20 Books You Need to Read If You’re Going Through Perimenopause or Menopause

The New Menopause

‘The New Menopause: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change With Purpose, Power, and Facts’ by Mary Claire Haver, MD

Even early in preorder this new book by The Galveston Diet author, Dr. Mary Claire Haver, was ranking #1 in menopause books on Amazon. Her previous work focused on diet and lifestyle, but this one gets down to brass tacks about finding science-backed ways to minimize the major risks that come with hormonal changes, dangers like osteoporosis and heart disease. Hello, let’s talk through the new thinking on hormone replacement therapy and more!

The Menopause Brain

‘The Menopause Brain: New Science Empowers Women to Navigate the Pivotal Transition with Knowledge and Confidence’ by Lisa Mosconi, PhD

The world-renowned neuroscientist behind another book on our list (The XX Brain) offers this followup that delves deeper into how estrogen is inexorably linked to women’s brain health. Dr. Mosconi outlines new therapies, the latest thinking on contraception, as well as lifestyle tweaks we can adopt during perimenopause and menopause that will keep us healthier and mentally sharp in the decades ahead.

It’s Not Hysteria

Hot and Bothered

‘Hot and Bothered’ by Jancee Dunn

New York Times bestselling author Jancee Dunn wrote a book called How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids — so you know her take on menopause is going to be smart, funny, and relatable as hell. Hot and Bothered is Dunn’s honest and well-researched guide to navigating the change of life, covering everything from ways to improve sleep and sex to the newest hot flash treatments.

Menopause Manifesto

‘The Menopause Manifesto’ by Dr. Jen Gunter

This modern bestseller is a great place to start. Gunter is a gynecologist and a feminist, well aware of how little about menopause is taught in med school and of how recently menopause-the-concept was even recognized. She’ll also admit that measuring hormone levels can not accurately predict the timing of menopause. She covers heavy bleeding, fibroids, bone health, and much more, through a lens of proper outrage but practical help.

Grown Woman Talk

‘Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy’ by Sharon Malone, MD

Hot off the presses comes this first book by Washington, DC-based ob/gyn Sharon Malone, Chief Medical Advisor of Alloy Women’s Health (telehealth for menopause treatment) and a trusted expert to the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama. (She’s high up on our list of Menopause Change Advocates.) Dr. Malone brings 30 years of experience treating patients but also a trove of personal insight into how we can advocate for ourselves when doctors are rushed and, worse, dismissive.

What Fresh Hell Is This?

‘What Fresh Hell Is This?’ By Heather Corinna

Heather Corinna teaches sexuality for a living. Their personal journey into the menopause years started with symptoms like dizziness and what felt like a panic attack. Zero health professionals connected those feelings to perimenopause. They’ve written this book to help other people with ovaries feel less clueless and more empowered. This book also tackles a lot of misogynistic history and current gender issues, and Corinna’s viewpoint as a nonbinary sufferer of many middle-age indignities can help a wide net of people relate and even laugh. 

Perry Menopause Journal

More than a book, this interactive guide from perimenopause community Perry will help you navigate the transition into menopause better than any work of nonfiction. Its pages include advice and wisdom from physicians, mental health experts and menopause advocates (including Flow Space Advisory Council member Stacy London). There’s also 100 days of guided journaling developed with a positive psychology practitioner that includes space to track your symptoms, mood and period.

The XX Brain

‘The XX Brain’ by Lisa Mosconi

My mother-in-law spent her last 8 years with Alzheimer’s, and it’s made me and others in the family a little obsessed with brain health. This book focuses on how estrogen protects the brain and how female hormonal health ties into dementia, depression, and more (two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients are women). I’m not totally sold on the notion of a “diet” that protects us from Alzheimer’s — my MIL ate healthy foods, exercised, and did crossword puzzles, but that did not stop the disease. That said, a healthy diet, better sleep, and avoiding environmental toxins when possible would definitely help every single one of us feel better on the daily, and Mosconi has advice for all of it.

Perimenopause Power

‘Perimenopause Power’ by Maisie Hill

The author of the bestseller Period Power now has advice for the next phase, when your period starts to peter out. She has not been through it yet herself, but as a practitioner in alternative medicines such as acupuncture and reflexology and a long-time sufferer and studier of tough menstrual symptoms, she’s been helping other women through the change of life for years. She’s learned what can work for hot flashes, vaginal dryness, joint pain, and fatigue and has advice for every one of those problems, plus more than a dozen more.

The Galveston Diet

‘The Galveston Diet’ by Mary Claire Haver

Okay, we are back at talking about diet again. I am not a huge fan of telling women they can get more energy and less brain fog just by what they eat, but the truth is that eating a little less sugar and a little more leafy greens does have those kinds of benefits. Dr. Haver, an OB-GYN who has been through menopause herself, is also a fan of intermittent fasting — eating all within an 8-hour window during the day — which I am finding to be a pretty reliable way to slow the weight creep that comes with this life transition.

The Good Life

‘The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness’ by Robert Waldinger MD and Marc Schulz PhD

On the heels of the TED Talk watched by more than 20 million people, this brand-new book explains what we all really need in the second half of our life: good friends and strong, strife-free connections. In this epic study, people who were most satisfied with their relationships at age 50 were the most healthy at age 80. Real food for thought! 

Come As You Are

‘Come As You Are’ by Emily Nagoski

The more than three thousand five-star Amazon reviews should sell you on this sex book; women of all ages are calling it “required reading.” I am such a prude I would not want the cover on my coffee table, but I did note the number of people who, like me, have it on their Kindle. The author, a PhD in health behavior who gave a hugely popular TED Talk about unwanted arousal, normalizes sexual issues — wanting, not wanting, not knowing what you want — and makes you feel good, even proud, about why your body does what it does.

Stop Overthinking

‘Stop Overthinking: 23 Techniques to Relieve Stress, Stop Negative Spirals, Declutter Your Mind, and Focus on the Present’ by Nick Trenton

This may help you keep your mind moving forward. Side note: If you have not yet watched the Jonah Hill documentary, Stutz, on Netflix, I highly recommend it. You’ll get a million messages out of it but one big one is that we’re never too far along life’s path to change. It’s especially smart to rewire old thinking patterns once your body is starting on a new journey anyway, and this book can help. 

Navigating the Messy Middle

‘Navigating the Messy Middle: A Fiercely Honest and Wildly Encouraging Guide for Midlife Women’ by Ann Douglas

Canadian author Ann Douglas wrote many of the parenting books I turned to years ago, so I’m thrilled that she’s now helping Gen X and leading Millennials through this next phase of life. Like the reporter that she is, Douglas quotes a wide range of women, more than a hundred of them, to drive the conversation in her latest book. She acknowledges that we’re not just facing menopause but other kinds of hell (health scares, retirement planning, feeling invisible at work) as well as some unexpected gifts (a clear-eyed view of our own values).

Breath

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor

Yoga classes aside, it’s hard for the young to concentrate on their breath. By the time our bodies are moving into their post-reproductive years, however, we’re really ready: for yoga, for meditation, for all of it. This bestseller from 2022 can get you hooked on how to respect your body and take each breath fully and deeply.

Estrogen Matters

The Great Menopause Myth

The Great Menopause Myth: The Truth on Mastering Midlife Hormonal Mayhem, Beating Uncomfortable Symptoms, and Aging to Thrive by by Kristin Johnson and Maria Claps

This no-nonsense guide busts myths about menopause and tackles the widespread misinformation around hormonal changes. Nutritionist Maria Claps and health coach Kristin Johnson team up to provide a holistic roadmap for midlife women, covering everything from addressing hot flashes to improving your sleep and energy levels. The book is packed with practical advice to help you thrive physically and mentally during menopause, debunking the notion that midlife has to be a struggle. This empowering resource emphasizes natural solutions to alleviate symptoms and focuses on healthy aging.

Magnificent Midlife

Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause and Beyond by Rachel Lankester

In Magnificent Midlife, Rachel Lankester challenges the outdated narrative that menopause marks the end of something. Instead, she reframes it as a time of transformation and self-discovery. Lankester encourages women to embrace the possibilities of midlife, offering strategies for handling common symptoms while focusing on personal growth and empowerment. This uplifting guide helps women find confidence, purpose and joy during and after menopause, making it a must-read for those looking to redefine what it means to age gracefully.

Second Spring

Second Spring: The Self-Care Guide to Menopause by Kate Codrington

Kate Codrington’s Second Spring offers a refreshing and holistic perspective on menopause, viewing it not as an end but as a new beginning—a “second spring.” With a strong emphasis on self-care and mindfulness, Codrington guides women through the emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of menopause. The book provides practical exercises, meditations and self-reflective prompts to help women embrace the transition with compassion and clarity. By nurturing both body and mind, this guide aims to empower readers to find balance and thrive in this next chapter of life, making it a perfect companion for those seeking a gentle, supportive approach to menopause.