cover image Wellth: How I Learned to Build a Life, Not a Resume

Wellth: How I Learned to Build a Life, Not a Resume

Jason Wachob. Harmony, $25 (256p) ISBN 978-1-101-90448-0

Making an uninspired debut, Wachob explains how he went from hard-partying frat boy and successful trader to founder and CEO of the lifestyle brand Mindbodygreen. His goal, for himself and others, is wellth, an invented word based on the Middle English welthe, which he claims referred primarily to happiness and only secondarily to prosperity. Here, he serves up cursory advice on health, exercise, cultivating a career that aligns with one’s personal values, self-exploration, romantic relationships, and emotional stability. There’s nothing groundbreaking here—Wachob’s advice includes developing a practice of gratitude (“the phrase ‘thank you’ is even etched on our bedroom wall”), fostering a connection with nature, and laughing often. Much of his advice comes through the lens of his own experiences, so established fans of Mindbodygreen may find this a solid companion to the company’s Buzzfeed-like site, for which the book functions as an extended ad, but others are likely to find the cloying tone and tired advice unfulfilling. Agent: Linda Loewenthal, Loewenthal Company. (Mar.)