Breath: The New Science of a Lost ArtBreath: The New Science of a Lost Art
Score Modern
What it's about
Nothing is more essential to our health than breathing, yet humans, James Nestor argues, have lost the ability to do it correctly, with grave consequences. He explores the science of breathing and how small changes can improve health.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 48 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's a fascinating, practical book about something we all do.
You'll love it if you liked
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity
The Body Keeps the ScoreGood to know
It includes breathing exercises. Some of its claims are debated by doctors.
By the numbers
- Readers34 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller63 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #94 of the 119 science and ideas books we rank
- #938 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1733 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Practical
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Science and ideas booksTop 25 · 119 ranked
Modern booksTop 25 · 1,573 ranked
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Memoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 ranked
Science fiction booksTop 25 · 313 rankedQuick answers
Is Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art worth reading?
Yes. It spent 48 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #1,733 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art about?
Nothing is more essential to our health than breathing, yet humans, James Nestor argues, have lost the ability to do it correctly, with grave consequences. He explores the science of breathing and how small changes can improve health.
How long does it take to read Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art?
About 8 hours (304 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art?
If you liked it, try Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker, Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia with Bill Gifford or The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk.