I cared for 20,000 hearts before realizing I needed to care for my own.
After a decade as a Harvard-trained cardiologist, I was burned out, anxious, and helping patients with the same stress-related heart problems I was experiencing myself.
That's when I realized we were missing something huge about health and leadership.
This book shares what I learned about handling pressure without burning out—lessons that work whether you're running a company or running your life.
Why I Wrote Just One Heart
Watch Dr. Fisher explain the personal story behind the book and why these lessons matter for today's leaders.
This book shares what I learned about handling pressure without burning out—lessons that work whether you're running a company or running your life.
Recipient of Two National Book Awards
2025 IBPA Book Award (Health & Fitness)
2025 IPPY Award (Healthcare/Medicine)
What You'll Learn
Why stress shows up in your body - and how to break the cycle before it breaks you
Practical tools for pressure - techniques that work in real-world, high-stakes situations
Building resilient teams - how leaders can create cultures that thrive under pressure
The science behind sustainable performance - why "pushing through" actually makes things worse
Who Should Read This
If you're a leader dealing with chronic stress, managing burned-out teams, or wondering why "work-life balance" feels impossible, this book is for you.
It's also for anyone who's tired of the "just push through it" mentality and wants sustainable strategies that actually work.
Why I Wrote This
For years, I treated heart disease without understanding its real cause. My patients weren't just having heart problems—they were having life problems that showed up in their hearts.
I wrote this book because:
Leaders need practical solutions, not more inspiration
The medical world is finally catching up to what stress does to our bodies
Someone needs to bridge the gap between science and real-world application
This isn't about work-life balance or meditation retreats. It's about handling the pressure that comes with responsibility—without paying for it with your health or your team's well-being.
Get a Free Preview
Want to see if this approach works for you? Download the first chapter where I share the exact moment I realized traditional medicine was missing the point about stress and leadership.
What Readers Are Saying
"As a retired physician, Jonathan Fisher's "Just One Heart: A Cardiologist’s Guide to Healing, Health, and Happiness" resonates deeply with me as someone who also experienced stress, anxiety, and burnout early in my medical career. While I coped maladaptively with these challenges, Jonathan chose a different path—one that led him to explore Eastern practices, wisdom traditions, and the scientific literature on the mind-body connection. His book is a well-researched and balanced exploration of scientific, social, and spiritual approaches to healing, blending ancient wisdom with modern insights.
Through patient stories and personal reflections, Dr Fisher offers a holistic guide to well-being that respects both the mastery of science and the mysteries beyond it. This book is not just for physicians or those suffering from stress, burnout, or anxiety. The practices and tools for cultivating the '7 timeless qualities of the heart' will help everyone on their journey to healing and flourishing." - Gus Castellanos, MD
"Just One Heart takes the reader on an integrative journey of the heart and being human. It explores different layers of heart health through the lens of mindbodyspirit, seamlessly blending personal experience, professional experience (including case studies), science & contemplative traditions.
The case studies are great examples of seeing & understanding the whole person and providing whole person compassionate care, this needs to be the norm in all healthcare settings. Each chapter contains practices that can support wellness & living with awareness in a compassionate, open & whole hearted way. Although the focus of the book is around the many facets that are entwined to create heart health and whole person health it goes deeper than this and it links into the connectedness of everything.
It is clear that this book is written from a compassionate and heartfelt place and it contains much wisdom. It’s a book to dip back into and to engage frequently with the practices offered in it. It’s an important read for everyone." - AP
"I literally speed read this book when it first came out and loved it all. Definitely not just for healthcare although
I have already gifted the book to a few oncology nursing friends. I’m now re-reading it and making so many highlights and notes. A must read for our modern hearts. His sister would be very proud." - Mrs Annie Harvey
"Fascinating connection and perspective to wellness. We are a sick society with many of us hiding from sickness that can be prevented. Reading this book helps me to recognize the importance of Physical, social, emotional, and spiritual health and its profound impact to the heart. All the emotions are like. 4 legged table- it doesn’t remain functional unless we make sure each leg is recognized, and checked for strength.
As healthcare providers we can’t take care of others until we take care of ourselves. This book is one way that I’m practicing self care, and donning my Oxygen mask first. Thank you Dr Fisher for your dedication and work on this book! I hope to put this into practice and share your knowledge to my staff as a Surgery Nurse Manger." - Jill Bjornson
"Dr. Fisher has created an instrument that the world needs now. As an advocate for true, integrated healing, it's refreshing to have a respected medical doctor delve into the many facets of deep healing and enduring happiness. I highly recommend Just One Heart. Well done and deep admiration and gratitude for your work Dr. Fisher! You are doing amazing things for humanity. - Anna Pereira
“As a women's health advocate and nonfiction writer and editor, I read many nonfiction books in the health and wellness space, and Just One Heart, to me, is the most resonant and compelling. Dr. Fisher writes with wisdom, knowledge and deep humanity.
He's as kind as he is insightful, and his remarkable understanding of the nexus between heart and mind make this book a unique take on the topic.
This is a book to re-read and recommend!” - Rebecca Bloom
"Yes, healthcare is a business, but the commodity with which we deal is human lives and human happiness - that is the story intricately woven by the author as he takes us from heart to mind to spirit.
Fisher's storytelling is heartfelt and captivating, drawing readers into a world of emotional complexity and genuine human connection. A moving and uplifting read, this book is highly recommended for anyone seeking a story that touches the soul!" - Sharon M. Weinstein
“In "Just One Heart," we're invited into the profound yet practical world of heart health through the experienced eyes of a seasoned cardiologist. This book is not merely a medical manual; it is a compassionate guide that bridges the gap between the clinical and the human, the heart’s physical mechanics, and its metaphorical implications on our everyday lives. What sets this book apart is its holistic approach.
The cardiologist doesn’t only focus on the prevention and treatment of heart disease in a traditional sense but emphasizes the importance of emotional and mental well-being as integral components of cardiovascular health. This aligns seamlessly with modern wellness paradigms that advocate for a multifaceted approach to health care.
For anyone in the field of health and wellness, whether you're a CEO, a wellness coach, or a concerned individual, "Just One Heart" offers valuable insights into integrating heart health into overall wellness programs. It’s a compelling read that empowers its readers to take charge not only of their physical health but also their emotional resilience.” - Dipanshu Sharma
“This book exceeds and delivers beyond expectations! The heart in its physicality is covered, but it is so much more than that... It reaches into your heart and soul with personal references, experiences and profound knowledge and wisdom.
The book takes you on a journey and provides tools and experiences for you to embody your humanity and connection with others. The opportunity for you to thrive in life.
I will be referencing this book for years to come.” - Tara Packer
Get the Book
For Leaders: Learn how to build resilient teams without burning people out
For Organizations: Discover science-backed strategies for sustainable high performance
For Anyone Under Pressure: Get practical tools that work in real situations