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In Praise of Walking: A New Scientific Exploration Kindle Edition

by Shane O'Mara (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 323 ratings
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“A surprisingly fascinating scientific consideration of humanity’s most ordinary activity.” —Ron Charles, Washington Post


In this “wonderful” (John Brandon, Forbes) book, neuroscientist Shane O’Mara invites us to marvel at the benefits walking confers on our bodies and brains, and to appreciate the advantages of this uniquely human skill. From walking’s evolutionary origins, traced back millions of years to life forms on the ocean floor, to new findings from cutting-edge research, he reveals how the brain and nervous system give us the ability to balance, weave through a crowded city, and run our “inner GPS” system. Walking is good for our muscles and posture;?it helps to protect and repair organs, and can slow or turn back the aging of our brains. With our minds in motion we think more creatively, our mood improves, and stress levels fall. Walking together to achieve a shared purpose is also a social glue that has contributed to our survival as a species.


As our lives become increasingly sedentary, O’Mara makes the case that we must start walking again—whether it’s up a mountain, down to the park,?or simply to school and work. In Praise of Walking?illuminates the joys, health benefits, and mechanics of walking, and reminds us to get out of our chairs and discover a happier, healthier, more creative self.

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  1. ISBN-13
    978-0393867497
  2. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  3. Publisher
    W. W. Norton & Company
  4. Publication date
    May 12, 2020
  5. Language
    English
  6. File size
    1109 KB
  7. See all details
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From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Informative and persuasive enough to rouse the most ardent couch potato."
― Jonathon Keats, New Scientist

"Convincing and compelling…In Praise of Walking is peppered with insights about everything from 19th-century poets and flâneurs to modern-day experiments with subjects playing video games in fMRI scanners."
― Helen Davies, The Sunday Times

"In Praise of Walking [is] a backstage tour of what happens in our brains while we perambulate. Walking makes us healthier, happier and brainier…[O’Mara] knows this not only through personal experience, but from cold, hard data."
― Amy Fleming, Guardian

"Compelling and wise, In Praise of Walking points the way to the human adventure."
― Richard Louv, author of Our Wild Calling and Last Child in the Woods

"It seems like a simple, perhaps the simplest, human activity: Walking. Yet, as O’Mara makes clear, every amble is transformative. It grows brain cells, fires our muscles, unleashes our creative spirit and lifts our moods. This book could―and should―change your life."
― Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix

"Fascinating…O’Mara argues [walking] is intimately connected to our bodies, our brains, and ultimately how we exist as a species."
― Tom Whipple, The Times

"Full of insights…An accessible and thought-provoking discussion of walking as a key to human success."
― Gina Rippon, author of The Gendered Brain

"A fascinating new book that examines the multitudinous benefits of this form of locomotion."
― Lydia Slater, Harper’s Bazaar

About the Author

Shane O'Mara is professor of experimental brain research at Trinity College Dublin. He is also the author of Why Torture Doesn’t Work and A Brain for Business―A Brain for Life. He lives in Dublin, Ireland.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07ZTSYXZH
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company (May 12, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 12, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1109 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 220 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 323 ratings

About the author

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Shane O'Mara

Shane O'Mara

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Shane O'Mara is Professor of Experimental Brain Research at Trinity College Dublin - the University of Dublin. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from NUI Galway and a DPhil from the University of Oxford. He is a Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin (FTCD), and was the first Ireland-based elected Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science (FAPS) and is an elected member of the Royal Irish Academy (MRIA). He has a popular newsletter at brainpizza.substack.com - signup for slices of writing on brains, behaviour, and lots in between...

He has published many peer-reviewed papers on the brain systems supporting learning, memory, cognition and decision-making; brain systems affected by stress, anxiety, depression and motivation.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
323 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Tom Sales
5.0 out of 5 stars Will make you want to walk for more reasons
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2020
Verified Purchase
I started first walking and then running after reading Jim Fixx's Running books in the 70's. I've been running and then--aging--gradually reverted back to walking ever since ... without feeling much need to read about it.

But seeing this book now suddenly made me want to read about it. With COVID19 upon us, my almost daily walks have become key to keeping our new quarantined lifestyle somewhat normal. Add to that socially distant golfing where 2 people cannot ride in the same cart (which means the other 2 must walk), and I'm suddenly walking many miles a week.

This book gives greater context to what was for me just 'getting some exercise.' I always knew it was good for you, but now I know it's good for more reasons than I knew before. After reading O'Mara's book I know why:

- I choose specific routes through the neighborhood.
- It's good during travel to take an orientation bus ride but then to walk, walk, walk--especially thru the world's greatest cities.
- Things you struggle with at work suddenly get easier after walking.
- Golf is even better now (while walking) to connect with my friends.
- I get withdrawal pains after 3 days without walking.

The author makes some big public policy recommendations with this book. He has interesting anecdotes about how and why walking has helped him and others in their lifes' work. And he provides research to explain why his ideas are true. But smaller picture, he'll also make you want to walk for a lot more reasons.
68 people found this helpful
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JJR
5.0 out of 5 stars I''m listening to this book while I'm walking and it's the best!
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2020
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Walking is our innate way of learning, and we learn best by moving. I'm enjoying this book so much while I'm walking in the mornings. I've increased my mileage just because I wasn't ready to stop. It's informative, factually intriguing and, the reader on my Audible has a delightful British accent that's easy on the ears. I've recommended this to my book club and to my husband's club for a fun, educational and valuable non-fiction read.
Learn the hows, whys, whens, how comes, and more of how we evolved as walking, up-right humans and how our brains developed along with our stature.
20 people found this helpful
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L. Harper
3.0 out of 5 stars The goal of the book is not what I anticipated
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2023
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This is an excellent book if you're interested in the mechanics and physiology of walking from prehistoric man on. He talks about his own walks a lot and how he does his writing while he's walking by taping it. I just did not find this book motivational at all. That's what I had expected from videos that I've seen of his interviews. I gave it three stars, not because it's not a well-written book, but because it didn't make me want to get off my duff and go for a walk, which is what I was expecting. I already knew that it helped blood pressure and that it helps your mood. Those were the only two motivational keys that I picked up. There was nothing about the advantages of how walking helps you physically as you age with muscle mass or how late you can start and still be ahead of the game. I was looking for specifics. In this goes clear back to prehistoric man, apes, and babies crawling That said, if you're interested in the developmental pieces of how we walk; how it relates to the brain, etc. - this is your book.
4 people found this helpful
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Robert Michael Reid
4.0 out of 5 stars Walking
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2021
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All good, easy read
One person found this helpful
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Rick X. Widdicomb
5.0 out of 5 stars A lesson for living well
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2021
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Although, at times the depth of research can be distracting, the overall theme and lessons are formidable.

Walk and walk especially in cities and countryside and every aspect of your health, mental acuity and mood will improve.
2 people found this helpful
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Quester
5.0 out of 5 stars A quite thorough book
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2020
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I liked how the author used a scientific approach to elaborate on such a simple topic. Sometimes poetic. Sometimes direct. It was such an interesting read. I know I’ll read it again sometime in the future. Very erudite. I’m glad I read this book.
3 people found this helpful
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Mitch Smith.
5.0 out of 5 stars A great treatise on a simple act
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2020
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O'Mara has written a tremendous book on that simplest of acts, walking. He shows us how fundamental it is to our growth and development as functioning human beings. It behooves you to take a stroll with him.
8 people found this helpful
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Pet Mama
2.0 out of 5 stars A very scientific book and not a fun read!
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2021
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I am not sure who the audience would be for this book. It isn’t me! It was way heavy on the science, really written more as an academic book. It is highly cerebral and not what I thought it would be at all. For those who are more scientifically inclined this might be your book.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Nan Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
Reviewed in Canada on December 7, 2023
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All about the benefit of walking that are not just physiological. Lots of science and psychology included. Encourages walking because of the great benefits without being about fitness.
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Nat Rogers Wants
5.0 out of 5 stars The person I gave it to really liked it
Reviewed in Australia on July 5, 2023
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The person I gave it to really liked it
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Betsy Wright
5.0 out of 5 stars A very interesting book.
Reviewed in Canada on August 30, 2023
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Well worth it grest price easy read!
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Jacklin Andrews
5.0 out of 5 stars An Inspiration for Walking
Reviewed in Canada on January 13, 2022
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I walk every morning - it is my way to start the day. This book gives me reason to keep doing that and that is wonderful. I am learning a lot about a habit that i have always thought was one of my better ones but did not really have the information to make it so. Now I do and I still love my morning walks.
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