Breath; The New Science of a Lost Art

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 your diet, fitness level, age, or wisdom, none of it matters if you’re not breathing correctly.

Breathing is the most fundamental function of life—taking air in, letting it out, and repeating the cycle 25,000 times a day. Yet, over time, humans have lost the ability to breathe properly, leading to serious health consequences.

Journalist James Nestor embarks on a global journey to uncover what went wrong and how we can fix it. His search takes him to unexpected places: ancient burial sites, secret Soviet research labs, choir schools, and polluted city streets. He investigates the science behind ancient breathing techniques like Pranayama, Sudarshan Kriya, and Tummo, while collaborating with researchers and "pulmonary hackers" to test their effects.

Modern science now confirms that small adjustments in the way we breathe can dramatically improve athletic performance, rejuvenate internal organs, reduce snoring and asthma, and even correct spinal alignment. These discoveries challenge everything we thought we knew about this essential function.

Drawing from ancient medical texts and cutting-edge research in pulmonology, psychology, and human physiology, Breath revolutionizes our understanding of breathing and its impact on health. After reading this book, you’ll never think about—or do—breathing the same way again.