What Doesn't Kill Us audiobook cover - How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude, and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength

What Doesn't Kill Us

How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude, and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength

Scott Carney

★ 4.0 / 5(223 ratings)
Start ListeningDownload App
Categories:
Psychology

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

Listen to What Doesn't Kill Us — Free Audiobook

Loading player...

Key Takeaways from What Doesn't Kill Us

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from What Doesn't Kill Us

Mind Map

What Doesn't Kill Us
Evolutionary Biology & Modern Comfort+
The Wim Hof Method+
Pushing Physical Limits+
Healing and Therapeutics+
Military & Communal Adaptation+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
According to the text, what unintended consequence has arisen from modern society's preference for climate-controlled surroundings and constant comfort?
  • A. A surge in autoimmune diseases, obesity, and chronic illnesses.
  • B. A rapid decrease in the average human lifespan across developed nations.
  • C. An overactive sympathetic nervous system leading to chronic physical exhaustion.
  • D. The complete evolutionary eradication of brown fat in the human body.
Question 2 of 7
What is 'afterdrop' in the context of extreme cold exposure?
  • A. A sudden drop in blood pressure immediately upon entering freezing water.
  • B. The psychological fatigue that occurs after the adrenaline of an extreme event wears off.
  • C. The dangerous phenomenon where the body's core temperature continues to fall even after a person has warmed up.
  • D. A rapid depletion of oxygen levels in the brain following intense hyperventilation.
Question 3 of 7
What physiological mechanism does the Wim Hof Method utilize to generate heat when the body is exposed to extreme cold?
  • A. It increases friction in the joints and muscles through rapid, involuntary shivering.
  • B. It stimulates dormant stores of brown fat to act as an internal metabolic furnace.
  • C. It redirects blood flow exclusively to the skin's surface to absorb external ambient heat.
  • D. It temporarily shuts down the sympathetic nervous system to conserve core energy reserves.
Question 4 of 7
According to the text, what is the primary purpose of the specific breathing techniques (hyperventilation and breath-holding) used in the Wim Hof Method?
  • A. To decrease the heart rate to a state of near-hibernation for energy conservation.
  • B. To flood the body with oxygen and create a mental 'wedge' between instinctive gasping and controlled serenity.
  • C. To force the lungs to physically expand, permanently increasing overall chest capacity.
  • D. To trigger an immediate shivering reflex to warm the muscles before engaging in physical exercise.
Question 5 of 7
How does the pharmaceutical industry's approach to burning brown fat differ from the biohacking techniques described in the book?
  • A. Pharmaceuticals aim to isolate and replicate the effects of cold exposure through medication, whereas biohacking relies on holistic environmental stimuli.
  • B. Pharmaceuticals focus on gene therapy to create new brown fat cells, while biohacking focuses solely on dietary changes.
  • C. Pharmaceuticals require intense physical exercise to activate brown fat, while biohacking relies entirely on passive meditation.
  • D. There is no difference; both approaches emphasize the absolute necessity of extreme cold exposure to activate brown fat.
Question 6 of 7
What potential medical application of the Wim Hof Method is highlighted through the stories of individuals like Hans Spaans and Hans Emmink?
  • A. The complete eradication of genetic mutations through deep breathing exercises.
  • B. The ability to replace all modern surgical procedures with daily ice baths.
  • C. The activation of the body's latent self-healing capacities to help manage chronic conditions like Parkinson's and Crohn's disease.
  • D. The rapid regeneration of damaged bone tissue using alternating extreme heat and cold therapy.
Question 7 of 7
What is the primary goal of the USARIEM lab's research on soldiers in harsh conditions, led by Dr. John Castellani?
  • A. To design lighter, more fashionable uniforms for winter combat scenarios.
  • B. To develop protocols that safeguard against the cold and enhance performance through cross-adaptation.
  • C. To prove that human physical limits are rigidly fixed by genetics and cannot be altered by training.
  • D. To completely eliminate the human fight-or-flight response during extreme combat.

What Doesn't Kill Us — Full Chapter Overview

What Doesn't Kill Us Summary & Overview

What Doesn't Kill Us (2017) investigates the human body’s potential to overcome extreme environmental conditions through engaging with frigid temperatures and high altitudes. It presents a compelling argument for the health benefits of environmental conditioning and the ways it can help individuals reconnect with their evolutionary resilience. By outlining techniques that challenge the body’s comfort, it offers a glimpse into the potential for improved physical and mental fortitude.

Who Should Listen to What Doesn't Kill Us?

  • Fitness enthusiasts interested in alternative training methods
  • Adventure sports athletes and trainers
  • Advocates of the paleo lifestyle and diet

About the Author: Scott Carney

Scott Carney is an investigative journalist and anthropologist whose work blends narrative non-fiction with ethnography. He gained prominence with his best-selling book, What Doesn’t Kill Us, followed by The Wedge, which further explores the body’s capacity to adapt to various forms of stress. Carney’s writings often challenge preconceived notions about human limits and potential, earning him a reputation for immersive, participatory journalism.

🎧
Listen in the AppOffline playback & background play
Get App