Busting several exercise myths
July 22, 2023 2023-08-01 15:34Busting several exercise myths
Welcome to the twenty-second edition of ‘3-2-1 by Story Rules‘.
A newsletter recommending good examples of storytelling across:
- 3 tweets
- 2 articles, and
- 1 long-form content piece
Let’s dive in.
🐦 3 Tweets of the week
The inimitable Morgan Housel offers some good advice – go for a walk when you get stuck on an issue. Great way to get unstuck.
It’s amazing how the US seems to have brushed off the 2008 financial crisis, while Europe (especially the south) got badly affected.
If HEATH LEDGER can get this reaction when he was announced as the choice for playing the Joker in The Dark Knight… I mean who are we to complain about getting criticised… (check out the thread btw – great trivia about the iconic movie).
📄 2 Articles of the week
Free-market mavens frequently clash with redistribution advocates on the best approach to reduce poverty. Perhaps the right answer, this article argues, is not ‘either/or’ but ‘both’.
The point we want to emphasize is that the world economy has changed in many ways in the last two centuries; and while globalization has been a key factor contributing to raising living standards across the world, its positive effects have been modulated by public policies, particularly social transfers.
This matters because policies aimed at liberalizing trade, and policies aimed at providing social safety nets, are often advocated by different groups. And it is common for these groups to argue that they are in conflict. Both economic theory and the empirical evidence from the fight against extreme poverty suggest that this is a mistake: globalization and social policy should be treated as complements rather than substitutes.
This chart shows some striking stats on the increase in government spending even in avowedly capitalist countries:
b. ‘Whisper it quietly but Zak Crawley is so far nailing this Ashes’ By Vithushan Ehantharajah
Cricinfo has a new writing star, Vithushan Ehantharajah. Along with Sid Monga and Karthik Krishnaswamy, this is one writer I try not to miss.
Then there’s the other end of the spectrum, those who see Crawley as the perfect embodiment of elitism and favouritism. A fee-paying school attendee, from a wealthy family – his father, Terry, was at one point the fifth-richest Briton on the Sunday Times rich list – whose mentor, Rob Key, is now ECB managing director of men’s cricket. The picture painted with broad strokes are of a nepo-baby of Brooklyn Beckham proportions…
As always with matters of privilege and fortune, wasting both would be far worse than having them in the first place. Having made it this far and looked at his most comfortable against the best bowlers in the world, Crawley must continue this rise in form. It may not convert the doubters, but it could yet win England the Ashes.
📖 1 long-form listen of the week
The click-bait title notwithstanding, this is a useful conversation for most folks. While the prof mostly reiterates accepted advice on the benefits of regular exercise, he also busts several (micro)myths about exercise and sleep.
What makes the conversation interesting is that his recommendations are based on his research into the lives of present-day hunter-gatherers and how they live their lives (they walk a lot!).
A takeaway for me was to not shun the gym – just doing walking and cycling isn’t enough. The professor talks about the importance of weight training – muscles are an expensive resource and if you don’t use it, you will lose it.
Another important takeaway: if, due to any reason, you aren’t able to exercise now, don’t beat yourself up for it. Show yourself compassion.
(Hat/tip – Harish Bhamidipati)
That’s all from this week’s edition.
Photo by Gabin Vallet on Unsplash
