Exercised

July 15, 2020
An accomplished intellectual explains our need to be regularly physical. While there are plenty of generalities that apply to exercise--it's good for us, it may help prevent disease, it's best done regularly--most of the important elements are personal and variable. Near the beginning of his latest, Harvard paleoanthropologist Lieberman states, "this is not a self-help book." Indeed, the narrative is more of a thoughtfully organized natural history than a straightforward how-to guide. In appealing, accessible language, the author tells interesting stories and only seldom slips into the weeds--e.g., overly long discussions of the daily lives of hunter-gatherers. He also addresses relevant topics that regularly generate misinformation: "Is sitting the new smoking? "Is it bad to slouch? Do you need eight hours of sleep?" As the author notes, many Americans don't get enough exercise, so some may wonder how many will desire a pure history of something they don't do and don't like. Nonetheless, Lieberman adds useful context regarding the why of exercise--we didn't evolve to spend time on treadmills, yet exercise seems essential in a post-industrial age--and readers will want to know what to do with this compelling information. The author suggests some answers, such as in a section on how exercise might be applied to combat certain common ailments. An example: "This one is easy: cardio is better than weights for obesity." It wouldn't be hard to find personal trainers who quibble with that statement. After all, is the goal sustained weight loss or the most weight loss in a specific period of time? How old/healthy/overfed/active is the person? While readers may not be convinced by such statements as "make exercise necessary and fun," the author successfully makes use of "evolutionary and anthropological perspectives to explore and rethink dozens of myths about physical inactivity, activity, and exercise." A good choice for those seeking a macro view of the history of movement. For what to do about it, hire a trainer.

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Starred review from July 1, 2020
Exercise is big business, touted as some sort of magic elixir for good health and longevity. In this brilliant investigation, Harvard paleoanthropologist Lieberman (The Story of the Human Body, 2013) examines exercise from an evolutionary perspective and concludes that it's a fundamentally strange and unusual behavior." Humans did not evolve to perform optional physical exertion for fitness and health benefits. While our ancient ancestors lived lives that required spending many hours of the day walking, hunting, climbing, lifting, and digging to survive, Lieberman believes "humans evolved to rest as much as possible." His wide-ranging discussion highlights inactivity (sitting, sleeping), endurance (walking, running, dancing), power (speed, strength, sports, fighting), and modern times (the relationship between exercise and health, how much exercise is optimal). As he demolishes common myths and exaggerations, his wit and wisdom are ever-present. He finds treadmill machines boring, treacherous, and loud contraptions that make you work to arrive nowhere. In contrast, while reading, your body burns approximately 60 calories an hour while tending to necessary physiological processes. Humans excel at endurance walking and are the "sweating champions" among all animals. Even if we didn't evolve to do it, Lieberman emphasizes the necessity and healthiness of regular exercise no matter your age. This makes for captivating reading between workouts.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

August 1, 2020

Lieberman (paleoanthropologist, Harvard Univ.; The story of the Human Body) explores the paradox of exercise, "a source of pleasure and health but a cause of discomfort [and] guilt." The benefits of exercise are well-known, but the vast amount of opinions, research, and trends in the field show that humans are still confused about how to do it safely, enjoyably, and beneficially. He suggests that the contemporary Western approach to exercise is riddled with misunderstandings because evolutionary and anthropological perspectives on physical activity are usually overlooked. He evaluates common myths about exercise and health, including the idea of a correct amount of sleep, the dangers of sitting too much, and the role of inactivity. He concludes that while our bodies evolved to exercise, our minds did not; to overcome this barrier, exercise needs to be seen as necessary or enjoyable. No exercise instructions or plans are provided in this natural history of exercise, but Lieberman's explanations and a disease reference may help convince some non-exercisers to start moving. VERDICT Lieberman writes in a clear, approachable style, even when explaining complex research and concepts. Recommended for collections where either exercise science or human evolution are popular subjects.--Anitra Gates, Erie Cty. P.L., PA

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 7, 2020
In this smart volume, Harvard paleoanthropologist Lieberman (The Story of the Human Head) takes a scientifically astute look at exercise. Alongside actionable workout tips, he proffers persuasive reasons for everyone to exercise in some way (his preferred activity is running), notably that “physical activity is probably the single best way to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” and that an active lifestyle can help “to prevent or tame... several kinds of cancers.” To help win over “habitual non-exercisers,” Lieberman has some refreshingly realistic suggestions for “mak the exercise less disagreeable,” such as rewarding oneself for completing workouts, or doing them in like-minded groups for moral support. Meanwhile, the recommendations for exercisers in general are helpfully straightforward and unfussy (“exercise several hours a week, mostly cardio but also some weights, and keep it up as you age”). To explore why humans can but don’t always build strength, Lieberman traces “two conflicting threads” in Homo sapiens’s evolution—as early humans became hunters, they “must have benefited from plenty of brawn,” but human society’s becoming “less reactively aggressive and more cooperative... reduced selection for being big and strong.” His illuminating and frequently humorous work will delight fitness mavens and make those pesky workout sessions more rewarding for everyone else.