Summary of The Comfort Crisis

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. In many ways, we are living in the most comfortable times in history. With temperature-controlled environments, abundant food, and constant convenience, it might seem that our lives have never been easier. But could these very comforts be the root cause of some of our most pressing physical and mental health issues? In The Comfort Crisis, award-winning journalist Michael Easter delves into this provocative question, uncovering a counterintuitive solution: discomfort. Easter’s quest to understand our evolutionary need for challenge takes him on a captivating journey across the globe. He meets with cutting-edge researchers, off-the-grid visionaries, and mind-body pioneers who are discovering how discomfort can be the key to unlocking better health and happiness. From learning ancient Japanese practices to build championship athletes, to exploring the unique insights on happiness from a Buddhist leader and Oxford economist in Bhutan, Easter uncovers life-changing lessons in unexpected places. His adventure also leads him to a young neuroscientist using nature’s challenges to combat burnout and anxiety, and to the remote Alaskan wilderness, where Easter embarks on a grueling 33-day hunting expedition. Here, he learns the rewilding secrets of one of the last rugged places on Earth, gaining valuable insights into the importance of pushing ourselves beyond the comfort zone. Through his experiences, The Comfort Crisis provides a blueprint for leveraging discomfort to boost physical and mental endurance, expand creativity, and enhance overall well-being. It’s a bold call to break free from the safety of your comfort zone and explore the wild potential within yourself.