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Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art Hardcover – 26 May 2020
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James Nestor
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James Nestor
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Product details
- Publisher : Riverhead Books (26 May 2020)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 304 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0735213615
- ISBN-13 : 978-0735213616
- Dimensions : 15.75 x 2.54 x 23.37 cm
-
Best Sellers Rank:
5,872 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 22 in Extreme Sports (Books)
- 54 in Anatomy & Physiology
- 2,385 in Health, Fitness & Nutrition
- Customer Reviews:
Product description
Review
A New York Times Bestseller
A Washington Post Notable Nonfiction Book of 2020
A Goodreads Award Finalist for Best Science & Technology Book of the Year
Named a Best Book of 2020 by NPR A fascinating book, full of dazzling revelations. --Dr. Rangan Chatterjee This book is awesome. Most people have no idea how to do breathing exercises and how beneficial they are. Over the last few weeks I've been using the methods I learned from his book and I can tell you there are absolutely some real benefits to be had from this. . .I really enjoyed this book. --Joe Rogan on Instagram I highly recommend this book. --Wim Hof on Instagram A fascinating scientific, cultural, spiritual and evolutionary history of the way humans breathe--and how we've all been doing it wrong for a long, long time. I already feel calmer and healthier just in the last few days, from making a few simple changes in my breathing, based on what I've read. . . . Our breath is a beautiful, healing, mysterious gift, and so is this book. --Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Big Magic and Eat Pray Love James Nestor's perfectly timed book looks at what is known through research and what is known by experience - often his own painful experience - as he submits to experiments and breathwork techniques to learn more about something we typically take for granted. Reading this book, I gained both a greater appreciation for my respiratory system and a personal-best long-distance run (breathing through the nose = greater endurance)! --NPR With his entertaining, eerily well-timed new book, James Nestor explains the science behind proper breathing and how we can transform our lungs and our lives. . . . The book is brisk and detailed, a well-written read that is always entertaining, as he melds the personal, the historical, and the scientific. --The Boston Globe "It's a rare popular-science book that keeps a reader up late, eyes glued to the pages. But Breath is just that fascinating. It will alarm you. It will gross you out. And it will inspire you. Who knew respiration could be so scintillating?" --Spirituality & Health "Breath provides a new perspective of modern day technology and how we've unknowingly abandoned the answers we've always had. James Nestor artfully brings back what modern society has walked away from by combining ancestral techniques and new age technology in one elegant book." --Scientific Inquirer "A transformative book that changes how you think about your body and mind." --Joshua Foer, New York Times-bestselling author of Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Memory "Breath is an utterly fascinating journey into the ways we are wired. No matter who you are, you'll want to read this." --Po Bronson, New York Times-bestselling author of What Should I Do with My Life? and coauthor of NutureShock "An eye-opening, epic journey of human devolution that explains why so many of us are sick and tired. A must-read book that exposes what our health care system doesn't see." --Dr. Steven Y. Park, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, author of Sleep, Interrupted "I don't say this often, but when I do I mean it: This book changed my life. Breath is part scientific quest, part historical insight, part Hero's Journey, full of groundbreaking ideas, and a rollicking good read. I had no idea that the simple and intuitive act of inhaling and exhaling has taken such an evolutionary hit. As a result, I figured out why I sleep so badly and why my breathing feels so often out of sync. With a few simple tweaks, I fixed my breathing and fixed myself. A transformational book!" --Caroline Paul, bestselling author of The Gutsy Girl "If you breathe, you need this book. When we undervalue anything, including something so basic as breathing, bad things always happen--and Nestor makes it clear how awful it's gotten. But he also provides a clear airway back to better, deeper, stronger respirations." --Wallace J. Nichols, PhD, New York Times-bestselling author of Blue Mind "Breath shows us just how extraordinary the act of breathing is and why so much depends on how we do it. An enthralling, surprising, and often funny adventure into our most overlooked and undervalued function." --Bonnie Tsui, author of Why We Swim and American Chinatown A welcome, invigorating user's manual for the respiratory system. --Kirkus Reviews "Although we all breathe, there is an art and science to breathing correctly . . . Full of fascinating information an compelling arguments, this eye-opening (or more aptly a mouth-closing and nostril-opening) work is highly recommended." --Library Journal
A Washington Post Notable Nonfiction Book of 2020
A Goodreads Award Finalist for Best Science & Technology Book of the Year
Named a Best Book of 2020 by NPR A fascinating book, full of dazzling revelations. --Dr. Rangan Chatterjee This book is awesome. Most people have no idea how to do breathing exercises and how beneficial they are. Over the last few weeks I've been using the methods I learned from his book and I can tell you there are absolutely some real benefits to be had from this. . .I really enjoyed this book. --Joe Rogan on Instagram I highly recommend this book. --Wim Hof on Instagram A fascinating scientific, cultural, spiritual and evolutionary history of the way humans breathe--and how we've all been doing it wrong for a long, long time. I already feel calmer and healthier just in the last few days, from making a few simple changes in my breathing, based on what I've read. . . . Our breath is a beautiful, healing, mysterious gift, and so is this book. --Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Big Magic and Eat Pray Love James Nestor's perfectly timed book looks at what is known through research and what is known by experience - often his own painful experience - as he submits to experiments and breathwork techniques to learn more about something we typically take for granted. Reading this book, I gained both a greater appreciation for my respiratory system and a personal-best long-distance run (breathing through the nose = greater endurance)! --NPR With his entertaining, eerily well-timed new book, James Nestor explains the science behind proper breathing and how we can transform our lungs and our lives. . . . The book is brisk and detailed, a well-written read that is always entertaining, as he melds the personal, the historical, and the scientific. --The Boston Globe "It's a rare popular-science book that keeps a reader up late, eyes glued to the pages. But Breath is just that fascinating. It will alarm you. It will gross you out. And it will inspire you. Who knew respiration could be so scintillating?" --Spirituality & Health "Breath provides a new perspective of modern day technology and how we've unknowingly abandoned the answers we've always had. James Nestor artfully brings back what modern society has walked away from by combining ancestral techniques and new age technology in one elegant book." --Scientific Inquirer "A transformative book that changes how you think about your body and mind." --Joshua Foer, New York Times-bestselling author of Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Memory "Breath is an utterly fascinating journey into the ways we are wired. No matter who you are, you'll want to read this." --Po Bronson, New York Times-bestselling author of What Should I Do with My Life? and coauthor of NutureShock "An eye-opening, epic journey of human devolution that explains why so many of us are sick and tired. A must-read book that exposes what our health care system doesn't see." --Dr. Steven Y. Park, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, author of Sleep, Interrupted "I don't say this often, but when I do I mean it: This book changed my life. Breath is part scientific quest, part historical insight, part Hero's Journey, full of groundbreaking ideas, and a rollicking good read. I had no idea that the simple and intuitive act of inhaling and exhaling has taken such an evolutionary hit. As a result, I figured out why I sleep so badly and why my breathing feels so often out of sync. With a few simple tweaks, I fixed my breathing and fixed myself. A transformational book!" --Caroline Paul, bestselling author of The Gutsy Girl "If you breathe, you need this book. When we undervalue anything, including something so basic as breathing, bad things always happen--and Nestor makes it clear how awful it's gotten. But he also provides a clear airway back to better, deeper, stronger respirations." --Wallace J. Nichols, PhD, New York Times-bestselling author of Blue Mind "Breath shows us just how extraordinary the act of breathing is and why so much depends on how we do it. An enthralling, surprising, and often funny adventure into our most overlooked and undervalued function." --Bonnie Tsui, author of Why We Swim and American Chinatown A welcome, invigorating user's manual for the respiratory system. --Kirkus Reviews "Although we all breathe, there is an art and science to breathing correctly . . . Full of fascinating information an compelling arguments, this eye-opening (or more aptly a mouth-closing and nostril-opening) work is highly recommended." --Library Journal
About the Author
James Nestor has written for Outside, Scientific American, The Atlantic, Dwell, The New York Times, and many other publications. His book Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us About Ourselves was a finalist for the 2015 PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing, an Amazon Best Science Book of 2014, and more. Nestor has appeared on dozens of national television shows, including ABC's Nightline and CBS's Morning News, and on NPR. He lives and breathes in San Francisco.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
8,192 global ratings
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Reviewed in Australia on 31 August 2020
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This book is such an important read. For anyone suffering from respiratory problems, sleep apnea, malocclusion, auto-immune diseases etc.. James Nestor has researched thousands of years of medical texts & studies in all things respiration... & uncovered why we as a race have become so sick, stressed & tired. His journey traces from our healthy ancestors...to the devolution that took place from the agricultural age... & gives essential life saving transformative advice on breathing that WILL turn your health around...in a very short space of time! A MUST read!
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
Reviewed in Australia on 4 January 2021
Verified Purchase
I have listened to the audible version more than once, and it leaves a lasting impression.
Diet is a very contentious subject when it comes to health - keto, vegan, high fibre, paleo, intuitive eating, fasting.
But breath is so much simpler: in, out, depth, and time; through the nose or mouth. It also has so much more impact.
What was so interesting about the book was the link to modern “ailments” such as obesity, sleep apnea, asthma, mental health and inflammation to the breath. As for crooked teeth and narrow jaws - I would never have made this connection before reading this book. My daughter recently had braces fitted - I wish I had read this book 10 years ago.
An excellent read and highly recommended.
Diet is a very contentious subject when it comes to health - keto, vegan, high fibre, paleo, intuitive eating, fasting.
But breath is so much simpler: in, out, depth, and time; through the nose or mouth. It also has so much more impact.
What was so interesting about the book was the link to modern “ailments” such as obesity, sleep apnea, asthma, mental health and inflammation to the breath. As for crooked teeth and narrow jaws - I would never have made this connection before reading this book. My daughter recently had braces fitted - I wish I had read this book 10 years ago.
An excellent read and highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in Australia on 28 October 2020
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So you think you can breathe - just because you have been doing it all your life... The fact is that most of us simply don't know how to breathe properly, and their health suffers as a result.
This well researched and entertainingly written book discusses different types of breathing exercises, as well as describing the healthiest way to breathe for life. And for nearly everyone, it is not what you are doing now. It is also not what most of you think it is...
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, after working in the area of sleep breathing disorders for over three decades. My copy is full of bookmarks showing sections I want to return to and refer to. Despite my long experience in the industry, I am still learning, and that learning becomes much more enjoyable what provided in such a well written and entertaining book.
This well researched and entertainingly written book discusses different types of breathing exercises, as well as describing the healthiest way to breathe for life. And for nearly everyone, it is not what you are doing now. It is also not what most of you think it is...
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, after working in the area of sleep breathing disorders for over three decades. My copy is full of bookmarks showing sections I want to return to and refer to. Despite my long experience in the industry, I am still learning, and that learning becomes much more enjoyable what provided in such a well written and entertaining book.
Reviewed in Australia on 25 November 2020
Verified Purchase
You don’t know you don’t breathe correctly until something happens to show you, OR you read this book! Amazing that something nobody even needs to think about can impact your life to such a huge extent without you even contemplating that it could - I mean, it’s just breathing, how can something that is such an integral part of your subconscious be so hard to get right? I have had health issues linked to breathing, and ready knew some of gs this book has to say, but the depth and reach in here is definitely far-reaching if you take it on board!
Reviewed in Australia on 13 August 2020
Verified Purchase
Life changing. I am an active person and changing the way I breathe has improved my workouts and recovery. Sleep has improved too.
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in Australia on 24 August 2020
Verified Purchase
breathing turns out to be pretty interesting, and more non-intuitive than you might think; the book is a typical self help 'here is the journey I went on.. with some technical tidbits'.. but well written for what it is.
i enjoyed it
i enjoyed it
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in Australia on 30 November 2020
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I came to this book already interested in the breath and breathwork but this book exceeded my expectations and think everyone should read it! It really could change your life with information that we all need to know and implement. For ourselves and for our children. If you're reading this review don't hesitate just buy! I have recommended this book to all my clients and friends. In fact I really must get on some Amazon reward scheme ;-)
Reviewed in Australia on 8 November 2020
Verified Purchase
I have gained a serious desire to further explore breathing ... and it’s totally due to this book. I was very dubious when I started but have decided to actively pursue this further.
Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
2.0 out of 5 stars
Incoherent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 June 2020Verified Purchase
This book is a collection of anecdotes and pseudo science about breathing.
These range from insubstantial; a man in the 1930's met another man who'd benefited from visiting Tibetan monks who breath through their noses. To plausible; anxiety can be controlled with breathing, strengthening the chest muscles and diaphram can help with breathing (eg. physiotherapy is good for people with emphysema). To mystical; breathing can infuse the body with a magical 'energy' called Prana.
Any conclusions seem to be contradictory: breath in little sips, take big breaths, reduce the amount of oxygen in our bodies, increase the amount etc.
A lot is written concerning a study he and a friend took part in where they taped their noses shut for 10 days to force them to breath through their mouths. Apparently this will make you feel rotten, snore more and grow bacteria in your unused nasal cavity. Hardly surprising.
These range from insubstantial; a man in the 1930's met another man who'd benefited from visiting Tibetan monks who breath through their noses. To plausible; anxiety can be controlled with breathing, strengthening the chest muscles and diaphram can help with breathing (eg. physiotherapy is good for people with emphysema). To mystical; breathing can infuse the body with a magical 'energy' called Prana.
Any conclusions seem to be contradictory: breath in little sips, take big breaths, reduce the amount of oxygen in our bodies, increase the amount etc.
A lot is written concerning a study he and a friend took part in where they taped their noses shut for 10 days to force them to breath through their mouths. Apparently this will make you feel rotten, snore more and grow bacteria in your unused nasal cavity. Hardly surprising.
141 people found this helpful
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Heather
3.0 out of 5 stars
What a story! Filled with inaccuracies
Reviewed in the United States on 12 June 2020Verified Purchase
It’s true, this book is a fast, fun read, BUT I caught numerous inaccuracies from a whole host of topics (and I am not even well read on the subject) which makes me question what- if ANYTHING -is true.
Examples range from stating that plants exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide (it’s the opposite and how it’s believed oxygen came about in the earths atmosphere) to deoxygenated blood appears blue (again incorrect, deoxygenated blood is deep red, veins appear blue due to reflection of light through the skin). Even cultural references were incorrect which makes me question could this author even use google? I am only 25% through the book- did this guy just try and bang out this book for the cash? It’s a fun read, written by someone who thinks he knows what he’s talking about- so if you do decide to spend the time, perhaps read with a skeptical eye. And it’s dangerous because it’s marketed as this person actually knows what he’s talking about (he spent a year researching so you think he would have been trustworthy). It’s unfortunate that this book was so hastily thrown together...given that the author says numerous times that breathing in any form to the respected western medical community is the same when he’s arguing the opposite point. He’s argument would be a lot more valid had he taken the time to fact check, review, and get basic things most learn in high school correct.
Examples range from stating that plants exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide (it’s the opposite and how it’s believed oxygen came about in the earths atmosphere) to deoxygenated blood appears blue (again incorrect, deoxygenated blood is deep red, veins appear blue due to reflection of light through the skin). Even cultural references were incorrect which makes me question could this author even use google? I am only 25% through the book- did this guy just try and bang out this book for the cash? It’s a fun read, written by someone who thinks he knows what he’s talking about- so if you do decide to spend the time, perhaps read with a skeptical eye. And it’s dangerous because it’s marketed as this person actually knows what he’s talking about (he spent a year researching so you think he would have been trustworthy). It’s unfortunate that this book was so hastily thrown together...given that the author says numerous times that breathing in any form to the respected western medical community is the same when he’s arguing the opposite point. He’s argument would be a lot more valid had he taken the time to fact check, review, and get basic things most learn in high school correct.
1,243 people found this helpful
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Lady Fancifull
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best book I have read on the subject – and I have read, and own, many
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 September 2020Verified Purchase
I have a professional, and also a personal, interest in the subject matter. I became an adult onset asthmatic quite some time ago, a category which has dramatically increased in the past 30-40 years, driven by levels of pollution and our love affair with the car. I had no history at all of childhood eczema, asthma or hayfever, or indeed any parental family history of this.
Triggers for me were a combination of enforced passive smoking for some decades, before it got banned in public places, and, finally prolonged exposure to a chemical in the workplace, which had a disastrous respiratory effect on all of us, so exposed
Unwilling initially to take medication I tried to explore various ways to improve lung capacity, some of which have been more or less successful, though I had to surrender eventually to medical management, and am generally well maintained
Covid has of course made us all intensely aware of lung health, and there has been an explosion in awareness of how we breathe, how this activity we might not even think about until we can’t, might impact, positively or negatively, health and wellbeing. Not to mention, how we might best recover long term if the virus takes hold and diminishes lung capacity long term.
Decades ago, before it was more widely known, I had attempted to self-admiinister Buteyko, from a book. And not got on very well with it.
James Nestor, a self-styled ‘aeronaut’ as he calls those who have deeply studied breathwork, and sought to educate and help others to breathe well, explores, clearly, so clearly, a whole range of extraordinary breathing techniques. I should probably rephrase that – they are not necessarily THAT extraordinary, they are representative of more natural, healthful ways of breathing – which almost all of us ‘grew out of’ – posture, diet , environment changes our breathing.
Nestor goes well into the science of all this, and his book is absolutely fascinating. But what makes it outstanding for me is that he is a WRITER. Most of the other books I’ve read, share the passion, share the authors’ own journey and exploration of the field, but those writers don’t have the skill to convey the dryer stuff of the science so engagingly and absorbingly, or the light touch immediacy of writing which is like someone talking to you.
For those who might be looking towards trying the various techniques, Nestor gives clear guidance within the book, - and yes, I found Buteyko so much easier to work, from this. He also promotes and explores several ‘aeronauts’ – Patrick McKeown (very much the approachable Buteyko international voice now) Anders Olsson, Wim Hof and others – and gives details and links to the wealth of video material out there. Indeed Nestor’s own website is full of wonderful, free resources.
I also really like his pragmatic and generous approach. One of the biggest changes I’ve made – with excellent results – since reading this book, is to simply control how I breathe when sleeping. Nose breathing, not mouth breathing, is what we need to be doing, and though I have consciously tried to work with this, over many years, I certainly wasn’t doing this at night. Various complex devices are out on the market for this one – Nestor does talk them through, but also says he himself just uses simple micropore tape, to keep his mouth shut. It certainly looks a bit weird and startling but, I must say, since my first night with a small vertical strip from just above top lip to just below bottom lip, I not only had no trouble or discomfort with this, but no longer have a stuffy or runny nose on waking, and am more likely to sleep through the night, not needing to wake for a pee – and he explains the science behind this, a connection between a neurotransmitter, the autonomic nervous system, and depth of sleep. The nose is a wonderful thing, and the biochemistry of nose breathing and mouth breathing are different. Button that lip!
Triggers for me were a combination of enforced passive smoking for some decades, before it got banned in public places, and, finally prolonged exposure to a chemical in the workplace, which had a disastrous respiratory effect on all of us, so exposed
Unwilling initially to take medication I tried to explore various ways to improve lung capacity, some of which have been more or less successful, though I had to surrender eventually to medical management, and am generally well maintained
Covid has of course made us all intensely aware of lung health, and there has been an explosion in awareness of how we breathe, how this activity we might not even think about until we can’t, might impact, positively or negatively, health and wellbeing. Not to mention, how we might best recover long term if the virus takes hold and diminishes lung capacity long term.
Decades ago, before it was more widely known, I had attempted to self-admiinister Buteyko, from a book. And not got on very well with it.
James Nestor, a self-styled ‘aeronaut’ as he calls those who have deeply studied breathwork, and sought to educate and help others to breathe well, explores, clearly, so clearly, a whole range of extraordinary breathing techniques. I should probably rephrase that – they are not necessarily THAT extraordinary, they are representative of more natural, healthful ways of breathing – which almost all of us ‘grew out of’ – posture, diet , environment changes our breathing.
Nestor goes well into the science of all this, and his book is absolutely fascinating. But what makes it outstanding for me is that he is a WRITER. Most of the other books I’ve read, share the passion, share the authors’ own journey and exploration of the field, but those writers don’t have the skill to convey the dryer stuff of the science so engagingly and absorbingly, or the light touch immediacy of writing which is like someone talking to you.
For those who might be looking towards trying the various techniques, Nestor gives clear guidance within the book, - and yes, I found Buteyko so much easier to work, from this. He also promotes and explores several ‘aeronauts’ – Patrick McKeown (very much the approachable Buteyko international voice now) Anders Olsson, Wim Hof and others – and gives details and links to the wealth of video material out there. Indeed Nestor’s own website is full of wonderful, free resources.
I also really like his pragmatic and generous approach. One of the biggest changes I’ve made – with excellent results – since reading this book, is to simply control how I breathe when sleeping. Nose breathing, not mouth breathing, is what we need to be doing, and though I have consciously tried to work with this, over many years, I certainly wasn’t doing this at night. Various complex devices are out on the market for this one – Nestor does talk them through, but also says he himself just uses simple micropore tape, to keep his mouth shut. It certainly looks a bit weird and startling but, I must say, since my first night with a small vertical strip from just above top lip to just below bottom lip, I not only had no trouble or discomfort with this, but no longer have a stuffy or runny nose on waking, and am more likely to sleep through the night, not needing to wake for a pee – and he explains the science behind this, a connection between a neurotransmitter, the autonomic nervous system, and depth of sleep. The nose is a wonderful thing, and the biochemistry of nose breathing and mouth breathing are different. Button that lip!
77 people found this helpful
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mr john kenny
5.0 out of 5 stars
Life changer
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 June 2020Verified Purchase
Throughly enjoyed this book a great balance of fact and storytelling and lots of useful tips to help your breathing. As an asthmatic I have noticed significant improvements in my breathing after only a week of practicing. A must read for anyone with breathing difficulties.
73 people found this helpful
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strawdog
5.0 out of 5 stars
The elusive obvious.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 August 2020Verified Purchase
Mr Nestor has produced a superbly readable, meticulous, and well-argued popular science book that deserves a wide audience.
I confess that I am kicking myself for not taking the intricacies of breathing seriously until the last few years and I wonder if I would have been as dismissive if I had read a 'grounded' a book as this, rather than texts that relied on 'New Age-y' type language that provoked my prejudices and closed my mind to the undoubted benefits of 'breathwork'.
In a concluding chapter, Mr Nestor forcefully states the benefits of Western medicine - and rightly so; the book is NOT opposed to the scientific method. What he does argue for, however, is that the Western model has ignored an elusive obvious: self-regulation of the breath as a means of stress reduction with a host of attendant benefits.
In presenting his case, Mr Nestor takes the reader on a journey from the dawn of aerobic metabolism, through biological anthropology, into psychology, psychiatry, and dentistry, tying it all together with his own history of breath exploration as a means to control his own health issues.
It is a dazzling read regardless of some passages that describe horrible animal experiments. There are appendices that describe some breathing techniques, along with bibliography and expanded notes. Mr Nestor's website, with its dedicated 'Breath' page, is worth a look for new updates.
Anecdotally, I 'cured' long-standing exercise-induced asthma through one of the methods outlined in the book (Buteyko) and I continue to dive into it to control a life-long anxiety disorder. From what I gather, my experience is commonplace, although the benefits have been quite startling on a personal level. Whether or not I experiment with the Wim Hof method discussed in the book is another matter; it may be the next step for me.
All in all, this is a persuasive, well-researched, passionate, and inspiring book and I heartily recommend it.
I confess that I am kicking myself for not taking the intricacies of breathing seriously until the last few years and I wonder if I would have been as dismissive if I had read a 'grounded' a book as this, rather than texts that relied on 'New Age-y' type language that provoked my prejudices and closed my mind to the undoubted benefits of 'breathwork'.
In a concluding chapter, Mr Nestor forcefully states the benefits of Western medicine - and rightly so; the book is NOT opposed to the scientific method. What he does argue for, however, is that the Western model has ignored an elusive obvious: self-regulation of the breath as a means of stress reduction with a host of attendant benefits.
In presenting his case, Mr Nestor takes the reader on a journey from the dawn of aerobic metabolism, through biological anthropology, into psychology, psychiatry, and dentistry, tying it all together with his own history of breath exploration as a means to control his own health issues.
It is a dazzling read regardless of some passages that describe horrible animal experiments. There are appendices that describe some breathing techniques, along with bibliography and expanded notes. Mr Nestor's website, with its dedicated 'Breath' page, is worth a look for new updates.
Anecdotally, I 'cured' long-standing exercise-induced asthma through one of the methods outlined in the book (Buteyko) and I continue to dive into it to control a life-long anxiety disorder. From what I gather, my experience is commonplace, although the benefits have been quite startling on a personal level. Whether or not I experiment with the Wim Hof method discussed in the book is another matter; it may be the next step for me.
All in all, this is a persuasive, well-researched, passionate, and inspiring book and I heartily recommend it.
59 people found this helpful
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