Scientific yet readable debunking of myths about exercise. 

We are evolved to avoid artificial exercise. Modern treadmills, stationary bikes, etc are unnatural. Hunter gatherers walked 9 miles per day to hunt (men) or 5 miles while carrying heavy objects to gather tubers (women).

Exercise has an enormous impact on quality of life after age 50. One chart showed the enormous difference. 

Hunter gathers typically had great quality of life until age 70 when it would fall off precipitously. Modern medicine helps exercisers have great quality life until age 80. Non-exercisers start falling off in life quality at age 50.

We are evolved to do a mixture of cardio, high intensity interval training, and weights.

If we can make it social and fun, that makes it better than relying on willpower. 

If we fall off the wagon, it's really painful to get our bodies used to exercising again but it feels better and better as we do it.

When I heard of this book I knew I have to read it. Afterall, it is written by Dr. Daniel Lieberman. And if you’re a runner like me and thousands of others who have read Christopher McDougall’s “Born to Run”, then Lieberman is not just a random name.

Picked up this book many many many months ago. But I thought that it is fitting to start reading it in December as we’re about to step into the new year. Actually this is the first book I completed this year hahah.

Before the gyms and the peloton bikes and the machines, tribes don’t do exercise… at least not exercise in the modern sense. Through anthropological and evolutionary lense, Lieberman walks us through the history and evolution of exercise… and how the human body can benefit from it. This book really really fascinated me and it is very approachable. I mean, you don’t need to be an athlete to read this book. It’s something everyone should read and I highly recommend it!