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  • Exercised

  • The Science of Physical Activity, Rest and Health
  • By: Daniel Lieberman
  • Narrated by: Sean Runnette
  • Length: 13 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (543 ratings)

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Exercised cover art

Exercised

By: Daniel Lieberman
Narrated by: Sean Runnette
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

The myth-busting science behind our modern attitudes to exercise: what our bodies really need, why it matters and its effects on health and wellbeing.

In industrialised nations, our sedentary lifestyles have contributed to skyrocketing rates of obesity and diseases like diabetes. A key remedy, we are told, is exercise - voluntary physical activity for the sake of health. However, most of us struggle to stay fit, and our attitudes to exercise are plagued by misconceptions, finger-pointing and anxiety.

But, as Daniel Lieberman shows in Exercised, the first book of its kind by a leading scientific expert, we never evolved to exercise. 

We are hardwired for moderate exertion throughout each day, not triathlons or treadmills. Drawing on over a decade of high-level scientific research and eye-opening insights from evolutionary biology and anthropology, Lieberman explains precisely how exercise can promote health; debunks persistent myths about sitting, speed, strength and endurance; and points the way towards more enjoyable and physically active living in the modern world.

©2020 Daniel Lieberman (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Endlessly fascinating and full of surprises. Easily one of my books of the year." (Bill Bryson)

"Myth-busting, illuminating, brilliant - Lieberman will completely change the way you think about your body." (Professor Alice Roberts, presenter of Our Incredible Human Journey

What listeners say about Exercised

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Absolutely fantastic for any movement teachers

And anyone interested to find out more about how our bodies evolved in terms of daily movement. I’m a yoga teacher and a personal trainer and daily I come across people who struggle to exercise and blame themselves for it. Having read that book, your entire thinking process changes. You will choose to exercise, knowing it’s benefits, especially as we age, instead of forcing yourself to do so. That’s the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. Understanding how movement was and should be part of our everyday life, helps to get a better grasp on how our body works. We literally need movement in order to thrive. It’s not about being constantly on a go but incorporating more movement into our lives. It doesn’t have to be complicated. ‘Keep it up as you age’

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11 people found this helpful

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  • G
  • 07-02-21

Interesting to know the science behind exercise

Facts and presentation were Interesting but I didn’t warm to the narrator’s voice at all. Found it bearable at 1.1x. Not sure why US publishers find people with low monotone voices that are so hard to listen to.

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8 people found this helpful

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An honest Appraisal

I liked how the book starts by questioning the need to exercise. Why Hunter gatherers don’t. Basically, technology has improved (made more exciting) our lives but brings with it a lot of baggage that is bad for our health.
Definitely worth listening to.

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5 people found this helpful

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Very run focused.

Very interesting book, mainly biased towards runners and running though.

A fair few questions left unanswered too.

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4 people found this helpful

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Fabulous informative listen

I really enjoyed this book. Several people have commented that they did not warm to the narrator’s voice. He does speak quite slowly but once I was used to this i stopped noticing it and enjoyed the book greatly. It is a very interesting listen and the book is well structured. I would recommend it to anyone interested in health and well-being.

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Outstanding!

Great narrative backed up by lots of evidence. I'll be recommending this to friends and patients.

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amazing book.

easy to listen. very informative and educational. explains everything you would want to know about exercise and ancestors

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This book has been a revelation to me!

Fantastic book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Helping me understand the benefits of exercise and why we should all be doing it. But it is shared in a very caring easily accessible way. Thank you Mr. Lieberman

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Outstanding Achievement

An outstanding academic review of the need for keeping active and how (in exhaustive detail) that activity has an impact on the body. It is academic but it’s also highly accessible and the author’s sense of humour is to the fore. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a body that can move. The only slight criticism I have is the narration, which is in a particular cadence. I would have preferred more vocal variety of pitch, pace and inflection.

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I'd say one of the best books I've ever read.

I will re listen to incase its packed full of knowledge. I'm an avid crossfitter and lived this book.

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  • steveandtoni
  • 19-06-21

Essential reading for every human being

An outstanding book

So good that I bought the Kindle version too so that I can go back to reread sections



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