Joy Bauer

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Healthy reading for all ages.

Nutritionist Joy Bauer has become one of the nation's most well-known experts on health and diet, appearing regularly on the Today Show, advising the New York City ballet, and penning a regular column in Self magazine. Her latest book, Slim and Scrumptious goes beyond her health-and-fitness focus to offer deliciously healthy recipes as well. We asked Joy Bauer for a reading menu of books she finds especially nourishing. Here are three of her selections.

Books by Joy Bauer

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The Giving Tree

By Shel Silverstein

"The Giving Tree gives me the chills every time I read it. I was first introduced to the book when my daughter Jesse was in preschool, and I fell in love with it. I looked forward to reading it for the first time (and then over and over again) to each of my younger two. This may be a children's story by definition, but its message is universal and ageless."

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A Fine Balance

By Rohinton Mistry

"Set in 1970s India, this beautifully narrated story of four pure-hearted victims of violence, poverty, corruption, and the country's unjust caste system left me feeling devastated and ashamed of how much I take for granted in my life. Mistry's mastery of language and emotion pulled me deep into the characters' lives and psyches, touching me in a way that no other book has. This heartbreaking story, though difficult to swallow, reminds me that even in the darkest of times and situations, hope and love endure."

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The Namesake

By Jhumpa Lahiri

"The Namesake speaks to me both as a parent and as a daughter. Just as my own kids embark on their formative teenage years, this story emphasizes the importance of letting go and giving them the freedom to make their own decisions and forge their own path. At the same time, it reinforces the true value of family -- and reminds me to appreciate and respect my own family's culture and traditions."