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In Praise Of Walking Paperback – July 23, 2020

by Shane O'Mara (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 392 ratings
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Walking upright on two feet is a uniquely human skill. It defines us as a species.

It enabled us to walk out of Africa and to spread as far as Alaska and Australia. It freed our hands and freed our minds. We put one foot in front of the other without thinking – yet how many of us know how we do that, or appreciate the advantages it gives us? In this hymn to walking, neuroscientist Shane O’Mara invites us to marvel at the benefits it confers on our bodies and minds, and urges us to appreciate – and exercise – our miraculous ability.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    224 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Vintage
  4. Publication date
    July 23, 2020
  5. Dimensions
    5.08 x 0.55 x 7.8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1784707570
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1784707576
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage (July 23, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1784707570
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1784707576
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.08 x 0.55 x 7.8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 392 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Shane O'Mara

    Shane O'Mara

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    Shane O'Mara is Professor of Experimental Brain Research at Trinity College Dublin - the University of Dublin. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from NUI Galway and a DPhil from the University of Oxford. He is a Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin (FTCD), and was the first Ireland-based elected Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science (FAPS) and is an elected member of the Royal Irish Academy (MRIA). He has a popular newsletter at brainpizza.substack.com - signup for slices of writing on brains, behaviour, and lots in between...

    He has published many peer-reviewed papers on the brain systems supporting learning, memory, cognition and decision-making; brain systems affected by stress, anxiety, depression and motivation.

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  2. Shane O'mara

    Shane O'mara

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
392 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Craig Kessler
5.0 out of 5 stars Encouraging, positive reinforcement for physical activity
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2022
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Interesting read containing useful and encouraging information for active walking.
2 people found this helpful
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Kelevilin Kimathi
4.0 out of 5 stars Walking
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2020
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That activity we do every day has profound effect on our health and mood. During this time of Covid 19 lock down it is only exercise activity available. Thanks for elevating this activity to where it belongs
9 people found this helpful
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Teri
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read.
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2019
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Interesting read. Author’s writing style makes it easy and enjoyable to read. Content so very appropriate in today’s world.
9 people found this helpful
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Clare O'Beara
3.0 out of 5 stars In praise of walking
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2021
I make sure to walk each day, and was delighted to read a book reinforcing for me the benefits I gain. The physiological advantages are well explored and this section draws on recent science. I knew that walking pumps fresh supplies of oxygen all around the body, including into the brain, helping healing and function. (Horse owners know this because of the frog on the sole of each hoof acting as a pump -the author should have drawn the comparison.) I didn't know that the extra oxygen helps the brain to generate new cells in certain areas, such as the hippocampus.

The sections on brain function were also interesting, though not always relevant, and not sufficiently explored in connection with walking. For instance, people undergoing an experiment reported improved mood after a walk outdoors, especially when they walked in a natural setting rather than a built one. But completely missing, is the factor of whether the setting was familiar or novel. We are supposed to explore somewhere new each week, to stimulate the brain, improve creativity and sharpen our attention. Also, trees respire chemicals called terpenes, which stimulate and benefit people who inhale them; this was not mentioned.

I knew of the measuring of walking pace around the world, having speeded up over a few decades, and being faster in cities than the countryside. I thought the author could have looked more at this aspect, and it will be interesting to compare with 'during lockdown' studies, to see if people still speed when working from home. Walking just fast enough to increase heart rate is found to have many benefits.

No mention of the safety or even advisability of walking, especially for women. Recording that worldwide men walk more than women is thus skewed. In some countries women are not allowed outdoors, or only with a male or older female relative. They are not able to walk unhindered. In many countries women cannot safely walk at night. Case in point: during 2021 a woman walking home in London was murdered by an off-duty police officer. A book in praise of walking should encourage all cultures to allow safe, unhindered walking.

No mention of cycling, or riding horses and donkeys. Many people cycle when weather permits, hopping on public or private transport when weather is bad. Cyclists should have been compared with the walkers to see if one activity is as good as the other. Many people around the world walk beside a donkey with a load, and ride when the load is absent, at a walking pace.

Walking where sensible also removes carbon use and exhaust emissions, and the goods people carry increases the load on the musculoskeletal frame, strengthening the body. I've read Walkable City, many of those points are made about having small districts built around the facilities needed. However, if you bar vehicles, you remove access to tradespeople with vans, who then can't visit your home, and who won't buy houses near you, so you will have to pay more when you need a plumber.

In a brief mention of pilgrimages, the author says he doesn't intend ever to do those. Why not? It's a walk. Entire medieval tourist economies were built around such routes. He could have looked at the Camino, and read a book about how people can complete a stretch between towns and get a card stamped, then return when they have time to complete another stretch, learning about nature, culture and history as they enjoy a walking holiday. Nobody is required to be religious. The author just wrote off the possibility without any exploration.

I formed the impression that the author, who clearly enjoys walking and drops a few Irish place names, has written this book mainly by looking at other books and recent science papers. Nothing wrong with that, but this is very much a self-selected, self-reflecting sample (by a man) and does not provide interviews with walkers, or explore tech advances such as the walking in a train station powering the lighting, not even a rundown on the invention of pedometers evolving to the fitness trackers praised here.

Interesting read but needs to be much broader.
I borrowed this book from the RDS Library. This is an unbiased review.
11 people found this helpful
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Tony Levelle
5.0 out of 5 stars Conversational, inspirational, and scientific
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2019
Excellent description of the latest brain science showing the benefits of walking. This simple exercise has broad mental and physical health benefits. How to walk, when to walk, and who to walk with.

Now... if only all our walking environs were as interesting and beautiful as Dublin and the Irish countryside...
17 people found this helpful
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Jeremy
5.0 out of 5 stars Really well-written, with a nice tone
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2022
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If you've ever spoken to an Irish person, you'll know what I mean. It's friendly, humorous and never snobby. In fact, the author makes a point of telling us that walking is for EVERYONE.

I heard about this book when the author was interviewed on public radio and thought: "I've GOT to buy that book and support that guy!" I made a note of it and found it here a couple months later.

Shane, if you're ever in Kenosha, WI look me up and let's go for a walk together. I show you "the sights".
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Tangerine
5.0 out of 5 stars Therapeutic
Reviewed in Canada on April 1, 2021
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Kind, gentle book that was fun to read.
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José Macaya
4.0 out of 5 stars Respaldo técnico médico, más que pensamiento filosófico, sobre los beneficios de caminar.
Reviewed in Spain on May 15, 2022
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Mas que un libro con respaldo filosófico al caminar, es un libro de respaldo médico a caminar. A diferencia de otros, explica los efectos beneficiosos en nuestro cuerpo de caminar, en base a estudios médicos y psicológicos. Los argumentos y datos presentados son muy convincentes, aunque la fluidez del texto no siempre lo sea. Lo importante es saber que el libro da respaldo técnico médico, más que pensamiento filosófico, sobre los beneficios de caminar.
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Dr. Peter Sigg
5.0 out of 5 stars Walking ist wirklich Medizin
Reviewed in Germany on September 19, 2020
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Das Buch ist jedem Menschen dringend zu empfehlen: Es gibt zwar sehr viele Gesundheitsratgeber mit oft sehr vielen "verkopften" oder auch "merkantilen" Inhalten, aber dieses Buch von Shane O`Mara zeigt auf, wie es einfacher "geht" ;)
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Pauline D.
5.0 out of 5 stars An important book with a simple and powerful message - walk!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2020
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An important book, with a profound message for all of us - walk! The book provides ample evidence of the benefits of walking with no downside whatsoever. Five stars given as a rating because it is an important contribution to social discourse on health and well-being.
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MargB
5.0 out of 5 stars In Praise of walking.
Reviewed in Australia on March 8, 2024
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Very scientific but easy to understand. Motivates me ✅
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