Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art
It happens around 25,000 times a day, yet most of us give it no thought whatsoever. Breathing, it turns out, is something humans have quietly got very wrong, and the consequences for our health are surprisingly serious. In this eye-opening book, journalist James Nestor travels widely to uncover the forgotten science woven into ancient breathing traditions, piecing together what went awry and what we can actually do about it. The findings are striking. Small, deliberate changes to how we inhale and exhale can sharpen exercise performance, restore restful sleep, reduce snoring, and even ease chronic conditions like asthma and allergies. Nestor draws on centuries of historical practice alongside contemporary research to challenge almost everything we assumed about this most basic of biological functions. Short sentences land hard here: breathe through your mouth and you're already making mistakes. Breathe through your nose, slowly, and things begin to shift. Dr Rangan Chatterjee calls it 'a fascinating book, full of dazzling revelations', and it's hard to disagree. Whether you're a chronic snorer, an anxious shallow-breather, or simply curious about your own body, you'll find plenty here to surprise you. It's rare that a book about something so ordinary manages to feel this revelatory.
- Author: James Nestor
- Publisher: Penguin Life
- Genre: Lifestyle & Wellness
- ISBN: 978-0241289129
- Pages: 304 pages