Wonder Drug: 7 Scientifically Proven Ways That Serving Others Is the Best Medicine for Yourself

Trzeciak and Mazzarelli (Compassionomics), chief of medicine and copresident of Cooper University Health Care, respectively, unpack the perks of serving others in this thorough treatise. Bemoaning the rise of “Me Culture” and the “you do you” mentality, the authors propose that the “key to good health, happiness, and fulfillment” is serving others. They ground their “Live to Give” lifestyle in scientific research, citing papers that claim volunteer work decreases the risk of dementia and that caring for others can reduce inflammation. To integrate the science into everyday life, the authors suggest readers start with tiny gestures in order to build a habit, and they report that envisioning the positive effects of one’s actions can increase the mood boost one gets after helping. Trzeciak and Mazzarelli demonstrate their expertise with an impressive array of research, though their presentation can sometimes feel like a parade of scientific studies rather than a coherent whole. This well-documented survey makes a persuasive case for a counterintuitive argument. Agent: Michael Carlisle, InkWell Management. (May)