What if the secret to a better life isn’t more comfort—but more challenge? In The Comfort Crisis, award-winning journalist Michael Easter takes readers on a bold journey to uncover how modern comforts—while making life easier—may be silently eroding our physical health, mental resilience, and sense of purpose. To explore this paradox, Easter ventures far beyond the everyday: He trains with the NBA’s top performance scientist, tapping into ancient practices to forge elite athletes. He travels to Bhutan to discover what a Buddhist monk and Oxford economist can teach about death—and happiness. He joins a 33-day Alaskan backcountry expedition, hunting for both food and a deeper connection to discomfort, nature, and self. Along the way, he uncovers how controlled discomfort—in the form of nature, fear, exertion, solitude, and even boredom—can unlock greater creativity, reduce anxiety, and enhance overall well-being. Blending science, storytelling, and raw adventure, The Comfort Crisis is a call to escape the safety of modern life and rediscover your edge. Step outside your comfort zone. You might just find your best self waiting there.
