Exercised
by Daniel E. Lieberman
A Harvard evolutionary biologist explains why humans never evolved to exercise, why it feels unnatural, and why we must do it anyway. He debunks myths (sitting is not the new smoking, eight hours of sleep is not universal) with evidence and humor, and ends with practical guidance on how much and what kind. Scholarly and readable.
Read it if…
you feel guilty for hating exercise and want to understand why, then do it anyway.
Skip it if…
you want a workout plan; this is the science and the why.
Three things you will actually use
- Expect exercise to feel unnatural; that is biology, not weakness.
- Mix endurance and strength; both matter as you age.
- Make it necessary or fun; otherwise it will not last.
Do this first
Make exercise social or obligatory, a partner, a class, a commitment, because willpower was never the mechanism.
Our verdict
Informed, witty and motivating in an unusual way.
Compare with other Health books
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The Sleep Solution
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Practical and reassuring; the clinician's sleep book.
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