Low Level Science
Really love the idea of low level science - see the blog post from http://www.pbcrossfit.com/wordpress/?p=858
I know this may come across as a big surprise to most of the athletes at CFPB, but, not only am I actually literate, but I also consider myself to be somewhat of a big reader. I don’t have much love for fiction of any sort. I find fantasy land to be a total waste of time and cannot seem to wrap my brain around it. I tried to read “The Hunger Games,” made it about 100 pages, realized it was a trilogy so the chick was guaranteed to win and had to just go watch the movie. That was probably the first piece of fiction I have picked up since “The Davinci Code.” Ya know, the book that used a bunch of facts to tell a fiction story and humans were so intelligent they couldn’t figure where the facts ended and the fiction began. Isn’t fiction fun? Good thing Google is around so we can instantly find out all the secrets of the Vitruvian Man (which just happens to be the best position for linking double unders together – just saying).
My cup of tea, when it comes to reading, is what I like to call “low level science.” Let’s be real, if you really understand thermodynamics and quantum physics, you are super awesome. I mean, seriously, that stuff really is rocket science and you are just smarter than I am. I use the term “low level science” because these books are all based in fact and offer up large ideas that make up our world. I really do not understand the intricacies of chemistry, physics, math, and biology but I find it riveting that the same atoms that we are made of, also make up other planets, and stardust, and the stuff that we have yet to develop the technology to see. Scientists just put a fully loaded Jeep Wrangler on Mars and nobody is talking about this stuff. Science is awesome. I love the big ideas. I love what it explains. I am not smart enough to understand all the details, but it sure does get my brain rolling.
One “low level science” genre I am really into is the study of human behavior, ranging from “why are some people successful” to “what actually goes on when we sleep,” and “Why won’t Anders shut up about eating healthy?” I enjoy taking a step back and analyzing human behavior as if someone put the camera lens on us and we are able to analyze ourselves on a 1 hour National Geographic special. They usually offer up really big ideas, do not get bogged down in nitty gritty science, and are able to connect these big ideas to our everyday lives. I think these books explain so much in how we go about our day and how our decisions affect our lives. I HIGHLY recommend reading all of these. They have all provided some level of clarity as to why I do what I do, train the way I train, eat the way I eat, and for the most part – live the way I live – in a system where everyone has the ability to “create” their own lives, nobody is “given” anything. “The Paleo Solution” By Robb Wolf.
This is the most Lehman’s and informative book I have ever read. If you look at my copy or ever borrow it, I have littered the pages with notes on how the simplest changes to one’s diet can positively affect all aspects of your life. If you do not think of food as the fuel, medicine, and the most important aspect to living a healthy life – Please reconnect yourself with nature a little and understand the basics of life. At a minimum, you will learn what the hell we are talking about when we talk about insulin, amino acids, and… I have lost you.
“Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar, and Survival” By T.S. Wiley
This incredibly informative book on sleep is a must read. It explores what happens when you’re sleeping, why we sleep, and most importantly why being sleep deprived is detrimental to the quality of your life. Have you ever thought, “Wow, it is so random that all of these other animals sleep at night and will randomly take naps just like we do?” Well, the lion and tiger and bear do not have 9-5’s, 2 kids, and a mortgage. Before all that, we probably would have been napping with them. You DUMMIES. This sleep thing is important. Learn about. Do it. Make your life better.
“The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How.” By Daniel Coyle
There is a very good reason why people that are the best at what they do become the best. It has very little to do with genetics but a level of dedication, practice, and a specific type of “deep practice” that allows this little thing called myelin to wire our bodies to do things exceptionally well. This book is beyond inspiring. It straight up changed everything about the way I train for my sport. I think about everything I care about on a somewhat deeper level to ensure that I “understand” the why of my actions. Please read this book. It will blow your mind how many good habits you can create by deep practice and caring about the actions you take. It actually even helped me understand how I could break a lovely dipping habit.
“Anything By Malcom Gladwell” By Malcom Gladwell
Seriously, that isn’t the name of the book, but this guy speaks my language. I love how he critically analyzes human behavior and circumstance. Read “Outliers”. Just do it. If you think this world we live in came to us by happenstance, you’re just wrong. It is important to think about the “Why” behind everything. Saying “that’s just the way it is,” is lazy and a crappy answer. Something happened to set the wheels in motion of every action, and that action evolved into a little more, and continued to grow until it became “just the way it is”. Challenge yourself to critically examine the way things are in your daily life.
Grass Fed Beef, Veggies, and 9 hours of Sleep,
AV