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  • Burn

  • The Misunderstood Science of Metabolism
  • By: Herman Pontzer
  • Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan
  • Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (50 ratings)

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Burn

By: Herman Pontzer
Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan
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Publisher's Summary

Brought to you by Penguin. 

Why do so many diets lead to more weight gain?

Do more active people have faster metabolisms?

Is exercise essential for weight loss?

Over the past 20 years, Evolutionary Biologist Herman Pontzer has conducted ground-breaking studies across a range of settings, including pioneering fieldwork with Hadza hunter-gatherers in northern Tanzania.

This book draws on his eye-opening research to show how, contrary to received wisdom, exercise does not increase our metabolism. Instead, we burn calories within a very narrow range: nearly 3,000 calories per day, no matter our activity level.

By taking a closer look at what happens to the energy we consume, Pontzer explores the ways in which metabolism controls every aspect of our health - from fertility to immune function - and reveals the truth about the dynamic system that sustains us. Filled with facts and memorable anecdotes, Burn will change the way you think about food, exercise and life.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Herman Pontzer (P)2021 Penguin Audio

What listeners say about Burn

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

Thoughtful writer.

Pontzer has thrown some new light on a few previously unchallenged ideas. Food for thought on our energy consumption.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So so well done and informative. bit long winded.

Would love a shorter and simpler version to give to friends looking to understand our complex metabolism. I have a background in biology and some of it went over my head.

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1 person found this helpful

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  • Ben
  • 27-03-2021

Elightning

Th science was well presented, a nice no nonsense approach just stating the facts. highly recommended

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

Really interesting.

Great content - I learned a lot about myself and I feel better about how my body works.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great and Informative Book

Amazing research results about human metabolism. I wish this information would be more publicised and more people would know about it.
highly recommend this book.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • LG
  • 03-06-2023

So much gold

To finally dispel the myth the exercises causes weight loss is a complete game-changer. I feel like intuitively and through lived experience I know that it's only what I eat that causes my weight to change but this proved that. exercise for health for joy for muscle growth but not for weight loss.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Very interesting

Slow start with some fairly in depth science which wasn’t overly pleasant to listen to but once the key messages started coming through it was very enjoyable.

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very great book

The book is really nice, however this is a anthropology and if you don't like anthropology, human evolution and are just looking for "how to lose weight" this book is not for you.

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Great book

Forget everything you think you know about Calories and Diet. Have a new approach to how your body works.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Too slow and facile for me

The overly melodramatic narrator aside, this book is excessively embellished with pap for my liking. I will instead seek the author’s published papers and actually learn something.

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