Bloomsbury Tonic acquires HEAT by Dr. Jari Laukkanen and THE HAPPINESS PUZZLE by Dr. Jennifer De Paola!

Posted on 05.03.202606.03.2026

We couldn’t be happier to announce two brilliant non-fiction deals pre-London! Bloomsbury Tonic has acquired in pre-empt World rights to a brand new health title called HEAT – The New Science of Thermal Therapy and What It Can Do For Your Health by Dr. Jari Laukkanen for publication in September 2027. The deal was negotiated by Elina Ahlbäck at Ahlback Agency. Editorial Director Mireille Harper says:

“We see HEAT as the definitive book on heat therapy: science-led book on heat exposure as a corepillar of human health, longevity and stress resilience. Authoritative, timely and distinctive in its approach, Dr. Jari Laukkanen is the perfect author for this subject: a globally respected expert whose clinical authority and depth of research give this book real credibility. This book offers a genuinely fresh angle in the wellness space reframed for a general audience.”

Furthermore, Bloomsbury Tonic and Editorial Director Ariel Pakier have acquired, also in pre-empt, World rights (excluding Spain and Italy) to THE HAPPINESS PUZZLE by Dr. Jennifer De Paola. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Ahlback Agency. This is what Ariel Pakier at Bloomsbury says about The Happiness Puzzle:

“This is the perfect combination of meticulous research and entertaining storytelling on a subject that is perennially of interest. I have long been looking for the perfect book on happiness and am so grateful to have found it! [–] I know Dr De Paola will inspire so many with this book”

HEAT – The New Science of Thermal Therapy and What It Can Do For Your Health

by Dr. Jari Laukkanen, Bloomsbury Tonic, September 2027, 272 pages.

What if the path to better health, resilience and longevity begins with one of humanity’s oldest biological tools – heat?

In this groundbreaking book, renowned Finnish cardiologist and heat therapy researcher Professor Jari Laukkanen brings together decades of scientific research with practical guidance to explain how controlled heat exposure supports heart health, circulation, nervous system regulation and the body’s natural repair processes. Grounded in science and free from facts and extremes, HEAT shows how heat therapy can fit into real life – whatever your age, fitness level, or routine. With accessible, evidence-based approaches, you’ll learn how simple warmth can reduce stress, improve sleep, relieve pain and build lasting resilience, offering a powerful yet gentle path to better health.

Reading material: Proposal

Rights: Bloomsbury Tonic/Rights Team

HEAT – The New Science of Thermal Therapy and What It Can Do For Your Health
Jari Laukkanen

Rights sold:
WORLD RIGHTS: Bloomsbury Tonic

THE HAPPINESS PUZZLE
Jennifer De Paola

Rights sold:
ITALY: Newton Compton Editori s.r.l.
WORLD RIGHTS: Bloomsbury Tonic
WORLD SPANISH: Newton Compton Editores

About author

Jari Laukkanen

Jari Laukkanen is a cardiologist and Professor of Medicine at the University of Eastern Finland, and one of the world’s leading experts in the areas of sauna bathing research and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. He has published over 700 scientific articles, many relating to the benefits of sauna bathing on health. His research team conducts large‑scale population‑based studies to investigate the effects of sauna, rest, and cold exposure on overall health, and longevity. His work has been widely covered in international media including the BBC, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, and other major outlets.

Jennifer De Paola

Jennifer De Paola, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and researcher with a fascination for how ordinary people understand life’s biggest questions. Her research on happiness—particularly its cultural aspect in Finland—has been published in top social sciences journals like Public Understanding of Science, Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, and Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science. Along the way, her research has sparked conversations on international platforms, including interviews on BBC TV and Business Insider.

Jennifer divides her time between research at the University of Eastern Finland and clinical practice in the private sector. But what truly drives her is listening to people’s stories—whether in the therapy room, in an interview, or over a cup of coffee. Currently, her work focuses on immigrants in Finland and how they imagine their futures, a topic that resonates deeply with her as an immigrant herself. In Helsinki, she also provides psychological support to the English-speaking community drawing from evidence-based and scientifically supported therapeutic approaches such as Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Despite having lived in Finland for 15 years, a part of her is still the child from rural southern Italy. Her happiest moments? Passing on little pieces of that heritage to her two-year-old Finnish-Italian son—through museums, library visits, and long hikes where she teaches him Italian words and he sneaks in Finnish and English ones.