Sweat
A History of Exercise
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Sweat
Narrated by:
Bill Hayes
Buy Now for ₹650.61
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Narrated by:
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Bill Hayes
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Written by:
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Bill Hayes
'I was riveted by Sweat and its extraordinary tale of the ups and downs of exercise over millennia' Jane Fonda
‘Does what all good history books should do: take the past and make it vastly more human’ The Times
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From the author of Insomniac City 'who can tackle just about any subject in book form, and make you glad he did' (San Francisco Chronicle): a cultural, scientific, literary, and personal history of exercise
Exercise is our modern obsession, and we have the fancy workout gear and fads to prove it. Exercise – a form of physical activity distinct from sports, play, or athletics – was an ancient obsession, too, but as a chapter in human history, it's been largely overlooked. In Sweat, Bill Hayes runs, jogs, swims, spins, walks, bikes, boxes, lifts, sweats, and downward-dogs his way through the origins of different forms of exercise, chronicling how they have evolved over time, and dissecting the dynamics of human movement.
Hippocrates, Plato, Galen, Susan B. Anthony, Jack LaLanne, and Jane Fonda, among many others, make appearances in Sweat, but chief among the historical figures is Girolamo Mercuriale, a Renaissance-era Italian physician who aimed singlehandedly to revive the ancient Greek “art of exercising” through his 1569 book De arte gymnastica. In the pages of Sweat, Mercuriale and his illustrated treatise are vividly brought back to life. asHayes ties his own personal experience to the cultural and scientific history of exercise, from ancient times to the present day, he gives us a new way to understand its place in our lives in the 21st century.©2022 Bill Hayes (P)2022 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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Critic Reviews
I was riveted by Sweat and its extraordinary tale of the ups and downs of exercise over millennia. Who knew? (Jane Fonda)
Perhaps because exercise is such a universal - and universally humbling - part of our lives, Sweat does, seemingly effortlessly, what all good history books should do: take the past and make it vastly more human
There’s a skip to Hayes’ step throughout, and the book will certainly ground any January health kick in a grander context
As a storyteller, Hayes is like Joe Frazier … I would have liked this book to go on longer. Erudite, ludic, eccentric, energetic and historically transporting, it’s like falling through a gym and landing in a joust (Zoe Williams)
Bill Hayes’ peripatetic inquiry into the history of exercise is a delight ... You’re in for a treat. Hayes weaves his riveting findings in the archives with a revelatory memoir of physical exertion that begins to answer that most human of questions: what does the body mean? (Alison Bechdel, author of 'The Secret to Superhuman Strength')
Charming and idiosyncratic ... A distinctive, often moving blend of historical and memoirist writing ... Hayes’s exuberant book tells us what awaits if we can only make it so
One of a number of titles that promise to take a serious look at exercise
Charming and compelling … Among the pleasures of Sweat, Bill Hayes’s idiosyncratic and delightful history of exercise, is learning about the sweat lives of the great and good
Hayes fascinatingly traces exercise’s gradual evolution into the multibillion-pound industry it is now – by way of some genuine scientific breakthroughs and several passing crazes
A lovely weave of memory and science, great characters and compassionate humor. You will love it for its wisdom and wonderful writing (Anne Lamott)
Like the most rewarding kind of travel writer, Bill Hayes is both informative and personal as he takes us through the borderlands ... I'm grateful for the way this intimate, reflective, and factual guidebook captures the feeling of that terrain (Robert Pinsky)
Playful and powerful ... profoundly moving ... Hayes writes with so much panache that reading this book is thrilling
Bill Hayes has an unusual set of skills ... He is part science writer, part memoirist, part culture explainer
A beguiling brew of fascinating scientific facts and illuminating, poignant anecdotes ... vital and pulsing with energy.
Exquisitely wrought, heartrending and joyous (Joyce Carol Oates)
Like Patti Smith's haunting M Train, Hayes' book weaves seemingly disparate threads of memory into a kind of sanctuary - a secret place where one can shake off the treasured relics of past lives and prepare to be reborn anew
Hayes's work is resoundingly about life - about being wide awake to possibility, to the beauty of every fleeting moment
Taking us through the different forms of exercise and their origins, Hayes gives a cultural, scientific and personal history of human movement
All laud and honor to Hayes
One of the book's greatest strengths lies in its ability to unearth fascinating details about exercise practices throughout history. Hayes delves into the diverse ways in which people have used physical activity to enhance their health, strength, and performance. Whether it's the ancient Greeks training for the Olympic Games or the medieval knights honing their combat skills, Hayes brings these historical contexts to life with vivid descriptions and compelling anecdotes.
The author's exploration of the evolution of exercise concepts is particularly enlightening. He examines how societal values, cultural beliefs, and technological advancements have shaped our understanding of physical fitness. From the emphasis on physical prowess in ancient societies to the modern obsession with sculpted bodies, Hayes provides a thought-provoking analysis of how our relationship to exercise has changed over time.
In conclusion, Sweat: A History of Exercise is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of health and fitness. Bill Hayes' engaging writing style and meticulous research make this book both informative and entertaining. Whether you're a fitness enthusiast or simply curious about the human body, this book offers a fascinating glimpse into the past and present of exercise.
Sweaty Journey through History!
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