The Comfort Crisis

Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self

By: Michael Easter

Narrated by: Michael Easter

Discover the evolutionary mind and body benefits of living at the edges of your comfort zone and reconnecting with the wild—from the New York Times bestselling author of Scarcity Brain.

“If you’ve been looking for something different to level up your health, fitness, and personal growth, this is it.”—Melissa Urban, Whole30 CEO and author of The Book of Boundaries

“Michael Easter’s genius is that he puts data around the edges of what we intuitively believe. His work has inspired many to change their lives for the better.”—Dr. Peter Attia, author of Outlive

In many ways, we’re more comfortable than ever before. But could our sheltered, temperature-controlled, overfed, underchallenged lives actually be the leading cause of many our most urgent physical and mental health issues? In this gripping investigation, award-winning journalist Michael Easter seeks out off-the-grid visionaries, disruptive genius researchers, and mind-body conditioning trailblazers who are unlocking the life-enhancing secrets of a counterintuitive solution: discomfort.

Easter’s journey to understand our evolutionary need to be challenged takes him to meet the NBA’s top exercise scientist, who uses an ancient Japanese practice to build championship athletes; to the mystical country of Bhutan, where an Oxford economist and Buddhist leader are showing the world what death can teach us about happiness; to the outdoor lab of a young neuroscientist who’s found that nature tests our physical and mental endurance in ways that expand creativity while taming burnout and anxiety; to the remote Alaskan backcountry on a demanding thirty-three-day hunting expedition to experience the rewilding secrets of one of the last rugged places on Earth; and more.

Along the way, Easter uncovers a blueprint for leveraging the power of discomfort that will dramatically improve our health and happiness, and perhaps even help us understand what it means to be human. The Comfort Crisis is a bold call to break out of your comfort zone and explore the wild within yourself.

Critic reviews

“Changes the way we think about the modern world and how everyday conveniences are eroding our understanding of what it mean to be human.”—Richard Dorment, editor-in-chief, Men’s Health

“I read The Comfort Crisis in three straight sittings and was so motivated and inspired that I immediately made changes to my daily routines. Two months later, I've never been fitter, more self-confident, or happier. If you've been looking for something different to level up your health, fitness, and personal growth, THIS IS IT.”—Melissa Urban, Whole30 CEO and six-time New York Times bestselling author

“Entertaining and enlightening, Easter’s quest for a ‘rewilded’ diet, creative boredom, and other sensation-restoring discomforts is chock-full of solid science as well as a rollicking adventure.”—Dan Fagin, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation

“Breezy and yet bracing synthesis of tough adventures and hard science. Ironic, perhaps, for a book about how we need to challenge ourselves to be so enjoyable to read.”—Robert Moor, New York Times bestselling author of On Trails: An Exploration

“An entertaining and thought-provoking adventure that weaves together findings from anthropology, physiology, neuroscience, and other disciplines. Easter makes a convincing case that happiness is more than the absence of cold, hunger, and boredom—in fact, a little discomfort may be exactly what we need.”—Alex Hutchinson, New York Times bestselling author of Endure

“This revelatory, illuminating book is packed with big ideas on how our overly comfortable lives and routines have chipped away at our physical, mental, and emotional health.”—Liz Plosser, editor-in-chief, Women’s Health

“An unconventional clarion call to swim upstream against the currents of comfort and ease that we seek and have grown unquestioningly used to. Not for the soft, or faint of heart, this appeals to the tough, or those who seek to be. A good read that challenges conventional wisdom about living life.”—James Clapper, former U.S. Director of National Intelligence

“Shows why human greatness seldom rises from a perch of comfort and ease—and what you can do to maximize growth and fulfillment.”—Brian L. Losey, (ret) Commander of U.S. Navy Special Warfare Command

“Made me look differently at adversity, at challenges, at discomfort. Reading it made me want to be better, and a book simply can’t deliver more than that.”—Tamar Haspel, columnist, Washington Post

beyond expectations

there's always been this inexplicable feeling whenever I would come home from a big adventure. I've tried forever to explain to people why I go do those crazy things or how it makes me feel. this book is everything I wish I could have said and everything I've been experiencing and exactly why I get out there. this book is beautifully written never mind the great story about his Arctic adventure, and it's all backed up by science. without being boring. I wish I could give this book a 10 and I wish I could give a copy to every person who struggles and can't explain their own anxiety.

Amazing story and scientific data

I had no idea when audible suggested this book to me that I would like it. I was out of ideas on how to spend my credit do I went with it and got this one. I had no idea that many of the people I follow and things that I do (go ruck) would be cited in this book. It was fascinating!

Inspiring and Informative

This book was so well written and Michael’s storytelling is relatable, interesting, and inspiring. The amount of effort put into the thorough research from scientists, professors, and experts in different fields was extremely informative. It left me with a long list of people to research and explore their work.

riveting & intriguing, makes you rethink lifestyle

Highly recommend. He travels the world learning from the smartest people about lifestyle and how our comfortable lifestyle is affecting us.

Amazing Perspective

I absolutely loved this book!, and completely agree with the comfort stages our society has reached and how they are bad for our mental health , This book has changed my views in a lot of things for the better, so glad i stumbled across it