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Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art Audiobook, by James Nestor Play Audiobook Sample

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art Audiobook

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art Audiobook, by James Nestor Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: James Nestor Publisher: Penguin Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 4.83 hours at 1.5x Speed 3.63 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: May 2020 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780593211519

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

27

Longest Chapter Length:

64:30 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

29 seconds

Average Chapter Length:

16:15 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

2

Other Audiobooks Written by James Nestor: > View All...

Publisher Description

A New York Times Bestseller A Washington Post Notable Nonfiction Book of 2020 Named a Best Book of 2020 by NPR   “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, author of Big Magic and Eat Pray Love 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.

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"If you're not breathing properly, none of your other healthy habits matter. That's the premise presented by James Nestor in his book "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art" . And it's something that Nestor himself had to learn the hard way. Nestor chronicles his own journey of rediscovering proper breathing, as well as the science behind why it's so important. Proper breathing can improve sleep, reduce stress, increase athletic performance, and even alleviate chronic pain. Yet, as Nestor points out, most of us don't breathe properly. We take shallow breaths from our chests instead of deep breaths from our diaphragms. This not only means that we're not getting all the oxygen we need, but it also means that we're not releasing all the carbon dioxide that we should. This might not sound like a big deal, but it can have serious consequences over time. Fortunately, Nestor provides practical tips for how to breathe properly. He also debunks some common myths about breathing (such as the belief that nose breathing is always best). Breath is an interesting and informative book that will leave you with a new appreciation for the importance of proper breathing."

— RDG (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Reveals the importance of our breath and promises us a changed life if only we’ll take a moment to stop, slow down and breathe.”

    — BookPage (starred review)

Awards

  • New York Times bestseller
  • A #1 Amazon.com bestseller
  • A BookPage Top Pick of the Month
  • An iBooks bestseller in Audiobooks
  • A New York Times Bestseller in Audio

Breath Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 4.6 out of 54.6 out of 54.6 out of 54.6 out of 54.6 out of 5 (4.60)
5 Stars: 13
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 2
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 4.533333333333333 out of 54.533333333333333 out of 54.533333333333333 out of 54.533333333333333 out of 54.533333333333333 out of 5 (4.53)
5 Stars: 12
4 Stars: 1
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 2
1 Stars: 0
Story: 4.533333333333333 out of 54.533333333333333 out of 54.533333333333333 out of 54.533333333333333 out of 54.533333333333333 out of 5 (4.53)
5 Stars: 13
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 1
1 Stars: 1
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is a must read/ hear! Every human being needs to know these life-changing truths. Loved this book right from the title and that it was narrated by the author made it extra authentic. I have been breathing through my nose and doing the breathing exercises ever since and sent the link to all my family and close friends. James Nestor is doing a great service to humanity with this book. "

    — Eleanor, 6/10/2024
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This book sheds light on the ailments of mouth breathing. It could be only descriptive of the effects of nose breathing in general health, but it goes deep into the history of breathing and offers lots of suggestions to improve breathing and chewing (yes, chewing). Read to find out why. "

    — Paulo, 5/5/2023
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — DENISE LIRA, 4/19/2023
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — Andreas Weigel, 2/4/2023
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " James Nestor's "Breath" is a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the importance of proper breathing. Nestor draws on a wide range of sources, from ancient wisdom traditions to cutting-edge science, to make the case that breath is the key to health and wellbeing. The book is both informative and highly accessible, and Nestor's narration is engaging and clear. I particularly appreciated his willingness to challenge some of the accepted wisdom around breathing, and to explore some of the more controversial claims about its benefits. Overall, "Breath" is an excellent introduction to the topic, and will leave you with a new appreciation for the power of breath. "

    — Barnaby8, 12/15/2022
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Story Rating: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art," was largely a disappointment for me - sad to say. I found the entire experience to be poorly written and lacking in terms of substantial content. I'd go into more depth but why waste my breath? "

    — isaac3, 10/23/2022
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art is an enjoyable listen for anyone interested in learning more about human physiology and the science of breathing - very good info and presented well thanks to the great narration. "

    — zzz999, 10/19/2022
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art is an intriguing audiobook that explores the science and history of breathing. Nestor starts by highlighting how poor breathing can lead to a number of health problems, including high blood pressure and heart disease. He then dives into the ancient practice of yogic breathing and how it can improve our overall health. Nestor's narration is engaging and informative, and his research is thorough. This book is a must-listen for anyone interested in learning more about the importance of breathwork. "

    — c13go, 9/8/2022
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Breath is a fascinating audiobook that explores the importance of proper breathing on your health and well-being. Nestor does an excellent job of explaining the science behind breathing and how it affects our health. He also provides practical tips on how to improve our breathing. The book is well-researched and informative, and Nestor's narration is clear and engaging. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the importance of breath and how to improve their own respiratory health. "

    — Claudia P, 7/22/2022
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Story Rating: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    — Gary live, 6/6/2022
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " James Nestor's book, "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art" is a fascinating and eye-opening look at the science of guess what - breathing. Nestor covers everything from the history of breathing to the latest research on the subject, and he does so in a way that is both informative and entertaining. Proper breathing is one of the best ways to protect yourself from illness. But even beyond that, Nestor makes a compelling case that proper breathing can improve your overall health and well-being in ways you never thought possible. If you're in the market for a book that will change the way you think about something as seemingly mundane as breathing, then this audiobook is a must-read. "

    — catdog, 5/11/2022
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Nestor begins his audiobook by discussing the importance of breath and how it is often overlooked. He goes on to explain how proper breathing can improve our overall health and well-being. He covers various topics such as the anatomy of the respiratory system, different breathing techniques, and the benefits of deep breathing. I found the book to be very informative - I had no idea that something as simple as our breath could have such a profound impact on our health. Nestor does a great job of explaining the science behind proper breathing and why it is so important. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to improve their health and well-being. "

    — Nardia, 5/11/2022
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " "Breath" by James Nestor is a highly informative, must-listen for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the power of proper breathing. Through a combination of research, interviews, and honest storytelling, Nestor takes us on an incredible journey into the miraculous science behind breathing. With an engaging voice and well-researched facts, this book will open your eyes to the potential for using breath as a healing tool for mind and body. The combination of scientific facts with inspiring stories makes this audiobook truly captivating, sure to be helpful to anyone looking to use breathwork as part of their practice. Highly recommended! "

    — t12, 2/3/2022
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Wow! Just wow! This book was amazing and fascinating. The author, James Nestor, also does the narration, which I absolutely loved. His journey to find answers about the healthiest form of breathing filled me with interest, and I have worked to apply his suggestions in my life. I recommend this book often to friends. I will listen to it again, I am sure. Read it! You will be fascinated! "

    — CM, 11/23/2021
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — Maya Armstrong, 8/29/2021

About James Nestor

James Nestor is the author of the New York Times bestseller and Amazon.com bestseller Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art. His book, Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us about Ourselves, was a finalist for the PEN/American Center Best Sports Book of the Year and a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. He has written for Scientific American, Outside magazine, Men’s Journal, National Public Radio, the New York Times, and more, and he has appeared on dozens of national radio and television shows, including ABC’s Nightline, the CBS Morning News, and NPR. More at mrjamesnestor.com.