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Survival of the Fittest: Understanding Health And Peak Physical Performance
 
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Survival of the Fittest: Understanding Health And Peak Physical Performance (Paperback)

by Mike Stroud (Author)
4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 208 pages
  • Publisher: Vintage; New edition edition (6 May 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0099272598
  • ISBN-13: 978-0099272595
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 237,392 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

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

Product Description
Based on medical science, this study sets out the genetics, diet and exercise that allow us to perform at our peak. Stroud employs an anecdotal form, describing individual feats of survival and athletic prowess that illustrate the way the body functions at its best.

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Survival of the Fittest: Understanding Health And Peak Physical Performance
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Customer Reviews

19 Reviews
5 star:
 (17)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.9 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring, extremely enjoyable & highly educational read, 16 Mar 2000
By A Customer
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

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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Awe inspiring read, 10 Aug 2000
By simon@planit.clara.co.uk (United Kingdom, Bristol) - See all my reviews
Within the last year I really decided to improve my fitness and have read many books on the subject. This book definitely stands out.

This guy knows what he's talking about and furthermore has done more exercise than the average member of the SAS. Despite this he is clearly modest about his own achievements and makes you feel (and proves it) that your body is capable of doing a lot more than you think. He argues his points very well and leaves you feeling that you need to get out more (which can only be a good thing).

If your serious about getting fit or just want to know more about the way the body functions then buy this book.

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational! , 30 April 2006
By Ant (Worcestershire, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
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!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Highy recommended
I bought this book on the advice of other reviews and I am very glad that I did.

It is an excellent book, which gives a great account of the journeys Stroud undertook... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Marker

5.0 out of 5 stars If you have any interest in fitness & health read this!
An excellent book. Mike Stroud manages to combine detail of his amazing expeditions and races with riveting details of the the physiological and medical implications of competing... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Nigel B

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational
Survival of the fittest is a life changing inspirational book. I quote from it all the time to people. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Dr. Susan Steele

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read - very inspirational
Great book, very informative, good balance between travel / adventure writing and scientific information. Will definetely read again some day. Read more
Published 5 months ago by William K

5.0 out of 5 stars Juat amazing
Just read the updated version of this book. I loved the original book. This includes a section on how Dr Mike Stroud and Sir Ranulph Fiennes (listed by the Guniess Book of Records... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Colin Whitehead

5.0 out of 5 stars Informing and reassuring
I read this book whilst training for an endurance event and found the tales of personal involvement in endurance events, backed up by the explaination of what is happeing to you... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. J. L. Nicholas

5.0 out of 5 stars Age is no excuse!
What appears on first glance to be a technical medical/physiologically-orientated book is actually a riveting collection of adventure experiences. Read more
Published 14 months ago by S. Gelder

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic and informative read from an expert in his field
A superb read for anyone wishing to get motivated and gain knowledge into how the body is crying out for regular exercise and the fundamental effects of not regularly exercising... Read more
Published 18 months ago by A. Cooper

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Formula for Longevity!
This book has changed my view on life, well, its opened my eyes to where I could be going wrong anyway. Read more
Published on 19 April 2007 by N. A. Thorley

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating read
This book is well written and full of interesting information. The authors background (medical doctor and anthropology) means that this is a book that is grounded on solid... Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2007 by Glitterfoot

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