Play Audiobook Sample
The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(0.00) - 0 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
Journalist Rina Raphael looks at the explosion of the wellness industry: how it stems from legitimate complaints, how seductive marketing targets hopeful consumers–and why women are opening up their wallets like never before. Wellness promises women the one thing they desperately desire: control. Women are pursuing their health like never before. Whether it’s juicing, biohacking, clutching crystals, or sipping collagen, today there is something for everyone, as the wellness industry has grown from modest roots into a $4.4 trillion entity and a full-blown movement promising health and vitality in the most fashionable package. But why suddenly are we all feeling so unwell? 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. Vividly told and deeply reported, The Gospel of Wellness reveals how this obsession is a direct result of women feeling dismissed, mistreated, and overburdened. Women are told they can manage the chaos ruling their life by following a laid-out plan: eat right, exercise, meditate, then buy or do all this stuff. And while wellness may have sprung from good intentions, we are now relentlessly flooded with exploitative offerings, questionable ideas, and a mounting pressure to stay devoted to the divine doctrine of wellness. What happens when the cure becomes as bad as the disease? With a critical eye, humor, and empathy, wellness industry journalist Rina Raphael examines how women have been led down a kale-covered path promising nothing short of salvation. She knows: Raphael was once a disciple herself—trying everything from “clean eating” to electric shock workouts—until her own awakening to the troubling consequences. Balancing the good with the bad, The Gospel of Wellness is a clear-eyed exploration of what wellness can actually offer us, knocking down the false idols and commandments that have taken hold and ultimately showing how we might shape a better future for the movement—and for our well-being.
Download and start listening now!
"A journalist who specializes in health and women’s issues, Raphael is perfectly situated to investigate the massive wellness industry. What started as a movement to increase health and reduce stress has become, in many cases, a cure worse than the disease, with social media 'fitfluencers' setting standards that are impossible to meet and a host of self-appointed gurus selling diet programs of every conceivable type. Writing with authority and empathy, Raphael tells a disturbing story of taking a good thing and then overdoing it."
— Kirkus, Starred Review
Quotes
-
“Next-level revelatory... You’ll never look at an Instagram ad for organic face wash the same way again. I found myself repeating many anecdotes to friends while I was reading, which is always the sign of a good book.
— Sarah Knight, New York Times bestselling author of The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck -
Raphael articulates why women go on yoga retreats, start cleanses, and think we can only feed our kids organic, from scratch meals… A smart, reassuring read that you'll want to keep on hand for the next time Instagram tries to convince you that this supplement or that expensive new workout trend is The One.
— Virginia Sole-Smith, author of The Eating Instinct -
Raphael delivers an eye-opening, cautionary study of the contemporary, amorphous meaning of 'wellness.'
— Booklist -
Raphael does a tremendous job…readable, entertaining, surprising, and illuminating.
— Harriet Brown, author of Body of Truth and Brave Girl Eating -
This book is an utterly juicy deep dive for wellness devotees and skeptics alike. The perfect balance of criticism and empathy for a movement that meant well.
— Jane Marie, creator and host of The Dream -
… a deeply honest look from a woman's perspective…a well needed antidote to the usual victim-blaming and cruel optimism by helping us see the wider structural and social issues underlying our cultural angst.
— Ronald E. Purser, Ph.D., San Francisco State University and author of McMindfulness -
A revelation and a revolution. With humor and insight, Rina Raphael excavates the world of wellness.
— Lyz Lenz, author of God Land -
Do yourself a favor and become a smarter consumer and mute so much of the noise created by the wellness industry with this great read. You'll never hear the phrases 'natural,' or 'free from harsh chemicals,' 'detox,' 'clean eating,' or 'cleanse' the same way again.
— Katherine Goldstein, journalist and creator of The Double Shift podcast -
Rina Raphael takes a much-needed journalist's approach to critique a complicated business that generates $4 trillion by selling us ‘health’ in a bottle, and she shows us with startling prose why this industry deserves more scrutiny and oversight.
— Nick Bilton, Vanity Fair correspondent and author of New York Times bestseller, American Kingpin
The Gospel of Wellness Listener Reviews
Be the first to write a review about this audiobook!