Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding

by Daniel E. Lieberman

Not only is the myth of the athletic savage an example of truthiness—something that feels true because we want it to be true—it trivializes the physical and psychological challenges faced by all athletes everywhere,

The problem, however, is that until recently only great kings and queens could enjoy taking it easy whenever they wanted. Today in a bizarre reversal of the human condition, voluntary physical activity for the sake of health—a.k.a. exercise—has become a privilege for the privileged.

exercise—despite its manifold benefits—requires overriding deep, natural instincts. So instead of shaming and blaming people who avoid exertion, we should help each other choose to exercise. But as the last few decades have shown, we won’t succeed solely by medicalizing and commodifying exercise; instead, we should treat exercise the way we treat education by making it fun, social, emotionally worthwhile, and something that we willingly commit ourselves to do.

Possibly the best way to treat exercising and physical training