
CHARLESTON, SC, July 24, 2025 — The “work ethic” has long been glorified as the gold standard for success, but at what cost? According to author, life coach and former corporate executive Mark Reinisch, it’s an outdated ideal that’s burning people out, draining their joy and pushing meaning in life to the margins. His new book, The Wellness Ethic: How to Thrive in an Unpredictable World (Where Stupid Things Can Happen), is a smart, funny and radically refreshing alternative. Instead of solely prioritizing productivity, Reinisch urges readers to adopt a wellness ethic and prioritize their overall well-being.
“There’s nothing wrong with working hard, provided it translates to your wellbeing; that’s the key,” Reinisch said in a recent interview. “If at the end of the day, your approach to life is making you happy and healthy, then you’re doing a lot of things right. But if you’re falling short — which a lot of people in today’s world are — that translates to poor health; it translates to erosion of your happiness and fulfillment.”
The Wellness Ethnic is NOT a typical self-help book. Reinisch isn’t a Harvard-educated psychologist or a multi-millionaire living a charmed life. Reinisch is relatable, vulnerable and hilarious as he simplifies complex wellness topics like mind, body, spirit and relationships to make wellness accessible, actionable and engaging.
So, what is a “wellness ethic”?
“It means you’re committed to wellness because you know that it improves your life and makes the world better,” Reinisch explained, adding, “When you have a wellness ethic, you thrive no matter how unpredictable the world gets.”
What makes Reinisch’s approach stand out from the legions of other self-help books is his remarkably simple approach: the 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto principle, derived from the work of Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It states that approximately 80% of the results (outcomes) are driven by 20% of the actions (inputs).
“When you apply the 80/20 rule to your life, it can be a game changer,” Reinisch said. “For example, the 80/20 rule suggests that 80% of the benefits of spirituality can be attained by embracing the most vital 20% of spiritual practices. Similarly, 80% of the benefits of taking care of your body can be realized by simply adopting the most vital 20% of physical wellness practices. It’s the key to making wellness attainable and sustainable.”
Written to be the antidote to self-help books that are “too damn boring,” The Wellness Ethic is a compelling, fun-to-read book with humor and personal stories that make the wellness concepts spring to life.
“It is the rare self-help book that you won’t be able to put down, unless the sheer bulk of it tires your arms and you drop it,” Reinisch quipped.
The Wellness Ethic: How to Thrive in an Unpredictable World (Where Stupid Things Can Happen)
Release Date: June 8, 2025
ISBN-13: 979-8-9916049-1-8 (hardcover) ISBN-13: 979-8-9916049-0-1 (softcover) ISBN-13: 979-8-9916049-2-5 (eBook) Available from: https://www.amazon.com/