit Red Wings / Buffalo Sabres
• Rogie Vachon, Los Angeles Kings
• Gerry Cheevers, Boston Bruins
• Ed Giacomin, New York Rangers
• Tony Esposito, Chicago Black Hawks
• Vladislav Tretiak, Soviet Red Army
• Mike Palmateer, Toronto Maple Leafs
• Grant Fuhr, Edmonton Oilers
• Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks
• Marc-André Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins / Vegas Golden Knights
• Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
• Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

• Space to record your daily food intake
• Tools for monitoring glucose spikes and dips
• Weekly challenges
• Mindfulness prompts for developing a positive relationship with food
• Recipes from The Diabetes Code Cookbook
• Shopping lists

• Perfect for home-schooling, virtual and blended learning
• Helps kids understand why and how climate change is happening, and what we can do about it
• Encourages young climate activists to engage even more deeply with their chosen cause

• The history of the climate and humans’ role in changing it
• Brave scientists and young activists like Greta Thunberg
• The real consequences of climate change, such as rising tides, heat waves, and hurricanes, presented in a non-frightening way
• Actions kids can take to help combat climate change in their own communities

• Wondrous facts about humpback whales
• A celebration of our connection with the natural world
• Beautiful and captivating illustrations

Entre dos montañas, cerca de un arroyo, en medio de la nada, se encuentra una escuela sin patio de juegos, gimnasio, biblioteca, ni computadoras. Como dice la niña que nos cuenta está historia: “Nuestra escuela no tiene casi nada. Un pizarrón, unas sillas”.

Pero en esta escuela hay algo que nadie más tiene: una maestra como ninguna otra en el mundo. “Ahí está siempre, en la puerta de la escuela esperándonos en la mañana”, dice la niña.

El día en que se desarrolla esta historia, la maestra lleva a sus alumnos afuera y les pide que dibujen algo grande y puntiagudo escondido entre los árboles. A medida que los estudiantes observan de cerca, comienzan a comprender lo que están viendo… ¡pero, entonces, la maestra ya está señalando a la próxima bestia magnífica!

Este inspirador e ingenioso libro hará que cualquier niño tenga el inmenso deseo de asistir a esta escuela especial y recibir lecciones de esta extraordinaria maestra.

¿Y quién dice que esto no puede suceder en todas partes?

An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids

• What does a bee look like under its furry coat?
• How does a seahorse protect itself with armor and a skeleton?
• How does a tree frog use its eyes to swallow?

• X-ray images are cool and fun to look at!
• Simple text helps kids understand the animals and plants in each image.
• Pops of neon colors make animals and plants come to life.

“The small shall be large . . . that's how it must be.”

In the Andean foothills, a five-year-old Quechua girl is entrusted with a big job: to collect a marrow bone from the neighbor for the family soup. A stunning debut from Indigenous author Suniyay Moreno.

Picu’s family is very poor. In the dry Andean foothills, her mother must feed fourteen people—her kids, her relatives’ kids, and the hired hand’s kids—every day. One morning, Picu, the youngest sister, is sent to get a marrow bone from a neighbor. The bone will add flavor and nutrition to the lunchtime soup. Her mother warns her not to dawdle on the two-hour walk, each way, through the wild landscape.

But Picu can’t help it! She marvels at the butterflies, samples the cactus fruit, and daydreams about using the marrow bone as a football. Will the neighbor let her family keep the bone after the soup is made? Will her mother let her play with it? And will she be punished for being so late?

Picu is a child of joie de vivre and resourcefulness. This story, like Picu herself, is tough, hard, and honest. And moving. And fun. 

The Youngest Sister features a glossary of Quechuan terms that are used throughout the story.

An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids

• Easy-to-use fasting protocols that can be incorporated into your busy schedule
• Information on when and how to eat to feel full and energized
• How intermittent fasting can support your health through fertility struggles, PCOS, perimenopause, and menopause
• How balancing your hormones and stress levels can help you avoid weight gain and depression

Bacteria were the first life on Earth. But what do we really know about them? In this captivating, science-driven book, you’ll learn everything you need to know about these often misunderstood—and incredibly interesting—microbes.

In this engagingly written and scientifically rigorous book, author and scientist Ludger Wess introduces an eclectic collection of impressive, useful, weird, and dangerous bacterial species. Wess reveals everything he knows about bacteria, including their ability to survive almost anywhere, to “sleep” for millions of years before becoming active again, to maintain their own immune systems (a discovery that has led to medical breakthroughs for humans), and to—hypothetically—live on other planets.

In part two, Wess moves on to his curious compendium of bacterial species, presenting fifty fascinating portraits grouped by useful categories: bacteria that are record holders, extreme-habitat dwellers, unusual consumers, people-helpers, and people-harmers. Beautiful black-and-white illustrations accompany each portrait. At the end of this engrossing read, Wess recognizes how much we still don’t know about bacteria. But by starting here, we can come closer to understanding the first life on Earth.

Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute.

An exposé of the hidden suffering that over half of Syria’s refugees endure and the conflicts they continue to flee.

No refuge: this is the harsh reality encountered by the women and children who flee Syria in search of safety. When boatloads of Syrian refugees began arriving on European shores in the spring of 2015, Western television screens were filled with images of men. Where, journalist Maria von Welser asked herself, were the women and children, whom she knew made up over half the population of refugee camps?

In these pages, von Welser reveals the hidden stories of those Syrian women and children. There are stories of desperation and predation: loss of wealth and of life, child marriage, rape, kidnapping, and sex slavery. But there are also stories of empowerment and hope—including the conviction that we can turn compassion into real change.

THE BOOK THAT INSPIRED THE HIT NETFLIX SERIES

"I laughed so hard I choked on a donut reading this book."—Jen Mann, NYT-bestselling author of People I Want to Punch in the Throat

Tired of late-night parties and all-day hangovers, thirty-something-year-old journalist Brigid Delaney decides to test the things that are supposed to make us healthy and whole, looking (with skepticism) to the trillion dollar wellness industry as her guide. She begins with a controversial and brutal 101-day fast, which leaves her glowing and "giddy," but also unemployed, bed-ridden, and strangely stinky. Next, she tries yoga classes, meditation, CBT, Balinese healing, silent retreats, group psychotherapy, and more, sorting through the fads and expensive hype to find out what works, while asking, "What does all this say about us?"

With refreshing honesty and biting wit, Wellmania is an all too relatable book about the lengths we go to achieve optimal health—and whether it’s really worth it. As The Cut's Katey Heaney said: "Reading about all these impossible, expensive, scientifically unsupported self-improvement projects piled end on end, I wanted to shake Delaney, as I might shake myself, were I brave enough to tally all the money I've spent on green juice and witchy crap."

According to comedian Judith Lucy, the result of Delaney's harrowing wellness journey is "a bloody entertaining read that leaves you wondering whether you want to do yoga or get mindlessly drunk and despair at the state of the world."