The Joy of Movement
The Scientific Link Behind Movement, Belonging, and Joy
1 of 1 copy available
Exercise is health-enhancing and life-extending, yet many of us feel it's a chore. But, as Kelly McGonigal reveals, it doesn't have to be. Movement can and should be a source of joy.
Through her trademark blend of science and storytelling, McGonigal draws on insights from neuroscience, psychology, anthropology, and evolutionary biology, as well as memoirs, ethnographies, and philosophers. She shows how movement is intertwined with some of the most basic human joys, including self-expression, social connection, and mastery—and why it is a powerful antidote to the modern epidemics of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
McGonigal tells the stories of people who have found fulfillment and belonging through running, walking, dancing, swimming, weightlifting, and more, with examples that span the globe, from Tanzania, where one of the last hunter-gatherer tribes on the planet live, to a dance class at Juilliard for people with Parkinson's disease, to the streets of London, where volunteers combine fitness and community service, to races in the remote wilderness, where athletes push the limits of what a human can endure. Along the way, McGonigal paints a portrait of human nature that highlights our capacity for hope, cooperation, and self-transcendence.
The result is a revolutionary narrative that goes beyond familiar arguments in favor of exercise, to illustrate why movement is integral to both our happiness and our humanity. Readers will learn what they can do in their own lives and communities to harness the power of movement to create happiness, meaning, and connection.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
December 31, 2019 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593151464
- File size: 226889 KB
- Duration: 07:52:41
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Exercise may carry the weight of chore and prescription, but in Kelly McGonigal's reframing, it's an accessible way to enjoy more self-expression, social connection, and mastery. She presents her refreshing views with a combination of lighthearted innocence and rock-solid confidence. Her tone and vocal clarity create an inviting atmosphere for absorbing her ideas and taking another look at our sedentary habits. One surprising finding she shares is the 31% improvement in life satisfaction people report when exercising regularly. She says vigorous and regular exercise works like marijuana and some antidepressants by increasing the endocannabinoids in our systems. But studies show the temporary runner's high is more than chemistry: It's learning that we have the courage and discipline to take our lives to a higher place. T.W. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
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