The ability to move well, to squat, reach, twist and get off the floor, is one of the strongest predictors of how you will age and it is trainable at any point. These six books teach mobility and healthy movement from physical therapists, a biomechanist and spine scientists. From daily ten-minute practices to deep mechanics, they will keep your body working for decades. Check with a professional before starting, especially if you have pain or an injury.
Quick picks:
- Best overall: Built to Move by Kelly and Juliet Starrett. View on Amazon
- Best reference: Becoming a Supple Leopard by Kelly Starrett. View on Amazon
- Best on natural movement: Move Your DNA by Katy Bowman. View on Amazon
Everyday mobility
Built to Move by Kelly and Juliet Starrett
Kelly is a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) and coach. Ten simple mobility and movement tests and practices to keep your body working for life. Practical and approachable.
Best for: Everyday mobility for longevity.
→ View on AmazonMove Your DNA by Katy Bowman
Katy Bowman is a biomechanist (MS). A biomechanist's case that we need varied natural movement all day, not just workouts. Reframes movement entirely.
Best for: Movement beyond the gym.
→ View on AmazonRebuilding Milo by Aaron Horschig
Aaron Horschig is a doctor of physical therapy (DPT). A physical therapist's guide to diagnosing and fixing common lifting injuries and pain. The gym-goer's rehab manual.
Best for: Fixing your own lifting injuries.
→ View on AmazonDeeper mechanics
Becoming a Supple Leopard by Kelly Starrett
Kelly Starrett is a doctor of physical therapy (DPT). The comprehensive mobility and movement-mechanics reference from a leading physical therapist. Dense but definitive.
Best for: The mobility encyclopedia.
→ View on AmazonBack Mechanic by Stuart McGill
Stuart McGill is a professor of spine biomechanics (PhD). The definitive self-assessment and self-treatment guide for back pain, from the top spine-science researcher. The gold standard.
Best for: Self-treating mechanical back pain.
→ View on AmazonTreat Your Own Back by Robin McKenzie
Robin McKenzie is a physiotherapist. The small, cheap, proven physical-therapy method used with millions of back-pain patients worldwide. Simple and effective.
Best for: A proven self-help PT method.
→ View on AmazonHow we chose these
We hold to a simple rule: if we cannot verify an author's credential (MD, PhD, RD, DPT, PsyD, or licensed clinician) from a publisher or university bio in about two minutes, the book does not make the list, with clearly labeled exceptions for a few excellent journalist-authored titles. No cure-all claims, no anti-science, no wellness influencers. We describe and compare these books to help you choose; we do not reproduce their contents.
Please note: these are books, not medical advice. Everyone's health is different. For your specific situation, talk to your doctor before acting on anything you read.
