The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self

The Comfort Crisis examines the relationship between the modern comforts of life and their impact on health and well-being. The book argues that while advancements in technology and society have undoubtedly made life easier and more convenient, they also have unintended consequences on our physical and mental health.

Easter begins by highlighting how our ancestors lived in environments that demanded constant physical activity and adaptability. In contrast, the modern lifestyle, characterized by sedentary habits and convenience at every turn, has led to a significant decrease in physical exertion. Easter’s experiences in the Alaskan wilderness, where he faces physical challenges unknown in his regular life, serve as a reminder of how far-removed modern living is from our evolutionary needs. In tandem with these personal anecdotes, he presents scientific research to demonstrate how the shift toward comfort has contributed to the rise in lifestyle diseases such as obesity, heart disease, and mental illness.

Key to this contention is the idea that humanity simply has not had time to adapt to its new environment. Easter reflects on the rapid evolution of modern conveniences and their impact on lifestyles:

The modern comforts and conveniences that now most influence our daily experience—cars, computers, television, climate control, smartphones, ultraprocessed food, and more—have been used by our species for about 100 years or less (14-15).