Breath

The New Science of a Lost Art

De: James Nestor

Narrado por: James Nestor

A New York Times Best Seller

A Washington Post Notable Nonfiction Book of 2020

Named a Best Book of 2020 by NPR

“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.” (Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Big Magic and Eat Pray Love)

No matter what you eat, how much you exercise, how skinny or young or wise you are, none of it matters if you’re not breathing properly.

There is nothing more essential to our health and well-being 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. 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, 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.

©2020 James Nestor (P)2020 Penguin Audio

What a fascinating story 🌟

As a writer, yoga teacher and breath coach, I’m beyond IN-SPIRED and impressed. 🙏🏻 This book is truly a piece of art. 📔 I will refer back to it - again and again. 🎧 Thank you so much, James Nestor, for putting down the hours, the hard work and all of the uncomfortable breaths it took to create this masterpiece. I truly appreciate it.

Insightful!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The structure, flow and narration kept me engaged throughout.

The author offers a view into a lesser known community of breath work practitioners, the background of their teachers and overall evolution back to the dawn of civilization. That the content is couched within the authors own experience added some validity and modern day relevance.

The book left me intrigued to practice myself and explore further.

Well worth the listen.

James and his collaborators did an amazing job

Finishing this book I am left with a profound sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the Author and all the collaborators, gratitude for these techniques and every soul that carried them this far, gratitude because I know I've stumbled upon a treasure trove of tools to explore and maps to take me to new discoveries. What a gem.

This one is a good read.

this is one of those books that leaves you a new appreciation for the subject at hand, and has way more than a few epiphanies hidden within, that will change the very way you see breathing, for the better.

Amazing! I’m breathing much better now!

When I started this book I was only able to take short breaths and always was gasping for more air due to my asthma, allergies, pelvic floor dysfunction and low back pain and in the aftermath of a colorectal surgery which I’m still recovering from. I was told by my therapist that I am always holding my breath with shoulders up high trying to support myself as I would breathe due to my low back excruciating pain (fell down a flight o stairs while working in Architecture field, then years later fell backwards while working again) Needles to say I’m always in pain and not on any medications since 2017 when due to medications and prolonged standing I developed muscle spasms so bad that I could no longer use the restroom! I’ve come a long way and now rely on homeopathic remedies, meditation and now breathing to relieve pain and stress associated with pain. Thank you Mr. Nestor. I’m hoping I can pass your book and these breathing techniques to as many people I come in contact with including my 12 year old son who suffers from allergies and Asthma as well. He is now off all medications as well. Thank you. Will check out your other books as well. Blessings to you and your family always! AnaMaria Hepburn

Back to Basics

At a time where the world seemed relatively safe, extraordinary circumstances have led us find ways to combat external and internal forces to raise above what is happening. Nestor’s book provides a way for us to feel and possibly look better. Listen or read with an open mind. Be inquisitive and provide the space in your mind that we may all have been too close to the forest to see the trees.
I, for one, am grateful to Mr Nestor in taking the time to offer us a new way to feeling better.

Excellent Book

Excellent example of a persons journey to improve their health an share it with others.

Life Changing Stuff

Even if I were not a Covid survivor with problematic lung damage, this book would be transformative. Really, everyone should read this book, it was recommended to me by my physician, and I've already recommended it to several of my friends, from athletes to elderly people. Kudos to James Nestor and all who contributed to the book.

Powerful Audible Lessons

I firmly believe that this book has the power to change your life. Cliche I know. It’s true though. If you put in to practice what the author suggests you’ll get the benefit listed in the book. I personally sleep A LOT BETTER since having a dedicated breathing practice.

Breath-taking

Brilliantly structured and resourced. Thankful for all the scientific research and for including the breathing techniques as part of the book. Highly recommend to anyone curious to learn in detail the basic principles of breathing and its place in the human evolution. Well narrated too.