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A review by apechild
In Praise of Walking: The new science of how we walk and why it's good for us by Shane O'Mara
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.