Audiobooks by Herman Pontzer

Adaptable: The Surprising Science of Human Diversity

"Brought to you by Penguin. A groundbreaking tour of the overlooked science of human diversity Real diversity isn’t skin deep. Over the past 100,000 years, as humans expanded into every biome on the planet, our bodies have been fine-tuned to our local environments. Our ability to adapt is at the heart of being human and the engine of our diversity. As an evolutionary anthropologist working with human populations around the globe, Herman Pontzer has conducted research that reveals the wonder of our biological diversity, documenting the connections between lifestyle, landscape, local adaptations, and health. In this book, he takes us on a tour of the human body and the surprising ways in which it survives in an uncertain world: from the Andean groups who have developed increased lung capacity to the Sama divers who have larger spleens. With so much variation that can be handed down genetically, for better or worse, the way we understand our biology holds huge importance for how we understand our world and one another, including the biggest questions of our day, such as social inequality. Eye-opening and profound, Adaptable is a revolutionary reappraisal of an overlooked science. © Herman Pontzer 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Herman Pontzer (Author), P.J. Ochlan (Narrator)

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Burn: The Misunderstood Science of Metabolism

"Brought to you by Penguin. Why do so many diets lead to more weight gain? Do more active people have faster metabolisms? Is exercise essential for weight loss? Over the past twenty years, evolutionary biologist Herman Pontzer has conducted ground-breaking studies across a range of settings, including pioneering fieldwork with Hadza hunter-gatherers in northern Tanzania. This book draws on his eye-opening research to show how, contrary to received wisdom, exercise does not increase our metabolism. Instead, we burn calories within a very narrow range: nearly 3,000 calories per day, no matter our activity level. By taking a closer look at what happens to the energy we consume, Pontzer explores the ways in which metabolism controls every aspect of our health - from fertility to immune function - and reveals the truth about the dynamic system that sustains us. Filled with facts and memorable anecdotes, Burn will change the way you think about food, exercise and life. © Herman Pontzer 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021"

Herman Pontzer (Author), P.J. Ochlan (Narrator)

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