James Nestor

This book feels very much like a late night infomercial, that it’s trying to sell you something. And it is, in a way, just not something you really have to pay for.

Many of the claims seem outlandish, bordering on ridiculous. Breathing can cure emphysema, make you hot when it’s cold, make you cool when it’s sweltering, make you not need to eat or drink for long periods.

Additionally, the information seems disjointed; is it oxygen or carbon dioxide that’s most important? This book seems to think both depending on where in the story you are. Bone structure of animals seems to change drastically in a matter of months, which feels a little odd.

All that said, breathing is one of the most important things we as living creatures do, so learning about it is important, and if nothing else, this book has made me consider more how I’m breathing, which is almost certainly a good thing.… (mere)

Very good material but frustrating in that the author sets up a tease and then rarely if ever dives into the details. We are left in a bit of a wild chase around different places to try to unveil the mysteries of breath but no substance in conclusion.

I have personally read various texts in breathing in the last year and have gathered more specific understanding than what the author finds in his ten years... Which to me suggests the author is really mostly trying to tell an interesting story as much as inform us on the depth of this field.

Exception to this is the final chapter where some exercises are explained in good detail.

But it is a fun book and yes, breathe with your nose can alleviate many problems.… (mere)