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Titles in This Set:
The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health and Disease
Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding
Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin
Age Range: Adult Non-Fiction
Overview
This two-book paperback collection brings together Harvard evolutionary biologist Daniel Lieberman's most celebrated works of popular science. The Story of the Human Body traces how millions of years of evolution shaped our anatomy, while Exercised examines why humans never evolved to "exercise" in the modern sense. Together they offer a compelling, evidence-based look at why contemporary lifestyles clash with our Stone Age bodies, and what that means for health, movement and disease prevention today.
About the Books
In The Story of the Human Body, Lieberman explores the evolutionary transformations that shaped human anatomy: walking upright, changes in diet, the rise of hunting and gathering, and the physical impact of the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions. He argues that the widening gap between our ancient adaptations and modern living drives a paradox of greater longevity alongside rising chronic disease, and makes the case for using evolutionary insight to build healthier environments.
Exercised turns to the science of movement itself. Lieberman dismantles popular myths about fitness, explaining that humans were never built for structured "exercise" but for regular, moderate activity woven into daily survival. Drawing on over a decade of research across evolutionary biology and anthropology, he examines sitting, speed, strength, endurance and rest, cutting through fitness fads and exercise anxiety. Both books combine rigorous research with engaging storytelling, forming a comprehensive picture of how the body evolved, how it is meant to move, and how that history can help us live longer, healthier lives.
About the Author
Daniel E. Lieberman is a paleoanthropologist and the Edwin M. Lerner II Professor of Biological Sciences at Harvard University, where he chairs the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology. Renowned for his research into the evolution of human running and physical activity, he has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles in journals including Nature and Science. His accessible, research-driven writing style has made both The Story of the Human Body and Exercised bestselling works of popular science, widely praised for making complex evolutionary biology relevant to everyday health.
Why You'll Love This Collection
Perfect for curious readers, health professionals and fitness enthusiasts alike, this set pairs evolutionary insight with practical wisdom on movement and wellbeing. Together, these two paperbacks offer a fascinating, science-backed lens on why our bodies work the way they do.
Please Note: Cover design may vary slightly from the image shown; this is the UK paperback edition with UK ISBN.
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