Former White House adviser publishes guide for personal crises

Dr. Raj Panjabi, a physician and former senior director at the National Security Council, has released a new book titled Safer: A Playbook — Turning Fear into Action and Crisis into Community. Published by Harper One on Oct. 13, 2026, the work aims to provide individuals with strategies to manage personal challenges such as health emergencies, workplace difficulties, and family conflicts.

The book draws on Panjabi’s professional background in high-stakes environments, including his time in the White House Situation Room and his experience as the founding CEO of Last Mile Health. Panjabi stated that he was inspired to write the guide after observing a lack of resources for crises that occur in one's living room, a realization solidified by his own experience when his daughter was diagnosed with heart failure at age one.

The text outlines eight practical strategies designed to help readers transition from states of denial and fear toward decisive action and community engagement. The foreword for the book was written by Dr. Vivek Murthy, the 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States.

Panjabi is scheduled to discuss the themes of his book at an event hosted by the Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 12, 2026.