And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self

This encouraging if unoriginal program by rapper Common (Let Love Have the Last Word) dispenses guidance on bettering one’s diet and mental and physical health. Common describes how he discovered the energizing effects of working out while bulking up for his first movie role in the early 2000s, and how in his early 20s musical collaborators in the Nation of Islam introduced him to the idea that “eating well could be a spiritual practice,” inspiring him to give up fried foods for organic alternatives. Common includes insights from his doctor, chef, personal trainer, therapist, and pastor, but their advice is largely familiar or nebulous. For instance, his chef’s exhortations to “put some greens in your meals” and buy organic fruits and vegetables will surprise no one, and his therapist’s assertion that “you can’t have compassion for someone else until you have compassion and forgiveness for yourself” is well-intentioned but trite. Still, Common brings a welcome recognition that what’s healthy for one person isn’t always for another (“You have to do what’s right for you, and only you know what that is”), and his tone is uplifting throughout (“Your higher self is part of you, waiting to be called upon”). Common’s fans will enjoy the personal anecdotes, but general readers will be let down by the pedestrian advice. Agent: Kirby Kim, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. (Jan.)