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Survival Of The Fittest
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Mike Stroud, it would seem to most, is a very remarkable man. A qualified doctor, his fascination and involvement in the study of human performance and endurance fitness have obsessed him rather more than the average fitness fanatic. From crossing Antarctica unaided with Sir Ranulph Fiennes, to participating in countless marathons and triathlons traversing deserts and glaciers, Stroud has become his own human guinea pig, testing the limits of human strength and survival in some of the most extreme and inhospitable environments of our planet.
Yet far from simply the journal of one man's extraordinary fitness, Stroud sets out in Survival of the Fittest to tell us that we are all capable of the physical achievements usually left to realm of world class athletes. We are all able to attain such performance levels, Stroud assures us, because we are evolutionary designed to do just this.
At the heart of the book, Stroud claims that human beings have not altered genetically in the last 10,000 years, so physiologically we are identical to our ancestors. The problem is that we now have a markedly different lifestyle to the hunter-gathering times of our Cro-Magnon forefathers-–a lifestyle that simply does not match our evolutionary heritage. This, Stroud believes, is the reason why we are seeing an emergence of modern diseases such as heart disease, obesity and cancer.
Illustrating each chapter with adrenline-inducing accounts of his own expeditions and Adventures--falling through Antarctica ice into minus 40 degree water is just one that springs to mind--Stroud examines the physiological capacities of our bodies to perform and adapt to extreme situations, all the time reminding us that these capabilities are a fundamental part of our evolutionary inheritance.
This is a captivating book, not only a serious comment on the dangers of our modern "civilised" lifestyle, but also a source of remarkable facts on our human design, sure to liven up conversations and office chit- chat (this book certainly gets you talking). Although unlikely to spur you on to organise the next Polar expedition, it will give you the confidence--and quite possibly the inspiration--to become more active and to take up the challenges our genes intend us to do. --Abi Frisby --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'Illuminating - Mike Stroud, an Arctic explorer, medic and marathon-runner, explains how modern life-styles and diet have made us prone to a new array of diseases unknown until the industrial revolution. Demonstrating why it is essential for us to exercise, he also provides useful guidelines for changing our culturally moulded bad habits", Mail on Sunday .'The ultimate sporting diet documented in mouth-watering detail', The Times
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Dr. Mike Stroud explores all aspects of human performance from a firm scientific and evolutionary perspective. His book draws on his own education in Medicine and Anthropology and his personal experiences as a medical doctor, a researcher in human performance, polar explorer and an ultra endurance athlete.
He digresses into many areas, (from the physiology of running and explanations for the dominance of black sprinters to the evolution of homo sapiens on the plains of Africa and deep water free divers in Polynesia), and then draws it all back together, to produce a very enjoyable, and ultimately highly educational book.
He explains the necessity of exercise in our lives, and explores the advent of lifestyle diseases in our sedentary lifestyle, from an evolutionary perspective. The overriding message of this book is that the body is built for work, which it does not do in this age of the car, the office and ready made meals, and echoes the sentiments of Hippocrates who, long ago, realised that when the body is not used, it becomes riddled with illness and disease.
This book should serve as an inspiration to us all
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a truly excellent book! Not only does Mike Stroud provide accounts of some of his astonishing feats of endurance but he also intersperses them with fascinating scientific details of human performance.
He describes his own endeavours with great openness and explains that evolution has equipped everyone with greater physical performance than most people realise.
This book will inspire you to be more active! And it will probably remove excuses for avoiding exercise. It's also a terrific read and hard to put down. It impressed me so much that I bought two more copies to send to relatives - and I also tracked down a copy of 'Shadows on the Wasteland'. Well done Mike Stroud - and thanks!
He describes his own endeavours with great openness and explains that evolution has equipped everyone with greater physical performance than most people realise.
This book will inspire you to be more active! And it will probably remove excuses for avoiding exercise. It's also a terrific read and hard to put down. It impressed me so much that I bought two more copies to send to relatives - and I also tracked down a copy of 'Shadows on the Wasteland'. Well done Mike Stroud - and thanks!
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is absolutely fantastic. Mike Stroud is my hero, and this book is my bible. It is utterly inspiring, and makes everything seem acheivable. It is a fascinating mix of science, anthropology and biography which is completely gripping. Each chapter can be read in it's own right, which makes it very handy just to pick up and flick through. I've had this book for a couple of years now, and it's rarely on my shelf. It has spent longer being loaned out to friends, friends friends, friends of friends friends and so on, then any other book I own. Buy it, read it, be inspired and go out grab some fresh air and fun!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent service
A courteous and speedy service plus the book is in mint condition. A fantastic read, not just for the sporty minded. One happy customer.
Published 2 months ago by Ed
fantastic
Have read this book a couple of times, truely insperational. Have also brought copies as gifts for family and friends. Read more
Published 5 months ago by hodge
Solid Read
Based upon solid reviews, and having recently finished reading Shadows on the Wasteland, I picked up a copy of this. Read more
Published 6 months ago by WilD
Know your true endurance limit.
An excellent combination of real life adventure and the science of human endurance. Having read this book I will always know I can go a bit further when I think I can't!
Published 7 months ago by E. R. Spicer
intelligent and inspiring...
i came across mike stroud from ranulph fiennes - mad bad and dangerous to know. i wasn't too sure what to expect as i had never heard from him before hand, however thank goodness... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Gcrikey
50 % great... 50% terrible...
50 % great... 50% terrible...
Allow me to explain...
This book alternates between between stories of exploits and science\fact... Read more
Allow me to explain...
This book alternates between between stories of exploits and science\fact... Read more
Published 8 months ago by FLF
Great mix of adventure recount and science.
Just finished this book and thought it was excellent. Mike Stroud writes in a great, easy to read way - without the usual stumbles of 'runners turned writers'. Read more
Published 9 months ago by CB Kirk
An Enjoyable Read, But Could Have Been Better.
I had read Sir Ran Fiennes excellent autobiography and the reason I got this was to discover more about the human body and the things that it can do in extreme situations. Read more
Published 11 months ago by J. Lock
A good book let down in Kindle format
An inspirational read with lots of interesting science. However, in the Kindle edition there are numerous errors that I assume are not present in the printed versions. Read more
Published 12 months ago by J. Pickup
Inspiring, Informative and Immensely Enjoyable
A fascinating book. Lots of discussion about what the human body is evolved to do, and how modern day habits tie in (or not) with this. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mike Ashton
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