James Nestor is an accomplished American author and journalist, well-known for his works in various notable publications. He has written for a variety of reputable outlets such as Outside magazine, Men's Journal, Scientific American, Dwell, National Public Radio, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The San Francisco Chronicle, among others. Nestor's writing covers a wide range of topics, with his work appearing in numerous prestigious publications.
Nestor is the author of the best-selling book, "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art," published by Riverhead/Penguin Random House. The book quickly became a hit, spending 18 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list in its first year and reaching the top of the charts in several other major publications. "Breath" has received significant recognition, earning the title of Best General Nonfiction Book of 2020 from the American Society of Journalists and Authors and being shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book of the Year. The book has been translated into more than 35 languages and has sold over two million copies worldwide. "Breath" investigates the evolution of human breathing and how our modern habits may be contributing to a range of health issues. Nestor's research takes readers on a global journey, exploring ancient burial sites, Soviet facilities, and choir schools, among other locations, to uncover the secrets of proper breathing. The book draws on thousands of years of medical texts and cutting-edge studies to challenge conventional wisdom about human breathing.
In addition to "Breath," Nestor also wrote the narrative nonfiction book "DEEP: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What The Ocean Tells Us about Ourselves," published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2014. "DEEP" was a Finalist for the PEN American Center Best Sports Book of the Year, an Amazon Best Science Book of 2014, and a BBC Book of the Week. The book has been translated into several languages and was adapted into an audiobook by Audible in 2016. Nestor also wrote a "little, silly booklet" in 2009, which he describes as a coffee table thing culled from notes on meditation and other ancient/hippy practices discovered in the crawlspace of his uncle’s retro-mod bachelor pad in the Hollywood Hills. The book combined medical science with humor and illustrations and was given a horrid and misleading title by a dishonest editor, which he soon after—and still—very much regrets. Nestor has presented his research at various prestigious institutions, including Stanford Medical School, the United Nations, UBS, Global Classroom (World Health Organization+UNICEF), as well as more than 40 radio and television shows, including Fresh Air with Terry Gross, the Joe Rogan Show, BulletProof, ABC’s Nightline, CBS Morning News, and dozens of NPR programs.