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sephypear's review against another edition
Due back at library before I could finish
jbingb's review against another edition
4.0
82: In Praise of Walking: A New Scientific Exploration by Shane O'Mara
I saw a reference to this book and O'Mara's ideas somewhere else earlier this year (I no longer remember where/when, exactly) and was prompted to order and then read the book.
I have tried to figure out also what compelled me to read it, as I am an avid walker and have long been, and while I have gotten out of the habit at times, either due to season--am I a fair weather walker? Maybe--or other demands, I still understand completely all of the ways in which I feel better about life when I do, daily, walk, and occasionally--say on weekends--for even longer. I feel better in body, mind, and spirit...and so keep up that habit as best I can.
That said, I'm not certain what I wanted from this book. Confirmation of what I already knew? Directions for improvement? A magical formula of the right amount for my "person" per day to epitomize all of the valuable effects? Recommendations for the right outerwear for walking through a Wisconsin winter? What? I'm really not sure. But I didn't really get any of those answered or addressed in satisfying form.
I found that I was not actually all that interested in the scientific explanations O'Mara provided for, say, our evolution into a walking species--a number of reasons--including the ability to move things, then, from place A to place B with our hands (vs. crawling on four "legs"). But I'm still thinking about that now, to be honest...and how valuable it is that "someone" figured that out and that we all now, as humans, just do it...quite naturally.
Although to that same issue, as much time (the entire book) as O'Mara devotes to the value of and importance of walking (in all the ways I already knew), he never provided satisfactory option for any (and there are many) who are missing limbs and/or wheelchair-bound and how they are to gain the same valued mechanical movement--how to trigger all of the same scientific benefits, of the physical movement, of the thinking opportunity, of the hormonal kick-ins for those who are physically unable to "walk." I guess he wasn't required to present that...but I felt it was an oversight that excluded a large portion of the population from learning or benefitting from the research he presented. I do not dismiss them in my thinking about what I "get" from walking that I wish for there to be means for those unable to physically walk to also and otherwise gain. And I think I expected him to consider that.
Otherwise this book does a lot of what I do see as confirmation and affirmation of the fact that walking is good for me, good for us.
I did appreciate and enjoy O'Mara's many references to those who preceded us, thinkers and poets and writers I admire, Kierkegard and Thoreau and Wordsworth and Steinbeck, as some, and what they'd said about walking and its importance and value in their own lives.
And maybe a non-walker will find motivation and inspiration in this book to get up and get moving, to see what they have not and consider its value and merit as spoken by someone else, an expert of the learning at least, who is telling them all the ways in which that would be good for them. But it feels like it might to them, as it does to my teenaged daughter when this mom says, "Come on! Go for a walk with me" like O'Mara is asking them to first read his book and then be more compelled to get up and move. I'm not sure that works!
But...do just walk if you are able. It does do one's body and mind and spirit SO MUCH GOOD! O'Mara says so, too!
I saw a reference to this book and O'Mara's ideas somewhere else earlier this year (I no longer remember where/when, exactly) and was prompted to order and then read the book.
I have tried to figure out also what compelled me to read it, as I am an avid walker and have long been, and while I have gotten out of the habit at times, either due to season--am I a fair weather walker? Maybe--or other demands, I still understand completely all of the ways in which I feel better about life when I do, daily, walk, and occasionally--say on weekends--for even longer. I feel better in body, mind, and spirit...and so keep up that habit as best I can.
That said, I'm not certain what I wanted from this book. Confirmation of what I already knew? Directions for improvement? A magical formula of the right amount for my "person" per day to epitomize all of the valuable effects? Recommendations for the right outerwear for walking through a Wisconsin winter? What? I'm really not sure. But I didn't really get any of those answered or addressed in satisfying form.
I found that I was not actually all that interested in the scientific explanations O'Mara provided for, say, our evolution into a walking species--a number of reasons--including the ability to move things, then, from place A to place B with our hands (vs. crawling on four "legs"). But I'm still thinking about that now, to be honest...and how valuable it is that "someone" figured that out and that we all now, as humans, just do it...quite naturally.
Although to that same issue, as much time (the entire book) as O'Mara devotes to the value of and importance of walking (in all the ways I already knew), he never provided satisfactory option for any (and there are many) who are missing limbs and/or wheelchair-bound and how they are to gain the same valued mechanical movement--how to trigger all of the same scientific benefits, of the physical movement, of the thinking opportunity, of the hormonal kick-ins for those who are physically unable to "walk." I guess he wasn't required to present that...but I felt it was an oversight that excluded a large portion of the population from learning or benefitting from the research he presented. I do not dismiss them in my thinking about what I "get" from walking that I wish for there to be means for those unable to physically walk to also and otherwise gain. And I think I expected him to consider that.
Otherwise this book does a lot of what I do see as confirmation and affirmation of the fact that walking is good for me, good for us.
I did appreciate and enjoy O'Mara's many references to those who preceded us, thinkers and poets and writers I admire, Kierkegard and Thoreau and Wordsworth and Steinbeck, as some, and what they'd said about walking and its importance and value in their own lives.
And maybe a non-walker will find motivation and inspiration in this book to get up and get moving, to see what they have not and consider its value and merit as spoken by someone else, an expert of the learning at least, who is telling them all the ways in which that would be good for them. But it feels like it might to them, as it does to my teenaged daughter when this mom says, "Come on! Go for a walk with me" like O'Mara is asking them to first read his book and then be more compelled to get up and move. I'm not sure that works!
But...do just walk if you are able. It does do one's body and mind and spirit SO MUCH GOOD! O'Mara says so, too!
dodaheem's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to really enjoy this book and be motivated by it. However, I found it meandering and digging into side trips, too much detail on some studies. It also repeated in several places during which I kept getting the feeling I had read this section before?! The writing isn't smooth. The author also oversells the magic medical cure all of walking.
apechild's review against another edition
3.0
Very interesting and science based book about walking. I'd only seen it as "in praise of walking" and wasn't sure if it was going to be more of a poetic, hey ho, with a knapsack on my back striding into the great outdoors la la la... which it isn't. Although he does very much promote walking outdoors in nature, or in the city, or anywhere. Move those legs!
It's not (or it shouldn't be) news that walking is good for you. But even so, I've learned a lot, learning just how good it is for your physical and mental health, but also how the brain is hardwired to respond to walking, and walking will help your brain health. There's also parts about learning to walk, which when you think about it is a big deal and not really something anyone can explain to you how to do. Relaxing and tensing leg muscles, moving forward out of your centre of gravity but don't fall over... also how and why our fossil ancestors got up off four legs and turned it into a pair of legs and a pair of arms (all pointing out the positives of this. He doesn't mention the 'slight' negative in going on two legs in that the pelvis has to narrow down and become much denser as it's doing more work. Only a problem if you're female and want to have children). I digress. There's even thoughts on city planning and what should be a major consideration in planning so that it is pleasant and advantageous to walk rather than hopping in the car all of the time.
I do enjoy bimbling about, exploring, walking in the countryside etc, so I suppose this is preaching to the converted. I can say that I know even more pluses to walking now, and I want to get out and walk EVEN MORE. Except that I have things like work, running a house, reading books etc that I also have to or want to do. Ah, life's dilemmas.
Borrowed from the library.
It's not (or it shouldn't be) news that walking is good for you. But even so, I've learned a lot, learning just how good it is for your physical and mental health, but also how the brain is hardwired to respond to walking, and walking will help your brain health. There's also parts about learning to walk, which when you think about it is a big deal and not really something anyone can explain to you how to do. Relaxing and tensing leg muscles, moving forward out of your centre of gravity but don't fall over... also how and why our fossil ancestors got up off four legs and turned it into a pair of legs and a pair of arms (all pointing out the positives of this. He doesn't mention the 'slight' negative in going on two legs in that the pelvis has to narrow down and become much denser as it's doing more work. Only a problem if you're female and want to have children). I digress. There's even thoughts on city planning and what should be a major consideration in planning so that it is pleasant and advantageous to walk rather than hopping in the car all of the time.
I do enjoy bimbling about, exploring, walking in the countryside etc, so I suppose this is preaching to the converted. I can say that I know even more pluses to walking now, and I want to get out and walk EVEN MORE. Except that I have things like work, running a house, reading books etc that I also have to or want to do. Ah, life's dilemmas.
Borrowed from the library.
erudani's review against another edition
5.0
Biased review (?) because walking is one of my ultimate favourite activities and can't recommend it enough.
tnews333's review against another edition
5.0
If you are in need of some motivation this book has it. And it has wonderful explanations of science that is so far removed from my basic or even my masters level training as to be amazing. Read it while being active via audiobook.
sequoia1024's review against another edition
3.0
As someone with a bio/psych background and who already loves walking, it's a pleasant read, just that I don't feel I learned much new.
elleryvt's review against another edition
2.0
“The core lesson of this book is this: walking enhances every aspect of our social, psychological and neural functioning. It is the simple, life-enhancing, health-building prescription we all need, one we should all take in regular doses...we need to make walking a natural, habitual part of our everyday lives.”
Couldn’t agree more with his premise and purpose. The book itself is a bit boring though.
Couldn’t agree more with his premise and purpose. The book itself is a bit boring though.