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In this captivating book, neuroscientist Shane O\\u2019Mara invites us to marvel at the benefits walking confers on our bodies and brains, and to appreciate the advantages of this uniquely human skill. From walking\\u2019s evolutionary origins, traced back millions of years to life forms on the ocean floor, to new findings from cutting-edge research, he reveals how the brain and nervous system give us the ability to balance, weave through a crowded city, and run our \\u201cinner GPS\\u201d system. Walking is good for our muscles and posture; it helps to protect and repair organs, and can slow or turn back the aging of our brains. With our minds in motion we think more creatively, our mood improves, and stress levels fall. Walking together to achieve a shared purpose is also a social glue that has contributed to our survival as a species.

As our lives become increasingly sedentary, O\\u2019Mara makes the case that we must start walking again\\u2014whether it\\u2019s up a mountain, down to the park, or simply to school and work. In Praise of Walking illuminates the joys, health benefits, and mechanics of walking, and reminds us to get out of our chairs and discover a happier, healthier, more creative self.

Shane O\\u2019Mara is the principal investigator in the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, where his research explores the brain systems supporting learning, memory, and cognition, and the brain systems affected by stress and depression. He has published over 140 peer-reviewed papers.

He is a graduate of the National University of Ireland \\u2013 Galway, and University of Oxford; was elected both as a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and Member of the Royal Irish Academy.

The post In Praise of Walking \\u2013 Ep 77 with Shane O\\u2019Mara appeared first on Read Learn Live Podcast.