Spark explains the burgeoning research into how exercise is one of the key ingredients missing in the modern Western lifestyle. The author uses numerous anecdotal, statistical and research based examples to make a compelling case for improving quality of life during any phase by simply moving.
Depressed? Exercise! Injured? Exercise! Obese? Exercise.
Spark is an important book because the idea that you might just be able to replace your Lexapro prescription with an hour of Dance Dance Revolution per day is hugely important. The idea that your brain chemistry and your ability to feel good is largely based on how much you move is hugely important.
I happened to find Spark about a year into a rejuvenation of my own health through exercise so let me add my own anecdotal evidence – exercise can and did allow me to get through depression, panic attacks and has helped me with what is probably a mild case of ADD or ADHD – conditions I once scoffed at as made up.
Spark is a convincing tome. If it cannot get you to stop popping pills and start exercising ever day, nothing will. Spark can be a little complex – some of the explanations of how brain chemistry works are a little too in depth for the general reading public.