Breath

The New Science of a Lost Art

By: James Nestor

Narrated by: James Nestor

THE MILLION COPY NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, FEATURING NEW MATERIAL

"I highly recommend this book." —Wim Hof

“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

"This book is amazing. “ —Joe Rogan

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 twenty-five thousand 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.

EXCELLENT read, entertaining AND informative

I can't say enough about this book or its author, James Nestor. I heard him talk on the NPR podcast Fresh Air, and was really interested in what he had to say about breathing, how it really is a lost art, and how throughout ancient history people always took breath into account in everyday life and even healing practices - something that we modern day people don't even think of, maybe for their whole lives. I bought the audible book and have listened to it three times in a row, and know its a book I will keep coming back to. The message is amazing, especially for someone who deals with modern day illnesses (autoimmune) and anxiety. He approaches the topic very scientifically, but also with entertaining anecdotes about each sub-topic, there were several jaw-drop moments for me. He also has a GREAT voice, and is really nice to listen to! Honestly, he just seems like an overall great guy, like someone you'd like to meet or get to know. I have started incorporating a few of the breathing exercises into my daily life, especially the slow breathing, and I can immediately notice a calming effect and reduction in my anxiety. I would give 10 stars if I could.

Fantastic Book!

I have already recommended this book to several people. It is well researched AND very well written. As a physician, trained in both allopathic and functional medicine I was aware of the power of breath but this book opened my eyes to so much more. Thank you James Nestor for digging through the old and long forgotten research and ancient practices of the wise. I really enjoyed your book.

Great, informative read!

James Nestor again with a great book, chalked full of great information. His personally immersive way of studying/experimenting is inspiring. He doesn’t just learn about stuff, he gets IN it. I have learned so much from this book and will continue to practice some of these ancient breathing techniques for a lifetime. Thanks James!

A must-read if you want to live a long, healthy life

I’ve been teaching yoga for about 22 years. I have a pranayama practice but now I understand the science behind what I practice so much better! I am going to make this book required reading for all my students. Thank you for your fine work🙏

Saw on JRE, good book, voice wears on me

The author's voice is not great, not terrible. He did one thing that really started to grate: whenever he quotes someone he affects the same annoying nasal voice. Jesus why is that the voice of every person he talked to? If you're going to choose one voice to represent every one of your interlocutors why would you choose a voice more annoying than your regular voice?