Gravity doesn't just pull apples from trees--it shapes our bodies, minds, and even our emotions. In PULL, Brennan Spiegel, M.D. reveals how this invisible force influences everything from digestion to depression--and how building gravity resilience can help us find balance, stand stronger, and live longer.
As long as life has existed on Earth--from the simplest organisms to Homo sapiens--gravity has inexorably shaped our world. Gravity dictated how we were built, the mechanisms that allow us to stand upright, to pump blood to our extremities, to support our capacious brains. But to what extent does gravity also shape our sensations, emotions, and overall well-being? And how can we take this force of nature into account for better health?
In PULL, Brennan Spiegel, M.D. presents a groundbreaking exploration of how gravity influences conditions of body and mind that have puzzled medical professionals for centuries. Starting with a simple observation at a family dinner and culminating in a new approach to gravity-based health and wellness, PULL is a captivating journey through the human body's inner struggle to keep us upright and healthy.
Why do people with depression literally feel like they're being dragged to the ground? Why do you get that butterfly feeling in your stomach when going down a roller coaster? Why do you get it when you are "falling" in love? What can we learn from astronauts with heartburn and swollen faces to inform our lives back on Earth? How do gut microbes help us fight gravity? And most importantly, how can we change our relationship with gravity for the better? To get there, Spiegel proposes the concept of "gravity resilience," a fresh perspective on traditional interventions like weight loss, exercise, diet, and meditation. Rather than just lifestyle choices, these treatments share something profound and unexpected in common: they all enhance our resilience to gravity.
Rooted in hard science, buttressed by compelling storytelling, and punctuated with actionable strategies to boost your own gravity resilience, PULL is an eye-opening, life-changing book.
About the Author :
Brennan Spiegel, M.D., is a physician, professor, and storyteller whose work lives at the intersection of science, technology, and what it means to be human. He directs Health Services Research at Cedars-Sinai, where he holds the George and Dorothy Gourrich Chair in Digital Health Ethics. Dr. Spiegel's research explores how emotion, physical experience, and the mind-body connection shape health--and how innovations like virtual reality and AI can support healing. He can often be found balancing his life (and himself) on a wobble board in his office while wearing a weighted vest. He lives in Los Angeles.
Review :
"Brennan Spiegel's PULL delves into a simple idea with remarkable gravity. This thought-provoking book will make you reconsider your life, surroundings, and key decisions. A must-read for anyone curious about human behavior--and how to lift ourselves to new heights."
--Martin Lindstrom, NYT bestselling author of BUYOLOGY and SMALL DATA
"In our too-busy lives, we rarely have time to consider what true wellness means. In PULL, Brennan Spiegel does it for you--he unpacks how gravity isn't just a law of physics, but a force that impacts our energy, emotions and everyday health in ways that have been overlooked until now. Blending science, personal storytelling and curiosity, Spiegel teaches us how to reconnect with our bodies, restore literal and metaphorical balance, and redefine what it means to be alive. This book is for anyone who's ever felt the weight of the world--and is ready to soar!"
--Eve Rodsky, NYT bestselling author of FAIR PLAY and FIND YOUR UNICORN SPACE
"PULL is one of those rare books that leads you to rethink everything you thought you knew about a topic--in this case gravity. Drawing on his expertise as a professor of medicine, Brennan Spiegel deftly reveals the overlooked role that gravity plays in shaping our health and well-being. In doing so, he reimagines gravity not just as a law of physics, but as a foundational influence on our lives. Riveting!"
--Ethan Kross, PhD, NYT bestselling author of CHATTER and SHIFT, Professor of Psychology and Management, University of Michigan
"A bold thinker, a universal communicator. Spiegel is a genius. Listen to him."
--Max Brooks, NYT bestselling author of WORLD WAR Z, THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE, and DEVOLUTION
"In a nation obsessed with chasing miracle cures, who would have thought that many of our health challenges--and opportunities--stem from a force that has shaped us since birth: gravity. In this eye-opening book, Brennan Spiegel reveals how this invisible yet constant companion profoundly impacts everything from our digestion to our mental health. Through compelling stories and detailed research, Spiegel offers practical strategies to transform your relationship with gravity, unlocking pathways to vitality that have been hiding in plain sight all along."
--Robert Wachter, MD, NYT bestselling author of THE DIGITAL DOCTOR and A GIANT LEAP: How AI is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for our Future, Chair, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
"A fascinating and compelling journey into the omnipresent influence of an invisible force that shapes our lives from before our birth until our death. I have rarely read anything that seems so obvious and so profound at the same time. Once you read this book, gravity will no longer be invisible to you; it will be a constant presence that helps you form a more complete understanding of yourself. This perspective shift, coupled with practical items throughout the book, make it a truly valuable read."
--Adam Gazzaley, MD, PhD, author of THE DISTRACTED MIND and, Professor of Neurology, Physiology, and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco
"In PULL, Brennan Spiegel delves into the intriguing science behind how gravity impacts our bodies, minds, and emotions. As a GI dietitian, I appreciate his nutrition-focused strategies for building gravitational resilience, including serotonin-boosting foods from the "STACK TEN" and the "BLAST OFF" diet, which is packed with flavonoids and omega-3s to support both physical and mental well-being."
--Kate Scarlata, RDN, NYT bestselling author of THE LOW-FODMAP DIET STEP BY STEP and co-author of MIND YOUR GUT
"When we think of a balanced lifestyle, we often focus on quantity, too little or too much. In PULL, Dr. Brennan Spiegel elegantly describes how external forces like gravity can pull our bodies and minds in different directions. Understanding the dynamic of "pull" may help guide us towards better health."
--David Rhew, MD, Global Chief Medical Officer, Microsoft
"PULL is more than fascinating--it's an unconventional take on the diseases we diagnose, how our bodies may adapt for generations to come, and the strength it takes to rise against the forces that are always pulling us down."
--Austin Chiang, MD, MPH, author of GUT: An Owner's Manual, Chief Medical Officer, Medtronic Endoscopy
"Dr. Spiegel masterfully weaves cutting-edge science with his trademark engaging storytelling to spotlight a force we often overlook: Gravity! PULL offers a fresh lens for understanding our patients and ourselves."
--Ali Rezaie, MD, author of THE MICROBIOME CONNECTION, Professor of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai
"PULL offers a revelatory exploration of how gravity--physical, mental, and metaphorical--shapes our lived experience. Each chapter delivers outside-the-box insights and practical tools grounded in the observable phenomena of cognitive gravitropism and the power of verticality. With accessible, evidence-based strategies, Pull speaks to clinicians, patients, and the health-curious alike. A must-read for anyone seeking to rise above the weight of mental and physical distress."
--Megan Riehl, PsyD, Co-author of MIND YOUR GUT, Co-host of THE GUT PODCAST, and Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Michigan
"Inspiring and thought-provoking." - Booklist
