Sweat

More about the book

From Insomniac City author Bill Hayes, known for tackling diverse subjects with skill, comes a cultural, scientific, literary, and personal exploration of exercise. This modern obsession is reflected in our array of workout gear and trends, from HIIT to hot yoga. However, the historical significance of exercise—distinct from sports or play—has often been overlooked. In this work, Hayes engages in various forms of physical activity, such as running, swimming, and lifting, while tracing the evolution of exercise and the dynamics of human movement. Prominent figures like Hippocrates, Plato, and Jane Fonda appear throughout, but the focus is on Girolamo Mercuriale, a Renaissance physician who sought to revive the ancient Greek “art of exercising” through his 1569 work, De arte gymnastica. Though largely forgotten, Mercuriale's pioneering ideas are resurrected in these pages. Hayes interweaves his personal journey with the broader cultural and scientific history of exercise, offering insights into its role in our contemporary lives. This narrative provides a fresh perspective on how exercise has shaped human experience from ancient times to the present, enriching our understanding of its significance in the 21st century.