The Circadian Code is about Sleep. Germ theory—and its related breakthroughs of sanitation, vaccination, and antibiotics—was the groundbreaking health development of the past century. It prevents infectious disease and led to the most dramatic rise in longevity in any century in human history. Yet living longer does not always mean living healthier. Chronic diseases of … Read more
Body By Science by Doug McGuff is a book that contradicts most of the advice that you will find online about strength training. From the perspective of a physician, McGuff explains how building muscle is a biological process that requires sufficient rest as well as intense stimulation, and that more frequent training can impede rather … Read more
This chapter is about the differences between men and women. Men are better at spatial tasks than women. Spatial skills and polygamy go together in several species. Female bodies evolved to bear and rear children. Men’s bodies evolved to suit the demands of rising in the male hierarchy, fighting over women and providing meat for … Read more
Consistent monogamy, not polygamy sets humans apart from mammals (including apes). Of the four apes (gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, and chimpanzees) only gibbons are monogamous. Although men are polygamous opportunists at heart, afraid of commitment, they are interested in finding wives whom to rear families with. Sperm competition theory emerged after it was discovered that some … Read more
“The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals” is a compelling book by Michael Pollan that delves into the question of what we should have for dinner. Published in 2006, the book explores the realities of the modern food industry and its impact on our health, environment, and society. Pollan organizes the book into … Read more
Every female animal wants a mate with sufficient genetic quality to make a good husband and good father. Every male animal wants as many wives as possible, and to sometimes find good mothers and dams – rarely to find good wives. Genetic Sieves Males act as a kind of genetic sieve: only the best males … Read more
In the fourth chapter of The Red Queen, Matthew Syed delves into the idea that adaptation is a never-ending process. He argues that in order to survive and thrive, we must be constantly adapting our strategies and methods to stay ahead of the competition. To illustrate this concept, he uses multiple examples from across different … Read more
The Red Queen’s first prophet, Leigh Van Valen, was a devout student of evolution. In 173, he was searching for a phrase to express a new discovery he had made while studying marine fossils. The discovery was that chances that a family of animals goes extinct does not depend on how long that family has … Read more
Joshua Waitzkin is an American chess player, martial arts competitor, and author of The Art of Learning. He was recognized as a prodigy, and won the U.S. Junior Chess championship in 1993 and 1994 before becoming a world champion in Tai Chi. This book is his explanation of the principles underlying his learning process. The Process … Read more
Why We Sleep by Mathew Walker is about the science of sleep. What happens when we sleep, how are our minds are shaped by the quality of our sleep? What are the repercussions to not sleeping well? Imagine you read a headline titled “Amazing Breakthrough” – that promised a new treatment that extends your lifespan, … Read more