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Survival of the Fittest: Understanding Health And Peak Physical Performance
by: Mike Stroud

Used Price: £14.99

Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 613.7
EAN: 9780099272595
ISBN: 0099272598
Label: Vintage
Manufacturer: Vintage
Number Of Pages: 208
Publication Date: May 06, 1999
Publisher: Vintage
Studio: Vintage
Sales Rank: 252079

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Editorial Review:

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

Customer Reviews

Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating:

- 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 as the greatest living explorer)complete seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. This was several months after Sir Ralph had heart surgery.

These two were also the first two men to walk to both poles unaided. Mike Stroud is a highly acclaimed nutritionist and works with the UK's Famous (or infamous ???) SAS. Together with Helen Klein they also completed the ECO challeng when Helen was 72. A year later Mike had trained his 70 year old Dad who was healthy though only through hill walking to do the ECO challenge also. Its a book about the extremes ... Read More:

Rating:

- 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 whilst taking part in these types of events helpful and reassuring. The best bit was knowing, from reading this book, that three hours into an event and running up a mountain the other reason why you are breathing like a steam train is because your body has just started using fat as a source of energy and not just past it! A very informative, useful and well written book.

Rating:

- 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. Chapters on physiology/evolution alternate with chapters on his adventures. If you think that age or lack of present fitness are a barrier to physical achievement then think again! Useful informed & respected insight is shared and is of practical use to current/aspiring endurance athletes. Highly recommended read. I have re-read it several times now and have been inspired to push my boundaries further!

Rating:

- 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.

In particular there is startling facts about the simple reality of even the smallest regular over intake of calories can over a period of time result in an individual becoming over-weight and progressing to obesity if not addressed.

The book does not provide specific information on exercise ideas, programs or workouts (for more information and ideas try a book by his colleague on many expeditions, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, 'Fit for Life': http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ranulph-Fiennes-Fit-Life-Sir/dp/0316852635/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199967094&sr=8 ... Read More:

Rating:

- 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. Linked by a lovingly crafted narrative of Mike's own exploits in the outdoors; crossing Antarctica, numerous adventure races, the famous Marathon de Sables and of course the London Marathon - Mike tells us how the body works, why, and how to optimise its capabilities. I would say this books target audience was the general public and sports enthusiasts as oppose to a physiologist's PhD research, its purpose is to teach us how to keep our hearts ticking for longer, faster and more efficient and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone.

Books : Survival of the Fittest: Understanding Health And Peak Physical Performance