Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art

Unlocking the secrets of ancient wisdom and modern science

Kaushik Rajan
Books Are Our Superpower

Image credit: Generative AI (Ideogram-v2)

In 2020, journalist James Nestor released Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, a book that has since captivated a global audience. Nestor explores how the seemingly mundane act of breathing can profoundly shape numerous aspects of human health — from athletic performance to mental well-being.

As a computer scientist and a researcher, I was immediately drawn to Nestor’s claims and sought to evaluate them in light of recent empirical studies. Below, I present my evidence-based reflections on what this book contributes to our understanding of human physiology and why it matters.

The Forgotten Art of Breathing

Breathing is something we do without thinking, but most of us are doing it wrong. James Nestor explains that many modern problems with breathing stem from changes in our diet and lifestyle. For instance, the shift to processed, soft foods means we chew less. This weakens our jaw muscles and leads to narrower airways. This in turn can make breathing harder and increase issues like snoring and sleep apnea.

Archaeologists have found that our ancestors had stronger jaws and wider nasal passages, which helped them breathe better. This is because they ate tougher…

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Published in Books Are Our Superpower

Book reviews, recommendations, summaries, rants — as long as it is related to books, your piece is welcome here. We aim to build a community of book lovers sharing about the books that moved them the most.

Written by Kaushik Rajan

Applied scientist and researcher with a decade of experience (4 yrs at Amazon). Masters in CS. Research interests: Deep RL, Game Theory, Decision Science.

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" In 2020, journalist James Nestor released Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, a book that has since captivated a global audience. Nestor explores how the seemingly mundane act of breathing can profoundly shape numerous aspects of human health —…