Taking the Heat: How Climate Change Is Affecting Your Mind, Body, and Spirit and What You Can Do About It

by Bonnie Schneider

From meteorologist and Peabody Award–winning journalist Bonnie Schneider, an innovative look at how climate change is already threatening our mental and physical health and practical tips for you to tackle these challenges head on.

The impacts of climate change have become dire. Rising temperatures, volatile weather, and poor air quality affect our physical and mental health in dangerous new ways. From increasing the risk of infectious disease to amplifying emotional stress and anxiety—even the healthiest among us are at risk. Bonnie Schneider has tracked environmentally-linked physiological impacts throughout her career as a TV journalist, meteorologist, and the founder of Weather & Wellness©—a platform that explores the connection between weather, climate change, and health. In Taking the Heat , Schneider provides crucial advice from science experts and medical professionals to help you:

-Cope with the mental anguish of “eco-anxiety” and other climate change fears for our planet’s future, particularly expressed by millennials and Gen-Z
-Identify health hazards caused by extreme heat and air pollution that disproportionally affect low-income and minority communities
-Uncover the science behind longer and stronger allergy seasons and learn new ways to reduce your risk of adverse allergic reactions
-Detect the increased threat of dangerous pathogens lurking in unexpected places and why we may face future pandemics
-Understand how seasonal fluctuations of sunlight, heat, and humidity can not only factor into feelings of depression and anxiety but also can trigger flare-ups for certain auto-immune diseases
-Discover how meditation and mindfulness practices can ease the psychological stress that often occurs in the aftermath of devastating natural disasters
-Explore how the Earth’s rising temperatures may rob you of restorative sleep and impair mental sharpness
-Learn why increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere may reduce the availability of what you choose to eat; learn sustainable solutions—from food to fitness
- And more!

Anchored in the latest scientific research and filled with relatable first-person stories, this book is the one guide you need to navigate the future of your own health—mind, body, and spirit, in a rapidly changing environment.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Health, Nature

256 pages, Paperback

Published January 25, 2022

Reviews

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched, (Foot)Note references at the end of the book are about 1/6 of the book. This book provides very tangible suggestions for combating climate change.

Definitely some suggestions that had not been provided in several other climate change books that I’ve read. Interestingly I was at a luncheon yesterday with someone who recently was treated for Lyme disease, I had just read the section the prior day and could discuss it with them intelligently.

Topics include why average temperature varying 1-2 degrees is VITALLY important, proactive measures come in many forms and this book provides details to engage the suggestions, common diseases that will probably be on the rise due to climate change, maybe consider giving up meat occasionally and looking for healthier alternatives. Be aware of mental and physical health concerns, especially in regards to children.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bonnie Schneider the author and the publisher for the opportunity to review the Advance Read Copy of Taking the Heat in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is Jan 25, 2022.

One thing that I think may have been missing from this book is Hope. Two books read recently that compliment Taking the Heat would be The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams and also Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your World by William H. McRaven.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eco-anxiety? I'd never heard of it prior to reading this book. This isn't a topic that I would normally gravitate to, but I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway with a request by the author for an independent review.

I did learn things from this book. It does cover many different areas that relate to climate change-- from diseases-- to allergies--to memory issues, and more! I found many of these topics interesting.

The author is clearly passionate about the subject matter and it shows...but it didn't come across"preachy." I appreciated that. She clearly did a TON of research for this book and cited to many many sources. The final 53 pages of the book contains all of the citations. Another part that I appreciated was that the book included ways for the reader to help make a difference.

The downside to this book was that I found several typos. I found at least three places where a period was missing: the word mediation vs meditation in a chapter on meditation; specific ex. Bottom of page 120-- "Omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce skin." I hope not?!
The editor definitely needed to do a better job proofreading.

Thanks to the author, publisher and all involved for the opportunity to review this book.

[L · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some interesting facts and health/wellness tips in the book. However, many chapters and topics don't actually relate to the title and supposed premise of the book, which is about how climate change affects health. Instead, there are sections about health issues affected by weather, but with no explanation of how climate change may cause increased or decreased risk for certain health impacts in various parts of the world. Much of the research cited is also heavily US-centric. Some of the topics are climate-change related but about how we can improve sustainability practices to help mitigate climate change rather than how climate change would affect our health.
The overall writing style is rather dry, and there are some facts or even sentences that are repeated in different parts of the book.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personally, I really enjoyed reading this book. I felt like it had a lot of well researched information and included things I hadn't known myself. There is an active sense of trying to get as many angles as possible when it comes to information.

I know that when it comes to my generation (gen z), we value getting every angle and statistic we can, we value prioritizing mental health, and we care about addressing equity, which are all of the things this book covers. It was an enjoyable read, easy to follow, and brought up topics that some people might not even realize are connected as deeply as they are to climate change.

One section I liked was the listing of eco friendly fitness brands and places for donating shoes. Fast fashion does such a number on the climate and often people will shop at thrift stores to try and do something about it, but I loved reading about other alternative options people can take to make what they consume better for the environment. I also think it was a good choice not only to put this later after the chapter on heat and cities which gave people background on heat dangers (as well as pollutant issues like wildfire smoke), but I felt it ended the chapters on a more positive note with it being a sort of call to action. It can sometimes be depressing to read about climate change and it can feel hopeless, but learning about things like sustainable fitness can really help alleviate that feeling of helplessness.

[Wan Shoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're skeptical about how climate change affects your daily life, or if you view environmental activists as overly idealistic, this book is a must-read. It offers a deeper understanding of the cascading effects triggered by climate shifts, revealing how even small temperature increases can lead to irreversible consequences that touch every aspect of life, regardless of age.

Reading this book shattered my own ignorance and complacency toward environmental issues. I was especially captivated by how nature, particularly plants, adapts to rising CO₂ levels and how these changes can influence the frequency and severity of allergies.

Have you ever wondered why certain unpleasant experiences seem to be happening more often than before? This book unpacks the science and stories behind those shifts, showing how both people and ecosystems are feeling the heat. It’s a wake-up call wrapped in powerful storytelling.

[Marina Gaston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Simon Element for the ARC won through Goodreads Giveaway.

Bonnie Schneider clearly is familiar with the material and the information presented was well researched and presented in a clear and helpful way. Considerable time was spent to on basic information dump and actionable individual choices that can alleviate adversity. This book did not intend to cure the problems of the world, only to inform and help individuals.

I would not have picked this one up at the bookstore because many climate change literature tends to be preachy, accusatory, and full of doom and gloom, the world is ending in 10 years, etc. I don't need that kind of anxiety in my life. Surprisingly this is not the case with Taking the Heat. The book was informative and I learned a few things.

[Meg Dunk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taking the Heat discusses common medical and mental health conditions and offers tips for dealing with them. Much of this is familiar, but the author, a meteorologist, takes a novel approach in asserting that these conditions are exacerbated by climate change. It is interesting reading meant to inform rather than entertain. The writing is well supported by her research.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I learned a lot of new things about climate change and things we do that impact our environment. I really enjoyed reading this book. Thank you to the author Ms Bonnie Schneider for spreading the awareness on environmental sustainability.

[Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is well-written and extremely well-sourced. It gave me a lot of things to think about and even more incentive to do my part to help climate change.

This unbiased review is based on a copy won through Goodreads giveaways.

[Teri Stich · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read. Not quite what I was expecting but did deliver some useful information. It is a good starting point for learning more about how Climate Change is affecting us in ways we may not have considered. Definitely a subject we should all be taking serious.

[Jessica Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this in a giveaway and can't wait to receive my copy! I'm trying to get more nonfiction reading in this year

[Susan Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book on how to prevent climate change,

[Ron Frampton · Rating 4 out of 5]

How the climate change is effecting our health and how we can tackle this challenge.

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a free copy from the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Program and think that it interesting. I would recommend it to everyone

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as. Goodreads winner in exchange for an honest review.
Lots of facts and new terms like eco-anxiety. A little too much information to absorb.

[akat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good enough ig idk. I picked this up off the library one day

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads for the ARC of this book. I felt it was informative.

[NY152 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read. Great information. So much to learn from this book! Highly recommend!