I read 36 books in 2016 and although there were a lot of really good ones, I narrowed my favorites down to five:

1.  How Not to Die by Michael Gregor, MD

This book earned the Highest Rated on Goodreads award, so that should tell you how good it is.  Dr. Greger’s approach to nutrition is scientific, but he explains it in a way that is simple and often humorous.  I would recommend this book to EVERYONE.  Drop what you’re doing and get the book now.

2.  The Fireman by Joe Hill

In case you don’t know, Joe Hill is the son of Stephen King and like his dad, Joe Hill is brilliant at character development.  The Fireman is a post-apocalypse story that will pull you in from start to finish.

3.  The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer by Dan Buettner

The “Blue Zones” are areas around the world that contain populations of people who are 100 years old or older.  Dan Buettner has interviewed these people to see what they are doing to live longer and found that the lifestyles of these people have a lot of similarities.

4.  Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

I absolutely loved this young adult novel set in the 1980’s about two teenagers who, against all odds, fall in love.  The feels while reading this book….one of the best love stories I’ve read in a long time.

5.  Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, can’t-put-down-because-you-just-have-to-know-what-happens-next-book, this is it.  It’s hard to talk about the premise of the book without giving anything away, but I can tell you that once you figure out what is going on, your mind will be blown and even after the book is finished, your mind will be racing!