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  • What Doesn't Kill Us

  • How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength
  • By: Scott Carney
  • Narrated by: Scott Carney
  • Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (327 ratings)

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What Doesn't Kill Us

By: Scott Carney
Narrated by: Scott Carney
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Publisher's Summary

What Doesn't Kill Us, a New York Times best seller, traces our evolutionary journey back to a time when survival depended on how well we adapted to the environment around us.

Our ancestors crossed deserts, mountains, and oceans without even a whisper of what anyone today might consider modern technology. Those feats of endurance now seem impossible in an age where we take comfort for granted. But what if we could regain some of our lost evolutionary strength by simulating the environmental conditions of our forbears?

Investigative journalist and anthropologist Scott Carney takes up the challenge to find out: Can we hack our bodies and use the environment to stimulate our inner biology? Helping him in his search for the answers is Dutch fitness guru Wim Hof, whose ability to control his body temperature in extreme cold has sparked a whirlwind of scientific study. Carney also enlists input from an army scientist, a world-famous surfer, the founders of an obstacle course race movement, and ordinary people who have documented how they have cured autoimmune diseases, lost weight, and reversed diabetes. In the process he chronicles his own transformational journey as he pushes his body and mind to the edge of endurance, a quest that culminates in a record-bending 28-hour climb to the snowy peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro wearing nothing but a pair of running shorts and sneakers.

An ambitious blend of investigative reporting and participatory journalism, What Doesn't Kill Us explores the true connection between the mind and the body and reveals the science that allows us to push past our perceived limitations.

©2017 Scott Carney (P)2017 Scott Carney

What listeners say about What Doesn't Kill Us

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Hyperventilating? Or cellular hypoxia

Good book. Good story but a few points wrong.
I am a freediving instructor. How to breathe properly is very important.
Saying you get high on oxygen is rubbish.. I have breathed pure o2 and hardly noticed it.
The reason you get dizzy is because you are experiencing cellular hypoxia. That is why you can pass out while sitting there hyperventilating. You are actually unable to access the o2 in your body.
Check the Bohr effect.
You loose your true ability to survive underwater holding your breath. You can definitely go longer by normal tidal breathing ... but only if you are truly mentally tough.
You did inspire me to do more but I will do it by breathing properly.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

So much fun

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would absolutely recommend this to a friend. This book offers a great mix between story telling, and being educational. At times it can seem a little repetitive but I think this is a good thing in this instance.

What did you like best about this story?

The struggle of humanity

Which scene did you most enjoy?

He rubbed ice himself, with steam erupting off of his body.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I have listened to it in one sitting, and repeatedly since.

Any additional comments?

If you close your eyes, you can almost convince yourself the book is being read to you by Ryan Reynolds, which is kinda fun.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book, interesting story!

I loved the book. I really enjoyed the second half so give it a chance...

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

lots of story. im more into the facts

i think its alright. the stories go on for a while and im more into the facts.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Talking about this with everyone I know!

Really enjoyed the analytical and investigative perspective of this book. To look at this from all sides made it so much more interesting and has opened up for amazing discussions. Biggest take away is about why its so important to move away from comfort. I would recommend this book!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • JJ
  • 24-01-2018

Brilliant!

One of the best books I've ever read, inspired me to study the Wim Hof Method, currently im on week 3 of the 10 week programme and feel great for it. Cheers Scott, will definately read some of your other work.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

If you have an illness or are a coach, trainer, psychologist or just want to get more out of life this is a brilliant read. Couldn't put it down.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Creating resilience through discomfort.

Loved this. The raw honesty of the writers own skepticism and discomfort with different training methods was refreshing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

I am a bit slow coming to the party on this story but I have to say I loved every minute of the book and feel hugely inspired and driven to take my body closer to its edge as a result of what I've learned. Thanks for a great story Scott!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

awesome.

very good
would be better if explained the activities.
but worth a listen for sure

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