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  • The Comfort Crisis

  • Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self
  • By: Michael Easter
  • Narrated by: Michael Easter
  • Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (535 ratings)

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The Comfort Crisis

By: Michael Easter
Narrated by: Michael Easter
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Summary

“If you've been looking for something different to level up your health, fitness, and personal growth, this is it.” (Melissa Urban, Whole30 CEO and New York Times best-selling author)

Discover the evolutionary mind and body benefits of living at the edges of your comfort zone and reconnecting with the wild.

In many ways, we’re more comfortable than ever before. But could our sheltered, temperature-controlled, overfed, underchallenged lives actually be the leading cause of many our most urgent physical and mental health issues? In this gripping investigation, award-winning journalist Michael Easter seeks out off-the-grid visionaries, disruptive genius researchers, and mind-body conditioning trailblazers who are unlocking the life-enhancing secrets of a counterintuitive solution: discomfort.

Easter’s journey to understand our evolutionary need to be challenged takes him to meet the NBA’s top exercise scientist, who uses an ancient Japanese practice to build championship athletes; to the mystical country of Bhutan, where an Oxford economist and Buddhist leader are showing the world what death can teach us about happiness; to the outdoor lab of a young neuroscientist who’s found that nature tests our physical and mental endurance in ways that expand creativity while taming burnout and anxiety; to the remote Alaskan backcountry on a demanding 33-day hunting expedition to experience the rewilding secrets of one of the last rugged places on Earth; and more.

Along the way, Easter uncovers a blueprint for leveraging the power of discomfort that will dramatically improve our health and happiness, and perhaps even help us understand what it means to be human. The Comfort Crisis is a bold call to break out of your comfort zone and explore the wild within yourself.

©2021 Michael Easter (P)2021 Random House Audio
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Critic reviews

“Changes the way we think about the modern world and how everyday conveniences are eroding our understanding of what it mean to be human.” (Richard Dorment, editor in chief, Men’s Health)

“I read The Comfort Crisis in three straight sittings and was so motivated and inspired that I immediately made changes to my daily routines. Two months later, I've never been fitter, more self-confident, or happier. If you've been looking for something different to level up your health, fitness, and personal growth, THIS IS IT.” (Melissa Urban, Whole30 CEO and six-time New York Times best-selling author)

“Entertaining and enlightening, Easter’s quest for a ‘rewilded’ diet, creative boredom, and other sensation - restoring discomforts is chock-full of solid science as well as a rollicking adventure.” (Dan Fagin, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation)

What listeners say about The Comfort Crisis

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Game changer

The take away from this book will change how you live for the better. If it doesn't you can come punch me in the face.

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Outstanding

Great book highlighting the keys to good health, well-being and happiness, by looking at where modern western society has drifted off track and in the pursuit of making life easier and more enjoyable, it is in fact making us sick, fragile and depressed.

All this set to the backdrop of a really well written account of a Caribou hunt in Alaska.

Will be revisiting this no doubt. Lots of takeaways to improve mental and physical health and a great story

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Thought provoking and life changing

Loved everything about this book; it confirmed many things I have been thinking about but also introduced me to things I have not thought about. I am going to buy the book as I know it is something I will return to again and again as I embrace discomfort.

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The authors narration was authentic

Excellent book. The author offers a different perspective on comfort that makes me want to be active and more intentional with the way I live my life. Thank you to the author for all the research and beautiful story telling.

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Great book, powerful message

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn’t sure at first how much I enjoyed it but I found it very interesting and the message resonated. The story telling weaved with the research is a model that works really well. Similar to Born to Run in many ways.

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Extremely informative and well written.

Extremely informative and well written. Lots of insights into how modern life is negatively affecting us, but without falling into the trap of similar books in arguing that one thing will solve all our modern ailments. Tips provided are easily implemented and sustainable imo.

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Important and inspirational listening

A good book and well read. Maybe a bit long winded at times but overall the message is worth your patience.
The section on diet was the only but that felt a little bit cherry picked, and over simplified, but otherwise, he highlights many many good examples of why comfort may not be healthy in the long run.

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An absolute must read/listen.

Brings together so many different strands that I have read about separately, from intermittent fasting to rucking. Great book

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Thought provoking

Great insight and perspective to modern day resilience or lack of it! Challenging, interesting and relatable.

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Great wisdom and insight

I started with some cynicism- not another ’remake your life/you are not worthy’. However a deeply insightful, inspiring and rewarding book. Life changing if you let it be. Well read and a captivating delivery. Excellent.

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