Book Review: Adjusted Reality by Sherry McAllister

Reviewed by Erin Britton

An innovative and informative approach to overall health and well-being

Dr. Sherry McAllister’s Adjusted Reality promotes a holistic perspective that views each person as a whole being. It encourages them to move beyond the medicalized model of healthcare, recognizing the broader causes of malaise rather than just the symptoms. This represents a marked change from established practice, especially in the United States, “a departure from the pill-for-every-ill doctrine toward a nurturing philosophy change.”

To set the scene for why change is needed, McAllister offers a balanced, eye-opening critique of the current state of healthcare, focusing on the situation in the United States but applicable elsewhere too. Among the insightful and sometimes startling facts and figures she presents, perhaps the most surprising pertain to the pervasive presence of the pharmaceutical industry in both healthcare and media settings: “To wit, in 2024, the pharmaceutical industry in the United States spent over $19 billion on digital drug advertising, with the US and New Zealand standing alone as the only countries worldwide allowing advertising of pharmaceutical drugs on mainstream media.”

Yet despite the unprecedented availability of information on medication choices—to say nothing of the relative ease of access to the drugs themselves—the population only seems to be becoming sicker, physically and mentally. Whether due to the focus on expertise creating knowledge silos or the limited time allocated for each patient being insufficient for the physician to determine the root cause(s) of their issue, something has gone very wrong.

Building on this observation, McAllister emphasizes the importance of the “whole-being” system, which relies on balance and harmony. In essence, every individual functions through the complex interplay of direct and indirect physiological processes, all tailored to the relevant context and environment. Rather than resorting to a pill, ensuring the alignment of these processes will promote good health.

Movement is vital and the key is “keeping a balance of what the body needs and what the brain desires.” McAllister provides a distilled version of the theory behind her approach and complements it with practical exercises that can be applied by individuals of all health levels, although Adjusted Reality will particularly appeal to those seeking to improve their well-being after being failed by their regular doctors.

As McAllister is a chiropractor by trade, much of her conception of a more rounded approach to health is based on chiropractic aspects, such as the Visionary Six, principles said to differentiate chiropractic from other medical disciplines. Noting that chiropractors have historically been unfairly maligned as “quackypractors,” including by the American Medical Association, she offers a firm defense of her profession: “Why did chiropractic discrimination matter? In short, it fragmented the healthcare system, leaving patients with a conflict of choice and cohesion of whole-being. Confused and disenchanted by not knowing if there was a possibility to heal without a pill, they saw only one option.”

While scare stories still abound regarding chiropractic treatments gone wrong, meaning that the work of chiropractors is not viewed as entirely uncontroversial, McAllister explains both the theory and practice clearly and straightforwardly, dispelling many of the rumors and false assumptions. It’s unlikely that every reader will be inspired to try chiropractic treatment, but many certainly will, hopefully leading to improved health.

In addition to the practicalities of chiropractic, through real-world examples of friends and patients, McAllister illustrates what else is needed to nurture the “whole-being,” including sleep, nourishment, and exercise. In so doing, she provides plenty of actionable insights (sometimes accompanied by QR codes linking to relevant episodes of the Adjusted Reality podcast) to assist and motivate readers on their journey to improved wellness.

From achieving contentment to recognizing the need for regular revitalization, the tips and recommendations in Adjusted Reality serve to augment—if not necessarily replace—the health benefits derived from conventional medicine, including pharmaceuticals. McAllister’s focus on the often-overlooked balance between body and mind is sound, and the reasoning behind her holistic approach to health is logical and convincing.

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