Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor, is a comprehensive treatise on breathing. It combines a journalistic approach with studies in anthropology, biochemistry, human physiology, psychology, and pulmonology to unpack the different techniques of inhaling and exhaling throughout human history and in different societies. With its first publication in 2020, Breath was a bestseller in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, and Sunday London Times and will be translated into 30 languages in 2021.

This study guide uses the 2020 edition published by Riverhead Books.

Nestor’s core argument is that most humans today breathe to their own detriment through their mouth instead of their nose. He posits that this has led to a number of chronic illnesses like “asthma, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, psoriasis, and more” that could be “reduced or reversed simply by changing the way we inhale and exhale” (xix). As Nestor points out, breathing is fundamental to our health; ancient scholars, medical practitioners, and mystics well studied its techniques and benefits, yet over the course of human history, this knowledge has been either forgotten or marginalized. Nestor’s book sets out to reverse this trend, pulling together ancient texts and scientific studies that demonstrate breathing as the missing pillar of health.

Organized into three parts, Breath documents a multitude of breathing techniques that Nestor attributes to the important yet overlooked work of “pulmonauts” (xx), i.e. innovative pulmonary explorers. Part 1 describes an experiment in which Nestor and a friend breathe exclusively through their mouths for 20 days, severely debilitating their health. Part 2 focuses on the benefits of nasal breathing. Nestor draws attention to the mechanics of inhaling slowly, exhaling fully, and, counterintuitively, breathing less. Part 2 also addresses the importance of hard chewing and proper posture as pathways to good breathing. Part 3 presents technical strategies for breathing efficiently and effectively. Nestor points out that these advanced techniques are not accessible to everyone, for they require more dedicated and grueling practice than those discussed in Parts 1 and 2.

Breath often reads like a “how to” manual, which culminates in the concluding chapter of the book, where Nestor explains the best techniques for harnessing the full potential and transformative power of nasal breathing. Breath merges scientific journalism and the self-help genre to advocate optimal methods for improving one’s health, fitness, and performance through the deceptively simple act of breathing.