John Durant, "The Paleo Manifesto" | Talks at Google

Earlier this month I posted on a new book called The Paleo Manifesto: Ancient Wisdom for Lifelong Health, by John Durant, over at The Masculine Heart. It was focused on a brief review at Men's Journal. Along with the single paragraph, MJ included a link to an article from December 2012 on the paleo lifestyle. First the brief review from MJ, then there is a new Google Talk by John Durant about his new book.

Book Review: 'The Paleo Manifesto'

'The Paleo Manifesto' by John Durant

John Durant, one of the first proponents of living like a hunter-gatherer, has written the rules of the lifestyle he's been advocating for years. In his new book, as you might expect, he calls for a meat-heavy diet but also argues for occasional fasting, getting standing desks, sleeping a lot, and swimming in icy water. Durant's research piles on the studies and the opinions of experts who look at the weight-loss diets of captive gorillas and sleep habits of astronauts, making a compelling argument for the paleo movement.

– Tyghe Trimble

You can read an excerpt from Chapter 2, Know Thy Species, at Scribd.

And now, the feature presentation, a Google Talk by Durant on The Paleo Manifesto.

John Durant, "The Paleo Manifesto" | Talks at Google

Published on Oct 30, 2013
 

In The Paleo Manifesto: Ancient Wisdom for Lifelong Health, John Durant argues for an evolutionary -- and revolutionary -- approach to health. All animals, human or otherwise, thrive when they mimic key elements of life in their natural habitat. From diet to movement to sleep, this evolutionary perspective sheds light on some of our most pressing health concerns. What is causing the rise of chronic conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and depression? Is eating red meat going to kill you? Is avoiding the sun actually the best way to avoid skin cancer?

Durant takes readers on a thrilling ride to the Paleolithic and beyond, unlocking the health secrets of our ancient ancestors. What do obese gorillas teach us about weight loss? How can Paleolithic skulls contain beautiful sets of teeth? Why is the Bible so obsessed with hygiene? What do NASA astronauts teach us about getting a good night's sleep? And how are Silicon Valley techies hacking the human body?

Blending science and culture, anthropology and philosophy, John Durant distills the lessons from his adventures and shows how to apply them to day-to-day life, teaching people how to construct their own personal "habitat" that will enable them to thrive. The book doesn't just address what we eat, but why we eat it; not just how to exercise, but the purpose of functional movement; not just being healthy, but leading a purposeful life.

Combining the best of ancient wisdom with cutting edge science, Durant crafts a vision of health that is both fresh and futuristic.