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Breath
- The New Science of a Lost Art
- Narrated by: James Nestor
- Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
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Breath
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin. Narrated by James Nestor.
There is nothing more essential to our health and wellbeing than breathing: take air in, let it out, repeat 25,000 times a day. Yet, as a species, humans have lost the ability to breathe correctly, with grave consequences. Journalist James Nestor travels the world to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it.
The answers aren't found in pulmonology labs, as we might expect, but in the muddy digs of ancient burial sites, secret Soviet facilities, New Jersey choir schools, and the smoggy streets of São Paulo, Brazil. Nestor tracks down men and women exploring the hidden science behind ancient breathing practices like Pranayama, Sudarshan Kriya and Tummo and teams up with pulmonary tinkerers to scientifically test long-held beliefs about how we breathe.
Modern research is showing us that making even slight adjustments to the way we inhale and exhale can jump-start athletic performance, rejuvenate internal organs, halt snoring, allergies, asthma and autoimmune disease, and even straighten scoliotic spines. None of this should be possible, and yet it is.
Drawing on thousands of years of medical texts and recent cutting-edge studies in pulmonology, psychology, biochemistry and human physiology, Breath turns the conventional wisdom of what we thought we knew about our most basic biological function on its head.
You will never breathe the same again.
Critic reviews
"A transformative book that changes how you think about your body and mind." (Josua Foer, author of Moonwalking with Einstein)
"Who would have thought something as simple as changing the way we breathe could be so revolutionary for our health, from snoring to allergies to immunity? A fascinating book, full of dazzling revelations." (Dr Rangan Chatterjee)
"I highly recommend this book." (Wim Hof)
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What listeners say about Breath
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- Simon L
- 06-05-21
Fantastic book!
Great book with different types of breathwork traditionally practised around the world. Don’t skip to the breathing techniques at the end, get the full benefit and enjoyment from a well written book!
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- Chris L.
- 13-04-21
So simple yet transformational
I'm on my third time through this book. There is so much in there I'm still picking up fresh nuggets. I see others have complained about the length of the book and the fact they thought it could have been briefer and got to the point quicker. I disagree. The author takes you a long on his journey to discovering the transformational power of nose Breathing. Why is should be seen as a lost art and not new science. I learnt more from the stories and history than the breathing techniques at the end. If you're after just the techniques don't bother with the book. You'll be disappointed. But if you want to learn why it's so important and the benefits, buy the book.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- James Gill
- 09-01-21
captivating and mind opening. a must read.
so interesting and hard to stop listening to. Best book of 2020. thank you James
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- Mr EJ Hurst
- 22-11-21
Very interesting
Very interesting and I will be trying the 5.5 second inhale then exhale method myself
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- HappyLuckyAlix
- 04-12-21
Yoga meets Science
Bought this on the recommendation of a respected London yoga teacher, and pretty much binge-listened for the first minute. A mix of history, research, scientific theory and personal practice, the book is full of interesting new-to-me information concerning the possible uses and management of the breath. I have a long-time yoga practice and this book explores, explains and makes accessible some of the mysterious world of 'pranayama' which is much touted in yoga classes, but rarely if ever explained. An excellent book for anyone interested in general health, for anyone with respiratory and pulmonary issues, and for yoga practitioners who, like me might have wondered what the whole pranayama thing was really all about. Beautifully read by the author. One of the stand-out books of the year for me.
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- GARETH ROGERS
- 18-01-22
Fantastic read!!
Absolutely fantastic read, a real game changer and gives a deep understanding of what's important!!! loved it!
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- Mrs E McLeod
- 08-02-21
Amazing knowledge
Wow this book is well written and well presented. I had a few surprise moments in the book. I want to read it again who would have thought the art of breathing was so interesting. It’s one of those books I wish everyone would read. Thank you James Nestor for writing this book.
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- s. foster
- 28-03-21
loved it, now need to buy the actual book,
Listened on audible, twice. This book knits together elements from biology, biochemistry, anthropology, neuroscience with Chi, Prana and yogic practices in a coherent and useful way. Have to get the actual book now.
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-04-21
Learned a few things about breathing.
Learned a few things about breathing, but I would like more practical example of breading technique's like Tomo and the rest.
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- Gloria Mason
- 17-09-20
very interesting book,
I found the content of this book very interesting, I bought the real book and I intend to reread and study it. it gives you an overview of what can be a life long study, it gives hope to all of us, we can harness the power of our breath and recover our health
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