Get Up!: Why Your Chair is Killing You and What You Can Do About It by James A. Levine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
We all know that sitting too much is bad—but few of us do anything about it. The first wake-up call for me came from a powerful video by Marcus Rothkranz. It was intense—but this book seems to have been the final nail in the coffin… or should I say, the chair… of my sitting habit.
Dr. James Levine, a leading researcher at the Mayo Clinic, moves the conversation from awareness to action. His writing is grounded in decades of research, and he draws from countless experiments, stories, and insights into how modern life quietly trains us into “chairaholics.”
The chapter on how even “play” has been taken over by the chair thanks to screen addiction was both funny and frightening.
The key concept in teh book is about NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis)—the energy we spend doing everything other than deliberate exercise. It’s the difference between folding laundry and watching TV, walking after meals or scrolling through your phone. Levine makes a compelling case that NEAT—not gym time—is what keeps active people healthy and happy.
The encouraging part? The transformation begins with a single step—literally. A chair-bound brain can rewire itself into a walking brain in just three weeks. Through the lens of cue, response, and reward, Levine helps individuals and organizations break free from chronic sitting. He also acknowledges that everyone’s approach—what he calls a personalotype—will be unique.
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to stay productive—without letting their health pay the price—and for those leading workplace well-being initiatives in their organizations.
