This is, without a doubt, one of the best books about exercising out there. Lieberman’s writing style is funny and engaging, making it much easier for us to understand and absorb the huge quantity of useful information in it. Incredible read. I recommend this to absolutely anyone: from people who exercise daily to people who “would rather not”. One can only gain from reading this book. 2021 favorite.

The author delivers exactly what is promised, and more.

His work is backed up by extensive evidence, charts, examples, and studies that are made to be easy tp follow and understand.

In the midst of a vocal minority espousing that obesity is fake and not a threat, countered by others that shout them down instead of reaching out and educating, Dr. Lieberman explains the science of why we are so naturally sedentary without shame or excuses, while also explaining why exercise is so beneficial, all while debunking myths about exercise and obesity.

This is a well-researched book with loads of interesting information that develops organically. The author sticks to science instead of writing with an agenda, and is careful to point out flaws in studies that have led folks to make false conclusions. I ended up DNF-ing this book, though, simply because it wasn't punchy enough to keep me entertained during my commute. That's okay! It's mostly a case of wrong book in the wrong setting. Still, five stars for all the content I did get through.

A worthy companion to Bill Bryson's 'the body', this book explores exercise from hunter gatherers to modern day. Happily it espouses no quick fixes, but neither does it indulge in lazy thinking like all X is bad, all Y is good. It offers research around good habits to support its recommendations. Well worth checking out

If exercise is healthy (so good for you!), why do many people dislike or avoid it? If we are born to walk and run, why do most of us take it easy whenever possible? And how do we make sense of the conflicting, anxiety-inducing information about rest, physical activity, and exercise with which we are bombarded? Is sitting really the new smoking? Can you lose weight by walking? Does running ruin your knees? Should we do weights, cardio, or high-intensity training?  In this myth-busting book, Daniel Lieberman, professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University and a pioneering researcher on the evolution of human physical activity, tells the story of how we never evolved to exercise—to do voluntary physical activity for the sake of health. Using his own research and experiences throughout the world, Lieberman recounts without jargon how and why humans evolved to walk, run, dig, and do other necessary and rewarding physical activities while avoiding needless exertion. His engaging stories and ex­planations will revolutionize the way you think about exercising—not to mention sitting, sleep­ing, sprinting, weight lifting, playing, fighting, walking, jogging, and even dancing.
 
Exercised is entertaining and enlightening but also constructive. As our increasingly sedentary lifestyles have contributed to skyrocketing rates of obesity and diseases such as diabetes, Lieberman audaciously argues that to become more active we need to do more than medicalize and commodify exercise. Drawing on insights from evolutionary biology and anthropology, Lieberman suggests how we can make exercise more enjoyable, rather than shaming and blaming people for avoiding it. He also tackles the ques­tion of whether you can exercise too much, even as he explains why exercise can reduce our vul­nerability to the diseases mostly likely to make us sick and kill us. Lieberman pens a comprehensive guide to exercise and provides answers to questions many of us have long ruminated on, as well as the extensive myth-busting spree he embarks on. It may not look it from the fairly bland cover, but this is a fascinating read filled with solid and intriguing information and I felt I had truly been schooled by a professional who had imparted lots of accurate tidbits that I am not likely to forget anytime soon. Many thanks to Allen Lane for an ARC.