Go Wild by John J. Ratey & Richard Manning Summary
Overview of Go Wild
In "Go Wild," Harvard psychiatrist John Ratey reveals how our modern lifestyle clashes with our ancient biology, causing disease and unhappiness. Health professionals praise this revolutionary roadmap for reconnecting with nature, movement, and community - the ancestral formula for unlocking optimal physical and mental health.
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Key takeaways
The Mismatch That's Making Us Sick
Imagine discovering that your body is running on outdated software-designed for a world of constant movement, natural foods, and tribal living-yet you're forcing it to function in an environment of desk jobs, processed foods, and isolation. This is the central insight of "Go Wild." Our bodies and minds evolved under radically different conditions than those we live in today, and this mismatch explains why diseases of civilization continue to rise despite medical advances. We emerged as Homo sapiens about 50,000 years ago with no significant biological upgrades since. The human body isn't malfunctioning-it's responding exactly as designed to an environment it wasn't built for. What makes humans unique? We're movement specialists with 26 skeletal adaptations specific to endurance running. Our springy arched feet, elongated Achilles tendons, and counterrotation abilities make us exceptional distance runners. Unlike other species with optimal energy-efficient speeds, humans show a flat energy curve-we're equally adapted for various movements, the "Swiss Army knives of motion." Our digestive system evolved to be small and efficient for bipedal movement, requiring nutrient-dense foods. And perhaps most importantly, our brains evolved for empathy and social connection, with our offspring's extended dependency making cooperation an evolutionary necessity.
The Modern Health Rebellion
The Fat Fallacy and Food Freedom
Movement as Brain Food
The Forgotten Third of Life
The Mindful Hunter
Rewilding Your Life
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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