Exercised Summary

Summary of Exercised Book by Daniel Lieberman

Name: Exercised
Rating: 4.4 (835 reviews)
Author: Daniel Lieberman

4.4 . 835 reviews

Short summary

We hear a lot about the need for daily exercise, but if humans have evolved to avoid physical exertion, how does that work? Daniel Lieberman doesn’t consider himself a natural athlete, but he has a deep interest in the evolutionary elements of exercise and the human body. As a Professor of Biological Sciences at Harvard University, he has spent many years studying human evolution. In Exercised: The Science of Physical Activity, Rest And Health, he debunks many incorrect claims about exercise. Do you really need to hit the gym every morning? Could a different kind of exercise do the same thing? And, how can you focus on health while avoiding the activities you don’t enjoy? If you struggle to motivate yourself to exercise, this summary will shed some light on the possible reasons why. “The mantra of this book is that nothing about the biology of exercise makes sense except in the light of evolution, and nothing about exercise as a behavior makes sense except in the light of anthropology.” ~ Daniel Lieberman

12 min

7 key points

6 insights

Try Headway app

Table of content

Summary of Exercised
About the author
What is Exercised about?
Who should read Exercised
Topics in Exercised

first key point

Humans have evolved to avoid physical activity — Does that make us lazy?

Listen the first key point

00:00

Daniel Lieberman has never considered himself an athlete. He describes himself as a nerdy and small kid, struggling with anxiety connected to physical activity. If anything, he grew up avoiding physical activity as much as possible. Like many teenagers, he felt unsure and uncomfortable in his body, and, as such, sports lessons were never a fun time for him. However, he fell in love with evolution over the years and chose to learn more about it as he moved through his education and into college.

There are many different myths associated with exercise. If you don’t exercise enough, you’re lazy. If you exercise too much, you’re obsessed. Many people exaggerate the amount of exercise they do. But, while exercise is certainly healthy, it’s possibly not the magic wand that many people expect it to be. It may not prevent or cure every disease alone. Lieberman questions how exercise can be the special cure for all if people these days are living longer yet are more physically inactive than ever before.

There is no denying that exercise is healthy, but to work to its optimum level, you need to eat healthily, get plenty of sleep, and cut down on stress.

Throughout this summary, Lieberman helps us understand the double standards associated with exercise. On the one hand, it’s healthy and helpful, but on the other, it’s not going to be the answer to every health issue either. By learning more about exercise and its need, you can banish any hang-ups about physical activity and find a healthy and positive route.

second key point

Genes and lifestyle are the main factors in exceptional athleticism

It’s interesting to think about why athletes are so focused and motivated. In 2012, Daniel Lieberman observed the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii — a place that focuses on tourism and enjoying the finer things in life, not particularly health and wellbeing. However, when the race begins, the participants only have their eyes on one prize — making it to the end of the course. For some, that could be in a few hours, but it would be around midnight when most cross the line.

Continue reading with Headway app

Full summary is waiting for you in the app

third key point

Avoid sitting too much if you want to protect your health

fourth key point

Humans are built for endurance, not speed

fifth key point

Sports are a form of play, not necessarily a great form of exercise

sixth key point

Walking is good, but it’s not going to help you lose weight

seventh key point

Conclusion

Buy full book on Amazon Continue the summary

What is Exercised about?

"Exercised" delves into the science behind physical activity, rest, and their impact on our overall health. Renowned author Daniel Lieberman explores the evolutionary roots of exercise, debunking common myths and shedding light on the benefits of movement. From the effects of sedentary lifestyles to the role of exercise in preventing chronic diseases, this book offers a comprehensive understanding of how exercise shapes our bodies and minds, providing valuable insights for leading a healthier and more active life.

Who should read Exercised

Fitness enthusiasts looking to deepen their understanding of exercise science.
Health professionals seeking evidence-based insights on physical activity and rest.
Individuals interested in optimizing their overall well-being through exercise.

Enjoy summarized nonfiction bestsellers

Grasp the book’s key ideas in less than 15 minutes

Get started

Get new knowledge easily

Let’s check how many titles you can finish in a month with Headway! Tell us how much time you’d like to spend on reading:

2 min/day

5 min/day

10 min/day

15 min/day

20 min/day

30 min/day

45 min/day

4 titles/month

10 titles/month

20 titles/month

30 titles/month

40 titles/month

60 titles/month

90 titles/month

4 titles/month

10 titles/month

20 titles/month

30 titles/month

40 titles/month

60 titles/month

90 titles/month

Join 30+ million learners around the world

60K5 reviews on App Store and Google Play

Everything you need to be motivate, to learn & to self improves is all here. I actually do appreciate the reminders because otherwise this wouldn’t work for me. Thank you

sandypantalones

Headway is the answer! No longer accumulating books I never read. With Headway, I initially chose the areas important to me such as productivity, time management, etc., and each day I'm provided several book summaries from which I devote 20 minutes or more each day reading. All of this on my phone! My life has improved with Headway. Truly my most useful app.

Carol Slinker

An excellent concept, executed well. Headway can help you retain what you've read while introducing you to the essential core of new information. It's an easier way to stay inspired, and to be reminded of the mental tools you've learned

Fuse Henry

In today’s world, we rarely have time. Between our jobs, our families are social obligations, when do we have time to grow and develop ourselves? Headway is an excellent app that gives you that time it gives you those little snippets of information that you need to direct your focus in on your life. Headway gives you a chance to find out the meat of a book that you might want to purchase and read or listen to in-depth without wasting a lot of time trying to figure out is this book for me? I highly recommend the app.

sleepy sprite

The selections are on point and the summaries are excellent! I listen while I walk my pup 🐶 and have in turn, ordered a few selections! REALLY loving the app, it’s layout, daily selections and features!

JuicyBaby328

I've gotten multiple books out of the library with the intent to read them, but always have a hard time finding the time. This app has helped me finally be able to get to them. Summarized, yes, and thank goodness too! Just short enough I can finish one on my way picking kids up from school/practice, or while I'm cooking dinner. I can't wait to listen to them over the summer when we visit the beach!

Jillian Emmert

It amazed me! There is the possibility to highlight the most important points of each book and instantly translate unfamiliar vocabulary. With the ability to review the searched words. It's a great way to learn more about English as well. The price is great.

Fiamma

I’m enjoying what I’m learning on headway.each summary comes with quotes at the end which you can save to help you remember key points. You can listen or read, I’ve found that reading puts me to sleep before I can finish but the listening feature keeps me engaged and I can finish in a brief amount of time if not one session.

Epic waters

The app it’s so easy to use. I use it while driving or cooking and is great. I love the fact that the chapters are short, so you can finish them quickly. Very knowledgeable.

kathytaveras

The best app for self development.It helps to keep pace with your reading and also suggests the kind of reading material you might like.It is fun as you can switch from reading to listening and vice-versa as per your convenience .Just get started and partake of the treasure of knowledge at your fingertips .I feel lucky to have spotted the app.It has helped me become self-disciplined and much better informed.The audio track is excellent.

anita yadav

Exactly what I need! I always have booklist to read, but can't committed enough to finish/start bc of too much pages. Headway is really helpful and concise with their summary. What I love the most is that the essence of the book is well crafted, so I don't only read the key points, but also there's the story and how personality of the author still well shown through the summary. Well done!

Feninda Amalia

This is outstanding best app ever and honestly whoever came up with is my app is an absolute genius kudos my gratitude definitely goes out and I’m only on my first week free trial and I’m certainly going to purchase this app annually. Now that I have it, I can’t even imagine living without it.

Darlin NIKKIDOLL0923

Have questions?

Asking the right questions brings you closer to achieving your goals

Can I test out Headway before purchasing it for my team?Payment

Sure, we will gladly give you access to our app for a certain period if you are interested in purchasing a corporate subscription for your team. Please fill out the form on the website or email partners@makeheadway.com. We will get back to you soon.

What should I do if some of my employees already have your Premium subscription?Payment

Can I increase or decrease the number of subscriptions on my corporate subscription once it’s started?Payment

What are the benefits of books summary?

Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

Actually, yours is not a unique situation. Many adults like you have issues concentrating on a given task. However, in this fast-paced world of ours, you can’t afford to be not focused at all times. Thankfully, this article comes to your rescue! With the tips and tricks from Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, you will get in the top percent of folks who have mastered the art of concentration.