Episode 55 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Dr. John Ratey, co-author of "Go Wild: Free Your Body and Mind from the Afflictions of Civilization." There is considerable evidence that our hunter-gatherer ancestors were generally suprisingly healthy, so the purpose of this book and our conversation was to explore the scientific evidence supporting a return to a healthier lifestyle. We touch on diet, exercise, the role of sleep and even meditation. We also explore the importance of our relationship with nature and each other.

Detailed show notes and free episode transcripts are available at http://booksandideas.com.

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I have previously interviewed Dr. Ratey about his books "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise" and the Brain (BSP 33) and "Driven To Distraction : Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood "(BSP 45).