James Nestor, a journalist who has written for The Atlantic and The New York Times, posits that we, as a species, lost our ability to breathe correctly.

Feeling anxious, frazzled, and like he was stuck in a rut, Nestor’s doctor recommended that he try a breathing class. That class changed everything for Nestor and he wanted to figure out why.  This is the story of what he found out.

Investigating a wide range of anecdotes about “pulmonates,” people who are investigating the art and science of breathing – from Greek sea divers that can hold a single breath for 12 minutes to dentists and anthropologists who say that most of our health problems can be traced back to our breathing habits.

The writing is engaging and Nestor doesn’t feel like a crackpot, but I’d read this with a grain of salt and consult with a doctor if you have any health concerns. I’d recommend this to Mary Roach fans or anyone that has a partner that snores.