Breath

The New Science of a Lost Art

By: James Nestor

Narrated by: James Nestor

Brought to you by Penguin. Narrated by James Nestor.

There is nothing more essential to our health and wellbeing than breathing: take air in, let it out, repeat 25,000 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, Brazil. 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, allergies, 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.

©2020 James Nestor (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"A transformative book that changes how you think about your body and mind." (Josua Foer, author of Moonwalking with Einstein)

"Who would have thought something as simple as changing the way we breathe could be so revolutionary for our health, from snoring to allergies to immunity? A fascinating book, full of dazzling revelations." (Dr Rangan Chatterjee)

"I highly recommend this book." (Wim Hof)

Discovering the power of breathing

A great attempt at understanding Breath in its full power. There are many mysteries of the body that medical science cannot explain. Breath might be the missing link between how life energy invigorates and sustains all life.

a gripping lesson

an eye opener. will be using this technique from now on. great narrator too

Amazing technique

James explained the importance of systematic breathing techniques after a decade of research. Highly recommended.

a must read for everyone

as a Breatheology master instructor and Wim hof method instructor, the art of breathing is not new to me but still i enjoyed reading Breath, it is full of knowledge that we should have learned in school. the world would be a better place of we did

Excellent, a compact compilation

Excellent, a compact compilation that's comprehensive yet manages not to bore and injects good prose into the learning.

Many conclusions I arrived at after years of bumbling around breathing were neatly compacted here, and some amount of new useful information was still revealed to me.

I also found it motivating in continuing the project of bettering my experience.

Can't recommend this enough :)

A Good Reminder

Researched. Insightful. Interesting. Necessary. Worth listening to this book more than once. Worth sharing.

Great book!

I've really enjoyed Nestor's book: a great mix of storytelling, facts and useful tips. Bravo!

Compelling, entertaining, informative

This is THE book on breathing you are looking for. I have never been so engaged in a self help book.
This is a resource to return to.

Fascinating!! A factual awaking of the science of breath.

I have suffered from a blocked nose all my life! Which is why I was drawn to this book(after watching James’ TED Talk).
I am an active 52 year old, working in the health & fitness field for 34 years now, so the art of breathing has always been a keen subject to me. ‘Breath’ is such an eye opener to the world of the science of breathing that I feel anyone one with an interest in the subject should definitely read it.
The manner in which James has narrated the book, makes it a delightful listen, even to the lay person, who would just be inquisitive above breathing.

Thoroughly enjoyed the book! Would definitely encourage everyone to read it.

Great book.

I love this book. Wished I read it earlier.
It is so simple and natural but hardly anyone shares it to mainstream.