What Doesn't Kill Us

Product Description

What Doesn't Kill Us, a New York Times bestseller, traces our evolutionary journey back to a time when survival depended on how well we adapted to the environment around us. 

Our ancestors crossed deserts, mountains, and oceans without even a whisper of what anyone today might consider modern technology. Those feats of endurance now seem impossible in an age where we take comfort for granted. But what if we could regain some of our lost evolutionary strength by simulating the environmental conditions of our forebears? 

Investigative journalist and anthropologist Scott Carney takes up the challenge to find out: Can we hack our bodies and use the environment to stimulate our inner biology? Helping him in his search for the answers is Dutch fitness guru Wim Hof, whose ability to control his body temperature in extreme cold has sparked a whirlwind of scientific study. Carney also enlists input from an Army scientist, a world-famous surfer, the founders of an obstacle course race movement, and ordinary people who have documented how they have cured autoimmune diseases, lost weight, and reversed diabetes. In the process, he chronicles his own transformational journey as he pushes his body and mind to the edge of endurance, a quest that culminates in a record-bending, 28-hour climb to the snowy peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro wearing nothing but a pair of running shorts and sneakers.

An ambitious blend of investigative reporting and participatory journalism, What Doesn't Kill Us explores the true connection between the mind and the body and reveals the science that allows us to push past our perceived limitations.
 

Top Reviews

I think it has such high reviews because people really like the Wim Hoff method and want something t
by N. Schuette (2 out of 5 stars)
April 16, 2018

I was really looking forward to reading this book. But it was a let down. I think it has such high reviews because people really like the Wim Hoff method and want something to read on the topic as there isn't much. I think the subject matter is driving the ratings more than the book itself. But this book hardly has anything to do with the WHM. Basically Scott traveled all over talking to scientist and people that are interested in challenging themselves and their bodies. Problem is the book isn't about what he discovered so much as the story of him traveling and talking to people. Very little information in this book. I don't what to read the life story of every person you talked to. Just tell me what you found out. In particular on the WHM. I was very excited to read about what happened in the WH camp when he went for training in person and the techniques. I think the story about him taking a shower and flooding the house was given more space than anything to actually do with the WHM. I don't care. Also the story about climbing Kilimanjaro was a bit anticlimactic SPOILER ALERT (kind of you already know the ending from the start basically). I thought it was going to be a group of guys that climbed the mountain with just shorts and no shirts in record time. Instead they just took their shirts off sometimes and put them back on when they felt like it. It's still cool that there's some extra cold resistance but it's not the same as climbing the whole mountain shirtless. Also they didn't climb to the top. They just raced up part of it and got close to the top and said we have nothing further to prove once they got tired and said well it's a record to this point. Well I could sprint up the first mile of the trail and collapse and say there I set the record for this point. But nobody's racing to that point. They're pacing themselves to the top.

I think the biggest take away was that they climbed the mountain at a faster pace and didn't acclimate to it by using the breathing techniques. I think there's something substantial there. But the climb is a bit hyped up.

If you read this expect to read a lot more about Scott entering tough mudders and similar obstacle courses and finishing in the middle of the pack than WM or his methods. Nothing wrong with entering and finishing 53rd. But nobody really wants to read about the guy who did and how he did it. WM is a champion, I want to read about that guy. How does he do it, not how strange he is.

If you're looking to learn more about the WHM and techniques to implement just go to youtube. There's nothing new or deeper here. Only one breathing method in the book and it's the same as the one on youtube. Probably about 2 pages of technique in here. The rest is him talking to people and his conversation with Wim Hoff about how he want's to go to Kilmanjaro with him and what a quirky guy Wim is and oh we missed our turn in our blue 2004 chevy van with a rusty bumper and we'll have to turn around probably cost us about 5 maybe 6 minutes to make up for... Seriously about 75% of this book could just be cut out. It's mostly fill and the book knows it. It starts out talking about the end and climbing Kilimanjaro but stops for 15 chapters of fill (maybe 2-3 good ones in there) and holds the rest of the story over your head to keep you reading.

Also I got frostbite following the instruction in this book. After reading his story about their first day in camp going out in the cold for 5 minutes in their underwear and rolling in the snow and returning to a sauna. I followed the guidelines in the book and tried it for myself. Basically the story told about how painful it was to stand in the cold for the first time. It's part of the process, how you have to earn your immunity to the cold. Then they came in to the warmth and it was even more painful than the cold. All part of the process. Just have to get through it. There was a chart (page 61) that had on one axis the temperature and the other the wind speed. By connecting the 2 points the chart would tell you how long you can be outside and exposed before getting frostbite. So I rounded down the temperature and rounded up the wind speed to give me a windchill of -17. According to the chart it should take 30 minutes of exposure before frostbite sets in. Although one degree less and it would be in the 10 minute range. A big drop off. But it was day one so I was only doing 5 minutes so I'd be more then fine. Right? So I went out bare foot wearing only some gym shorts and ran around in the snow for 5 minutes. Overall I was just fine but my feet were killing me. But I just reminded myself, it's all part of the process. It's supposed to hurt. And I have a pretty good pain tolerance so I rolled with it. I came inside and as they warmed the pain was almost unbearable. It's all part of the process. I held my feet up to the fire like the guy in the book and took the pain. Well for a short period of time, then it was too much I had to stop that to lay on the floor in agony. I kept waiting and it kept hurting. The next day my feet were still killing me and walking was difficult. I looked up the symptoms of frostbite and it turns out that they are identical to all the symptoms of it's all part of the process. I was peeling dead skin off my feet and toes for a few months. Luckily no permanent damage. I didn't think about it at the time but we had just come out of an extremely cold stretch here in WI where the temp (not windchill) was about -20 to -30 at night. So even though it was 7 out when I did it the ground was still probably -20. So you might want to factor that in prior to trying for yourself. In fact I would have stayed for much longer if it wasn't for my feet hurting so bad as the rest of my body wasn't even cold. Maybe wear some sandals or water shoes or something so you still have the exposure to the air but not the direct contact with the ground. I don't hold this against the book. I was aware of the risk. Although, I think readers should be aware that what he describes as how to know it's working is the exact same as the symptoms of frostbite and it's not working. It's just a question of degree to how much it hurts. Which he describes as a lot, so it's hard to tell. And air temp is not ground temp. But I went back for more with shoes on until my feet healed.
So overall the vibe I get from Scott is that he's probably not a bad guy. Seems rather likable. And the book has some tidbits, but it needs some major editing of the delete button kind. I'd much rather read a highly informative pamphlet than a long drawn out book with the same amount of info.
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Diet, Exercise, and "Winter Yoga!"
by Boyd G Gafford (5 out of 5 stars)
April 8, 2017

Got this book for my birthday, and man has it changed how I view health and the human body in general. It always bugged me in the back of my mind how our ancestors managed to get by without air conditioning and hot showers. When I heard about Wim Hof, I instantly knew that he was on to something with his cold tolerance stuff. Seeing him break the world records, go under scientific scrutiny, and even resist an endotoxin and only get a slight headache, I was sold.

Before I even got this book I started doing cold showers and saw results within just around 3 days or so. Before, I would take really hot showers and as soon as I got out, the evaporation made me shiver uncontrollably. After doing cold showers (man, did they sting at first!), I'm able to go outside in the snow with no shirt on and it feels more comfortable than what hot showers used to feel like. No shivering, I'm just chill (haha).

I also bought Wim Hof's 10 week course for about $190 and can already hold my breath for around 3 minutes without really trying, and I've only been doing these breath exercises for like 3 days. I can do 40 pushups without breathing! I don't need coats and jackets when it's cold outside and my family is complaining and shivering and I'm fine. Just be aware that people can be really resistant to this sort of knowledge because it runs so counter-intuitive to the drug-addicted culture we live in. Prescribed pill popping won't get you healthy, it merely manages different conditions and gives you more side effects than positive results in many cases.

Cold tolerance exercises your cardio-vascular system and your immune system and makes it so that your heart has to work less hard to keep you warm and moving. It's also very beneficial for stretching parts of your body that are sore. Just go to Wim Hof's youtube channel and look at all the testimonials of people who have diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, even deep skin burns. This stuff really works.

So yeah, buy this book and then do it! You can too can become... THE ICEMAN!
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Do the method...or don't
by Josh M. (5 out of 5 stars)
August 8, 2017

I tell everyone I know about this technique. Most are skeptical. To date, only 1 person has actually tried it. Zero have consistently incorporated it into their training. Their loss. It really works at unlocking your human potential.

This book has the best description and comprehensive look at the Wim Hof method. I've heard Wim speak on several podcasts, but his limited English and raw emotion gets in the way of understanding it fully. Scott Carney does a great job immersing himself in the subject for you.

I use this technique to oxygenate for training intervals. It has exponentially helped my cycling performance. Racing especially.

Read this book. Do the method.

Or don't. Especially don't read this book if you race MTB or cyclocross in the upper midwest.
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If you are an Iceman skeptic, this is the book you've been looking for..
by M. Howard (5 out of 5 stars)
May 3, 2017

I really enjoyed Scott's perspective on the "Iceman" phenomenon. I am also trained in anthropology, and so a bit of a skeptic by nature. But I also live in Alaska, and have used the yoga "breath of fire" breathing technique to resist cold for decades, so I suspected there might be something to this crazy Dutchman and his "method".

Since reading this book I have started the Wim Hof Method and have had decent success (albeit partially thwarted by my own laziness and crazy work schedule). It does work. The euphoria, the energy, the resistance to cold... I haven't done an ice bath yet, but I don't feel my cold showers anymore. They are actually refreshing... and up here, the spring water coming from my tap is only a couple degrees above freezing, so I don't feel like it'll be a huge leap if I should try swimming with icebergs later this summer.

This book is a great introduction, especially if you're a bit of a skeptic, or perhaps an introvert (like me) who is a bit intimidated or put off by Wim's in-your-face exuberance.

I actually purchased this book in Audible format as well as Kindle, and re-listen to it often to re-inspire myself.
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Best advice and WHY you should listen
by Pk (5 out of 5 stars)
January 7, 2019

Climbed My Everest in a t-shirt & shorts. Survived submersion in freezing water for hours. Controlled his own Mitochondria with his mind. Ran a marathon in the desert without drinking water. These are just some of the amazing feats accomplished by Wim Hof. Holds 2 dozen Guinness records

I first watched a Wim Hof video out of curiosity and desperation to improve my mental health.

I AM BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR THIS MAN AND HIS ADVICE.

Even this author and his book was set out to show Wim Hof as a fake, and the author ended up his biggest fan. Scientists love him! Pharma industry does not. (Breathing doesn't make money.)

On a personal level -

Several weeks ago, I implemented the Wim Hof Method (WHM) of deep breathing techniques 2x daily along with ice showers/baths. Within ONE session, my mood and energy improved. I felt pumped, as if I was a kid again. Within two days, I could already feel different inside, separated my mind from petty bs, and I felt free from all the complaining and negativity at work. More importantly, anxiety and depression began to lift - specifically, no negative thoughts attached for ongoing analysis in my head. It was more as though everything just rolled right off of me. And it is true, you do feel incredibly supercharged in your own body after the breathing exercises. Some have mentioned having ringing in the ears. I had it a few times when I held my breath longer than the 15 seconds recommended at the end of each round. Please follow the instructions.

I am SO ELATED that just the act of breathing lifted me out of sadness and anxiety.

I cannot do justice in words to the magnitude of these two techniques and how they have helped my life. Every body pain, every cramp, every aftermath from a log run...if I stop and apply the breathing, within a few moments, it all lifts. Mind over matter.

I supplemented this book with youtube videos from his interviews as well as some of the testimonial youtube videos from around the world.

I cannot stress enough how Wim Hof Method has allowed me to finally focus on mind over matter and so easily!!! TRY IT FOR JUST ONE ROUND. Very simple 30-40 deep breaths (fully inhale through nose, exhale half of that air through mouth), then on the last breath you exhale and hold (time yourself), followed by one breath and hold for 15 seconds. You can feel the tingle, the energy in your body. Embrace it!

For me, this was one way to implement the idea of epigenetics (the idea of changing your environment to change your perspective, regardless of your traumatic history or genes or medical condition).

Highly recommended for everyone!

READ THIS BOOK.
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Interesting, likely true, hard to implement on a practical basis
by funseeker (3 out of 5 stars)
September 16, 2017

Decent book, but doesn't have a "how to" program.

I believe the main premise that in addition to good diet and regular exercise as important elements for health, humans evolved to need environmental stimulus to be fit. The author emphasizes exposure to extreme cold and also hold your breath until you nearly pass out as training example. The idea is that modern humans in our air conditioned luxury and comfort rarely are exposed to extremes that constitute "survival conditions". The brain and body learns and grows fastest in survival situations, its motivated to figure out how to survive and not die.

I think it works in hot climates too. I read the book while on a small sailboat in the Bahamas. We sailed for 6 weeks to various islands and compared to my normal climate it was hot (around 90 F each day) and also rough with wind waves and ocean swells, even at anchor, that the boat was rocking and rolling, which constantly worked my core. I lost 25 lbs without even trying (in fact ate half a candy bar each day, and I'm a man, age 52, 5 ft 9 inches, and started at 185 lb). We snorkeled a lot too. At the end of the trip I felt mental and physically better than I had in a while and subsequent bloodwork showed improvements in tests, such as reduced PSA.

The book was of limited practical use, because other than climbing mountains nearly naked, taking cold showers, and doing the extreme breath holding exercises (why these would work from an evolutionary perspective I don't understand), the book didn't have many concrete suggestions for "how to". The author doesn't suggest a "program" to follow.
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Highly recommended by a competitive OC6 paddler
by CCharj (5 out of 5 stars)
March 24, 2017

Any publication about Wim Hof was recommended by a retired Navy SEAL Master Chief buddy. I picked this book but first started with the audio version. So much I did not realize about the human physiology. Our competitive 6-man outrigger canoe club is studying the breathing method and the wedge. In just a few weeks of practicing this forced breathing method I have noted significant performance increase while participating in this open ocean strength endurance sport. We're well into a 12 mile open ocean paddle and we hear Wim Hof in our heads "Just Breath MF'r".
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Winter is coming (Did someone beat me to it?)
by MKA (5 out of 5 stars)
January 8, 2018

This is a tall order from Carney and I'd rather go to the dentist than undergo ice/cold weather therapy. And I LOVE winter weather.

Wim Hof (Carney's mentor) always looks unhappy in the photographs because he's out in the cold the whole time. But I think he and Carney have a method to their madness; it's only been a hundred years or so since we've been pampered with central heating. Then again most of us don't want to introduce polio, cholera or yellow fever back into our society in the name of posterity. How about a little leprosy? I think moderation must prevail but will concede this is a Man Test I have not yet passed. If you go on YouTube and watch that clip of professional MMA fighters crying like whipped pups when they're submerged in ice water, you'll find this might be among the most painful things you've ever done.
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Every breath you take
by Thomas Campbell (5 out of 5 stars)
December 18, 2017

Scott Carney puts the brazen training and raw courage of Wim Hof into a larger scientific and anthropological context that makes the subject infinitely more interesting than a simple story about Hof and his exploits would have been. A little more detailed explanation of Wim Hof's method would have been useful, but the gist of the method is available in a number of places, so that is only a minor consideration. All in all Mr. Carney wrote a very engaging and informative book on a subject of great personal interest to me. I picked it up and did not put it down until I was done.
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Great read
by Donald C. Rice (4 out of 5 stars)
January 11, 2018

I loved this book. I think the title is misleading, because it's more about the author's own personal journey using some of the methods in the title to achieve growth and renewed strength. Plus, it's more anecdotal than using proven science to back up the title's claim. But still, it's a fascinating read and Carney does a great job of illustrating the principles of Wim Hoff of other fitness masters and how they helped him, challenged him, and changed him. I probably won't look up Hoff's particular methods, but I've always been very comfortable in cold temperatures, taking cold showers, keeping the heat off in winter (mostly), walking around outside shirtless when it's below 40F. The breathing exercises are intriguing, and what I'll be looking into and perhaps incorporating into my own fitness routine.

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