Host Deepa Fernandes speaks with Julia Hotz, author of the new book "The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service and Belonging." Listen here.

Pill prescriptions and self-care treatments often ignore the underlying problem: Why are so many people struggling with mental health in the first place? Read here

Can financial prescriptions cure America’s health problems? Read here

The NHS is trialing a new approach to tackling physical and mental health issues: ask what really matters. Read here

Several groups are working to create in-person connections by bringing strangers together to fight isolation. Read here

The underappreciated power of medical-legal partnerships, an innovation that began in Boston. Read here

The ancient magic of imaginal exposure. Read here

Online and offline platforms are helping strangers form social connections, which are crucial for our health, especially in a pandemic. Read here

““Julia’s writing is spectacular. Her ability to weave in science with story all with that solutions frame should be the envy of every writer out there. I found myself constantly highlighting sections that I needed to come back to in order to learn more.”

—Recommended as 2024 Summer Reading pick in Mental newsletter by Ben Miller, leading mental health advocate and policy expert

““With the ideal blend of journalistic skepticism and humanistic optimism, Julia Hotz makes a compelling case that our well-being depends even more on our connections than we realize.”

—Recommended as 2024 Summer Reading pick in Granted newsletter by Adam Grant, author of #1 New York Times bestseller Think Again

“Hotz’s humor and conversational breakdown of the science within the patient stories kept me turning the pages easily… whether or not one has a diagnosis, I’ve learned that the greatest gift of social prescribing is that it could be good for whatever ails you.”

— Recommended in a MedShadow Review by Kimberley Bliss, Culture Desk Editor

““I’ve been frustrated that the diagnose-treat-repeat cycle hasn’t been working for me... I’d let myself get stuck in a mental rut, ruminating on my stress and forgetting that, even in this brain fog I’m in, life is still going on around me, waiting to be lived. After reading this book, however, I’ve realized I can do more for myself. ….Why not take the more joyful route? Why not make the most of every moment?”

—Recommended as Editor’s Choice in a review by Jasmine Gonzalez, Editor at Porchlight Books

“With interesting stories and a broad canvas, Hotz connects readers to a different way of thinking about health and wellness.”

— Recommended in Kirkus Reviews

“In The Connection Cure, Julia Hotz provides a profound, well-researched, and accessible guide to understanding and implementing social prescribing. Her work illuminates the path to better mental and physical health through connection. It inspires hope that there are tangible ways to reclaim our well-being even in our increasingly disconnected world. This book is essential for anyone interested in holistic health, mental wellness, and the transformative power of community.

—Recommended as a ”transformative read” in Mental Health Affairs

“Trust me, this book is a game-changer. This isn’t your typical health book; it’s a refreshing take on how we can get well beyond just medications. I absolutely loved it and am giving it a five-star rating without hesitation.”

— Recommended by Esther Yunkin on the Health with Hashmoto’s Podcast

“I fell in love with this book. She does a beautiful job breaking down all of the concepts of what makes us feel well very concisely, and it’s a very easy and interesting read.”

— Recommended by Monica Olsen and Jennifer Walsh on on Biophilic Solutions