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setonai 's review for:
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art
by James Nestor
James Nestor’s Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art sets out to reintroduce readers to something we all do 25,000 times a day but rarely think about—breathing. Drawing from ancient wisdom, modern research, and personal experimentation, Nestor argues that the way we breathe profoundly shapes our health, mood, and well-being. The book champions nasal breathing over mouth breathing and offers accessible tips on how to reclaim this "lost art" for better physical and mental health.
What I Learned
One of the most impactful takeaways from Breath is the power of nasal breathing. Nestor emphasizes that our noses are not just passive passageways but active participants in our respiratory health. Nasal breathing:
- Filters, warms, and humidifies incoming air
- Promotes the production of nitric oxide, a crucial molecule that improves circulation, oxygen delivery, immune function, and even impacts mood, weight regulation, and sexual function
In contrast, mouth breathing is shown to contribute to a wide range of health problems, including:
- A higher risk of respiratory infections
- Snoring and sleep apnea
- Altered facial structure and poor dental health
- Decreased cognitive performance
The book encourages readers to pay conscious attention to how they breathe, even suggesting the use of sleep tape to maintain nasal breathing during the night. This was a practical, memorable piece of advice that seems simple yet potentially transformative.
What I Didn’t Like
Despite its valuable insights, Breath sometimes feels like it stretches too far. Reading it was a bit like being stuck in an elevator with soothing music—and having someone next to you explaining in excessive detail who composed the music, why, and what each note means. It’s informative, yes, but after a while, the tone becomes overly explanatory and even meandering.
Nestor is a journalist, not a medical expert, and while he does a commendable job synthesizing research, his enthusiastic embrace of fringe theories and pseudoscience detracts from the book’s credibility. The exploration of various breathing methods becomes repetitive, and the narrative occasionally loses steam under the weight of its own ambition. What starts as a fascinating investigation can, for some readers, feel tedious by the final chapters.
Final Thoughts
Breath is an intriguing book that successfully shines a spotlight on an overlooked aspect of human health. It’s a compelling reminder that something as basic as how we breathe can have wide-ranging effects on our lives. However, it may not satisfy readers looking for rigorous scientific depth or those wary of anecdote-heavy pseudoscience. If you’re curious about how to improve your breathing—and potentially your life—it’s worth a read. Just be prepared for the elevator ride to take a few detours.