You've Been Pooping All Wrong: How to Make Your Bowel Movements a Joy

by Trisha Pasricha

A GI’s guide to the brain-gut-microbiome connection; including research on why people develop IBS, and how anyone can achieve poophoria

Welcome to the easy-to-digest user’s manual for your body’s unsung the gut. Leading Harvard gastroenterologist, Dr. Trisha Pasricha takes us on a riotous deep dive into our own bowels with new insight from neuroscience, enteric biology, and physiology for an actionable framework to make pooping a breeze.

No one would expect you to have stunning teeth if you were never shown a toothbrush. You would struggle to fall sleep if you never knew how to turn off the bedroom lights. But no one talks about the fundamentals of pooping, and so many—even the highest of achievers—spiral into a quagmire of poor habits and toilet-anxiety.

You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong will teach

What is a “normal” bowel movement? What do different colors mean? Is there a wrong way to sit? Is there a better way to wipe? The intricate connection between your brain and your Why do you suddenly need to find the restroom right before your turn at karaoke and why does stress make you constipated? How to harness your gut’s microbiome to boost your How does your lifestyle influence your microbiome, and how can your microbiome, in turn, reshape you? The three Ps of having a perfect A simple framework to transform your bowel habits based on years of gastroenterological expertise. And much more… Here, you’ll learn the tools to achieve bowel consistency, ease, and—yes, joy—so that your gut flows on autopilot and you live your life without obsessing about the in short, poophoria.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Audiobook, Science, Self Help, Medical

Audible Audio

Published April 7, 2026

About the author

Trisha Pasricha, MD, MPH is an instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the “Ask A Doctor” columnist for The Washington Post where she translates complex medical topics into must-read insights—with a touch of humor—for millions each week. A graduate of Harvard College, Dr. Pasricha earned her medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and a Master of Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her training includes an internal medicine residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and gastroenterology and motility fellowships at Massachusetts General Hospital. Currently, Dr. Pasricha serves as director of the Institute for Gut-Brain Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, leading an NIH-funded research laboratory at the forefront of gut-brain science. Her work has been published in The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA Network Open, and Nature Reviews.

Reviews

[Zcat]

John Green really liked it.

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing!Dr Pasricha is a witty storyteller who also clearly cares for her patients. So informative for anyone who has been told their GI issues are all in their heads. I found myself laughing out loud so many times while also learning so much about gut health. Can’t wait to recommend to others!

[Zac McCray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet, I recommend this book to anyone who has ever pooped.

[Jeff Moreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a different and interesting book! It starts out trying to remove some of the stigma around the discussion of poop. It has been a taboo topic for so many of us for so much of our life, and yet it is a natural reality that has real impacts on your day-to-day life. Throughout the book, Dr. Pasricha shares her expertise while passing on knowledge that she wishes her patients had been taught elsewhere.

Interested in learning a little more about the gut microbiome?... curious about women's gut health and how it can be altered?... feel like you have "unique" poo problems that separate you from everyone else? (this book says they're less unique than you think)... want to know what causes silver poop?... or just want to potentially prevent the passing on of generational toilet trauma? Well, this book covers all those topics and more :)

Note: I found this book because it was recommended by John Green (the author, vlogger, and humanitarian). After starting it, I also saw it mentioned on SNL.

(I would score this as a 4.5/5, but I'm rounding up to a 5 for Goodreads and their whole-number rating)

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and fascinating. I’ll never look at poop the same again!

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the topic, this is not a bathroom read. The content is too detailed to really help with relaxing your external anal sphincter, but this is not a criticism. It is incredibly interesting and the neurogastric connections are so promising for future treatments and the understanding of nebulous symptoms. I immediately purchased psyllium husk and set a timer for potty time so I don’t sit too long. I have not ordered a bidet yet, but I’m using my time on the throne to think about it. The biggest impact is positive visibility for a topic that is often taboo and embarrassing for most people, but if we suffer in silence or resign to it being all in our heads, then no forward “propulsion” will ever get made.

[JC · Rating 4 out of 5]

[4.25/5]

The best book about shit you will ever read. Genuinely, this is very well-written and crafted with intention to cover pretty much every common (and uncommon) question you might have about your gut health. I picked this up for two reasons. First, I have become extremely paranoid about colon cancer; it seems like it is everywhere with young, big name celebs passing from it. With more and more news stories about its increasing diagnoses among young people, people in my weightlifting class are swapping fiber tips... The colon is the thing right now. So get educated! Second, John Green recommended it, and, as you can maybe tell from the reviews, Nerdfighters really will take any book rec.

I highly recommend this as a straightforward, dense but approachable guide to keeping your body healthy. She covers topics from color, formation, fiber intake, preventing the runs during your runs (lol), the brain-gut connection, and more. I do wish she had covered a bit more around cancer screenings (like, many practitioners skepticism around send-away tests, etc.) but I also have a specific paranoia around this. Either way, this is where to start to make sure your insides are running properly, highly recommend on audio.

[. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read at the recommendation of John Green. An important topic worthy of destigmatization, presented in an accessible, engaging—at times even playful—manner by a scientist/physician/researcher gastroenterologist who grew up in the home of a gastroenterologist. Organized so that you can skip to the parts most relevant to your experience. Will be of special interest to my peri/menopause cohort as we navigate our whole new world.

[Zehava (Joyce) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I simply could not resist a book with this title. This book is full of useful information and it is both informative and funny (I mean a book about poop has to be funny, right?) If you have issues in this area (or even if you don’t)I highly recommend this book. The audiobook is well narrated by the author.

[mal sage · Rating 5 out of 5]

a quick, insightful read recommended by John Green. definitely worth reading to better understand how our microbiome and gastrointestinal systems function—provides great introductory information on all of this. and I appreciate the attempt to reduce stigma on the topic!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book! Everyone should be trying to obtain poophoria! There’s so much stigma about talking about poop, but it’s so integral to our daily lives and health and well-being. Eat more fibre, don’t bring your phone to the toilet. These are great tips!

[Sally Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot girls have IBS, but we don’t have to! This book is eye opening and amazing, highly recommend

[Kelly (kellyreadingbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

💩You've Been Pooping All Wrong: How to Make Your Bowel Movements a Joy by Trisha Pasricha MD,MPH 🎧5 hrs 58 min, 5/5 ⭐️

💩Leading Harvard gastroenterologist, Dr. Trisha Pasricha takes us on a riotous deep dive into our own bowels with new insight from neuroscience, enteric biology, and physiology for an actionable framework to make pooping a breeze. What is a “normal” bowel movement? What do different colors mean? Is there a wrong way to sit? Is there a better way to wipe? Why do you suddenly need to find the restroom right before your turn at karaoke and why does stress make you constipated? How does your lifestyle influence your microbiome, and how can your microbiome, in turn, reshape you? (medical/science nonfiction, published 2026 Avery)

💩THIS BOOK WAS SO INCREDIBLY VALIDATING! Dr. Pasricha is a NEURO GI doctor - where was she when I needed her... anyway lol. Anyone who has unexplained (or honestly explained for that matter) colon issues, read this! There are so many fascinating studies. Like did you know emerging research is finding Parkinson's can be found in STOOL SAMPLES!? Like how incredible is that. And they are working on detecting more things, like Breast Cancer. Also... IBS/ or a sensitive tummy is in fact, NOT all in your head. I also loved the chapters on Women's Health/hormones linked to the colon - you know how many gynos have looked at me like I'm insane or dismiss me when I asked about BM's linked to cramps/period pain etc??? The chapter "No One Poops Normal on Vacation" was also great. The entire book- helpful to me or someone I know/love even if I haven't experienced those issues myself (yet)! HIGHLY recommend, and fantastic on audio narrated by the doc herself. I'll probably be gifting this book to some people 🤣

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not on my radar at all. I had no idea it was a bestseller, or that John Green had talked about it. I was looking at a list of books, saw the title, and started laughing. How many articles have we all seen telling us we’ve been doing everything from tying our shoes to making our beds to washing our hair wrong?

I had to check it out, just to satisfy my curiosity. I was not disappointed! Pasricha is a gastroenterologist with a sense of humor, which is not only my favorite kind of gastroenterologist, but my favorite kind of human. She busts some common bathroom myths (it’s not an emergency if you do not have a bowel movement once a day), reinforces some advice you’ve likely already heard (eat plenty of fruits and veggies, and for pete’s sake, get enough fiber), and tries to take the stigma out of a normal bodily function.

I’m willing to bet that even if you don’t think you have any issues in the bowel/colon department, you will find helpful information in this book. Recommended for anyone who poops.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of great information told in an engaging way. I highly recommend it!

If you're on the fence about reading, here is the table of contents:

Part I: The Secrets
-Chapter 1: Poophoria
-Chapter 2: Ten Myths about Pooping
-Chapter 3: Is My Poop Normal?
-Chapter 4: The Three P's of Pooping

Part II: The Science
-Chapter 5: The Gut-Brain Connection
-Chapter 6: How the Brain Influences the Gut
-Chapter 7: How the Gut Influences the Brain

Part III: The Survival Guide
-Chapter 8: You Poop What You Eat
-Chapter 9: All About Wiping
-Chapter 10: Pooping in Public
-Chapter 11: Women's Gut Health
-Chapter 12: No One Poops Normally on Vacation
-Chapter 13: Runners with the Runs
-Chapter 14: Where the Sun Don't Shine

Conclusion: Trust Your Gut

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

For all the people who have had doctors imply or outright say their GI issues were all in their head, or suggest they were lying about their fiber consumption (as if that were the be all and end all of solutions) - chapters 6 and the conclusion are for you. Dr. Pasricha writes "If you remain in a situation where your doctor doesn't believe you, it's not your job to make them believe. Instead, you need to find a new doctor." This is the resource I needed 20 years ago.

This is a helpful review of what is normal vs concerning, and what to do about it. Thank you to Dr. Pasricha for writing this important and easy to read book.

[Eric Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a terrific, well-written, funny book about a subject no one talks about in polite company. But as pretty much all of us poop, fart, wipe our bums, etc., it deserves a wider audience. Some key tips: everyone needs more fibre in their diets (and psyllium husk is a great source); when travelling, to avoid constipation, drink lots and lots of coffee; use a bidet and if you don't have one, make sure not to use one-ply toilet tissues. Stuff like that. Seriously, this is a fun and information book - highly recommended.

[Pallu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m giving this book a 5 because it’s no small feat to write something both witty and informative about poop. Dr. Pasricha makes an excellent point that our education about bowel movements essentially ends at potty training. As a result, many of us feel uncomfortable even mentioning the topic, let alone taking the time to learn more or ask questions about our own experiences. She also does a great job explaining how the gut is also a brain making the science and research approachable. She offers some great suggestions and I honestly walked away more empathetic for some of the struggles people are facing on a daily basis.

[Chris Jaffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up after hearing an interview with the author, and thought is sounded like something I should be aware of.

Main takeaway: OK, apparently I'm pooping alright.

It gives a basic background on the topic. I skimmed over parts that got too much into the medialese for my interests or didn't really seem to apply to me (example: I'm not a runner). Worth looking at just to read about the Bistol Stool Form Scale.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend everyone read this. It's more than just about pooping. It's about the relationship your gut and intestines play in your overall health.

I really enjoyed this and am looking forward to reading it again! I listened to the audio, so I don't have any cool quotes to share right now. Just know poop isn't a taboo subject, and you should absolutely learn what is healthy for you, as not everybody is the same.

Also, I don't know how many people in the world, or the US, have bidet's but it just seems wrong. This book will teach you that a bidet is the proper way to address your needs at the conclusion of your business. I'm not convinced, plus, most bathrooms aren't designed to have room for a secondary unit so you are stuck with buying a bidet toilet seat and then get a plumber to install it. Isn't this just one more thing to keep clean and have to worry about the water line not getting ucky? With all the millions of options, how do you know you are getting a good one? If anybody has had success with a bidet, share!!!

4.5 stars.

[Sanford Chee]

Recommended by Adam Grant
https://adamgrant.substack.com/p/the-...
Never thought I’d recommend reading about “poophoria,” but this adventure through joyful bowel movements and the gut-brain connection is too good to miss.

[Sarah Watanabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I will always have a soft spot for GI so this was a must read for me. This is super well written, a little technical though overall an easy read which talks about the basics of GI related issues that are commonly seen and understanding what’s normal. Feeling #validated.

[Jason Cady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to learn more about our microbiome and I saw a Washington Post video by the author so I was intrigued. Although the book is well-written and accessible, it concentrated too much on issues that are not relevant to me. So, this will be an excellent book for some people, but it wasn't for me.

[Xavier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots to learn here about the digestive system. It's amazing how much of an effect it may have on a person's mood and well-being. Could we start treating mental or psychological issues with fiber? The gut biome is powerful and could have cascading effects on everything in your life

[Andrea Hofmeister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Specific information

I was looking for some specific information but in my search, I discovered a delightful book full of wit and wisdom. I highly recommend it for the intellectually curious or the digestively bedeviled.

[Betsy Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who has dealt with stomach issues for many years on and off, some scarier than others, this was a good read. I wanted a little more meat in some parts but it was still a good, and punny, read.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book taught me that I’m popping correctly so that was reassuring. However, it did renew my desire to include more psyllium husk in my diet.
A good, short read and I recommend if you have any interest in gut health.

[Amy Jayasuriya · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who reads any and all research on the science of nutrition I couldn't not read this. It was fascinating in many ways but especially in its focus on the gut brain connection which has been gaining more understanding lately.

[Malin Kint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply Poophoric

4.5

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeing a woman discuss the concept of poophoria healed something in me. Thank you John Green for the recommendation. 5/5 stars