Body Electric: The Hidden Health Costs of the Digital Age and New Science to Reclaim Your Well-Being

by Manoush Zomorodi, Keith Diaz (Foreword By)

From the award-winning journalist and TED Radio Hour host comes a timely investigation into how screens and sitting are reshaping our bodies—and how a simple shift can change everything.

In today’s world, a normal day means sitting in front of a screen for eight to ten hours. Meeting after meeting. Email after email. We leave our desks drained, overstimulated and unfocused, only to go home, sit down again, and scroll some more. The result? Headaches, back pain, restless sleep, and rising rates of preventable disease. We know technology is breaking us down—so why can’t we break away?

It’s a question that Manoush Zomorodi has always wanted to answer. As the host of the TED Radio Hour, she has interviewed experts, conducted citizen experiments, and sought out research about how our digital lives are changing the way we think, learn, and feel. Now, in Body Electric, she presents an eye-opening investigation into the impact technology and sedentary living has had on our bodies and brains, from breath and eyesight to blood pressure, posture, and productivity, and shares what science (and tens of thousands of participants in a groundbreaking study with Columbia University Medical Center) have taught her—it’s the small shifts, not the digital detoxes, that will make us healthier.

Filled with perspective-shifting data and real-life applications and tools, Body Electric is the next must-listen for fans of Four Thousand Weeks and The Anxious Generation, and anyone feeling trapped by their technology.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Self Help, Science, Technology

304 pages, Hardcover

Published May 5, 2026

About the author

Manoush Zomorodi is the incoming host of NPR’s TED Radio Hour and co-founder of Stable Genius Productions. She is also the co-host and co-creator of ZigZag, the business podcast about being human.

Investigating how technology and business are transforming humanity is Manoush’s passion and expertise. Her book Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Creative Self (2017, St. Martin’s Press) and TED Talk (3.3m+ views) are guides to surviving the “Attention Economy.” She was one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business for 2018. Manoush created and hosted the podcast Note to Self from 2013-2019, in partnership with WNYC Studios. The Academy of Podcasters named Note to Self Best Tech Podcast of 2017. Manoush has received numerous awards for her work, including The Gracie in 2014 and 2018 for Best Radio Host.
She is half-Persian and half-Swiss but was born in NYC, where she lives with her family.

Reviews

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This non fiction book was great! I really enjoyed reading it and I feel like I have learned a lot. It definitely gave me a wake up call! I found it to be informative, hopeful, inspiring and lighthearted. It has become my new favorite non fiction book of the year! I honestly feel that this book would be relatable to everyone, in some way. It gives people solutions to their problems, which are heavily backed up by science.

It is about how people in this modern world have become so dependent on technology. Furthermore, this book investigates on how technology affects our mental and physical health. Technology is a good thing to have and most of us cannot go without it, but we can change small things here and there.

Just going for a short walk can make a difference on our mental and physical well being. It is a book that gives you insight on how you can get healthier, while living in this technological world. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is interested in learning new ways to improve their overall mental and physical health! Overall, I give this book a high 4.5 stars out of 5 stars rating! It is an excellent resource!

Thank you to NetGalley. Authors Manoush Zomorodi; Keith Diaz, PhD and Flatiron Books for this digital eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on May 5, 2026!

[Ashley Bertles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite book I've read all year so far hands down! This book is so eye opening to the way technology negatively affects our well-being and health. Each chapter is built around real-world examples, which really helped make the info both easy to follow and practical to apply. There are so many little facts and statistics scattered throughout that were so fascinating.

[Holly Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very inspiring, transformative, life-changing. We see how the digital age costs us our physical and mental health, not only just using screens but how sedentary we have become. Using plenty of scientific evidence, Manoush advocates for 5-minute “movement breaks” in between 30 minutes of sitting time. She hosted a “Body Electric” podcast on NPR and listeners participated in this study and reported inspiring outcomes such as improved energy, focus, productivity, internal awareness, weight management, and more. This really convinced me how sedentary I can be on a typical workday, but 5-minute move breaks while I’m working feels very doable. She also realizes that this is easier than it sounds and provides lots of suggestions to work it in. There’s also plenty of advice for how to take care of our kids with screens and movement, and also for older adults to enjoy healthy aging and longevity. I think most importantly, she’s not anti-tech and recognizes that we can’t just go off-the-grid, but finds these opportunities to move as a way to keep us feeling “human”. Very evidence-based but also well-written and a pleasure to read; she even reminds us to take movement breaks while we’re reading the book.

Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doing the Body Electric might be better than listening to a long form exposition on it. But many aspects were interesting. I just felt a little more than sorry for my sedentary self by the end… because it’s really drilled in how we must move to stay healthy and increase longevity. Manoush has such a hypnotic voice. I was happy to see she had work since I long ago listened to her and participated in Bored and Brilliant. I share her fascination with the effect of tech on our health. So I’ll read most anything about it.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Body Electric is an easily accessible, evidence-based book that traces how human bodies adapted to different economic eras and how we evolved from being nimble hunter-gatherers to sedentary laptop users. It explains that while technological changes and advancements have made life more convenient and easier, they have demanded less of our bodies. This book explains, using data from the Body Electric experiment and podcast the author hosted in addition to well documented sources, the physical and mental damage the digital age is causing. Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about the effects of social media and the harm phones have on school-age children and young adults. Many school districts are now banning phones in school. But just sitting in class all day can also cause problems. It can not be argued that technological advances have saved billions of lives and delivered ways to combat isolation. However, inactivity has slowly unleashed a wave of health problems including obesity, cardiovascular disease, even type 2 diabetes in young people. The book recommends a five-minute movement break every thirty minutes, which can reverse many of the negative effects of prolonged sitting. The physical manifestations of this practice were amazing, including lowering blood pressure and blood sugar levels. People in the study also self-reported feeling less anxious, improved concentration, and higher energy.

While I consider myself active, the book was a wake-up call for those of us who spend long stretches of time starring at a screen without moving. The section on information workers and their continuous “triaging” was particularly interesting and relatable. The author explains that when we are tired, stressed, or just overloaded, having to make constant decisions, the brain goes on autopilot, which is why we end up scrolling social media or binge-watching a program instead of doing the work that needs to get done. The book made me reevaluate my workday and to recognize the brain-body connection. I am now more aware of when I am using mindless scrolling as a coping mechanism for stress or finding small tasks to accomplish instead of attacking larger, harder ones. I am also trying to reduce Zoom fatigue by spacing out meetings throughout the workday. I was totally unaware that sitting too much can also increase inflammation and affect the gut microbiome, something I have been experiencing for a year.

The book at times delved into scientific explanations, but for the most part it was easily readable. There were lots of personal examples that made it relatable. I especially appreciated the summaries at the end of the chapters, the To Do suggestions, and the diverse ways to take a move break, which could include walking around the dining table or desk. The author doesn’t advocate completely doing away with screens while on breaks, although she recommends it.

There is no doubt that taking regular movement breaks has positive effects and can boost productively. However, getting a company to buy into the routine is more difficult. For people who work from home it’s a little easier, but many people would not understand if you got up in the middle of a meeting to start marching. The author recognizes that and recommends people set a schedule that works for them. Everyone can make small changes that can keep things from getting worse. Think of it as self-care, something all of us need, especially now.

I highly recommend this book, young or old, to anyone who wants to improve how they feel, especially those tethered to screens. It was eye-opening. I did recognize the irony of reading this advance ebook copy on the screen while reading about too much sedentary screen time, which might contribute to the length of time it took me to finish as I tried to take many breaks in between chapters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for my opinion. The title caught my eye and I am glad I requested it.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clarion Call For Post-COVID Society To Move More. In this text - based on a 2023 podcast and experiment Zomorodi helped orchestrate - the central point could not be more clear: Virtually all of us, particularly among white collar workers, in this post-COVID age need to move more. A lot more. To the tune of 5 minutes every 30 minutes. Nothing overly stressful, a casual stroll or its equivalent is actually the recommendation. No or at least minimal sweat, just movement to get our body operating more efficiently than it does when we sit for hours on end.

This is actually a book that is hitting pretty damn hard personally, as I am now actively fighting health issues in my legs (and I'm actively getting various scans to identify exactly what is going on and where, but so far it seems limited to my legs) that this text actually directly addresses, such as lymphedema (which is specifically mentioned) and possible (in my case) chronic veinous insufficiency. This, from a man who a few yrs pre-COVID (within the absolute value from COVID that we now are after COVID) was walk/ running (13 min mile or so at my best) 1100 miles per year / 5K race every month and even did a pair of half marathons (PR: 3:09:12). And then COVID hit and I eventually got my dream job, fully remote and doing interesting work while getting to mentor colleagues newer to the field.

But now I sit. All. The. Time. And my legs in particular have begun to noticeably have ill effects. DDPYoga, particularly its programs starting you flat on your back on your bed and progressing to sitting in a chair and then (where I am now) using a chair for stability as you begin to stand through the workout, has helped in my case... but Zomorodi's advice here may actually be even more beneficial to even more people than DDP has been. (Sorry, DDP - you're awesome and I really can't thank you enough for this program, but I stand behind my last statement.)

In conjunction with Rowan Jacobsen's In Defense of Sunlight, releasing about six weeks after this book and which I read just a day or so before reading this book, what many of us need to do to begin both getting healthier and generally feeling better could not be more clear... or more basic. Get up. Get out. Move around more. Not enough to burn (either your skin or sweating), but enough to just *be*. According to the actual research using thousands of people Zomorodi describes in this text that she helped facilitate, it really is that simple and will provide a fair amount of quality of life benefits that will at minimum help your focus and emotional stability if nothing else.

Ultimately, and I can't believe *I* am saying this, consult your physician for any problems you're actually feeling. If you don't have one, find one - even with my general anti-doc stance (and I have my reasons), quite simply (and this is the very thing that got me to finally go to them), they have instrumentation and thus information that you cannot possibly obtain on your own/ at home, including the scans I've already done and am doing over the next couple of weeks. But talk to them about Zomorodi's ideas here in this text. Talk to them about Jacobsen's ideas in his text. Ask them about DDPYoga if you think it may help you.

Even as Zomorodi is discussing something she actively participated in and helped facilitate via her podcast, this book is still pretty well documented at 22% of the text of even the Advance Review Copy I read, with a forward from the doc whose research she had found and decided to help with. Which is perfectly in line with my usual expectations of 20-30% documentation.

Move more. 5 minutes every 30 minutes is ideal, according to Zomorodi, but even 5 minutes every hour or even 2 hours will provide at least some benefit. Just a casual stroll, in an office hallway, around your apartment, whatever space you may have. Just move. Frequently.

Very much recommended.

[Keely · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her earlier book Bored and Brilliant, Manoush Zomorodi explored how stepping away from our screens can activate our brains' default mode, helping us think more clearly and creatively. In Body Electric she examines the intersection between technology and human physicality--specifically, our need for frequent movement throughout the day in order to maintain optimal health. Body Electric shares extensive research supporting five-minute movement breaks for every half hour of sitting, but the book doesn't stop there. Instead, it also shares real-life strategies for actually standing up and making these move breaks happen in the midst of busy work or school days. Zomorodi gathers many of these strategies from participants in her Body Electric study, a collaboration with exercise physiologist Keith Diaz.

Body Electric landed in my hands at the perfect moment, right as I was shifting into a new job role with more meetings, and yes, more sitting for longer periods. Even in the first week of these longer sit sessions, I noticed a change in how I felt--stiffer, more fatigued, and more foggy-headed. Luckily, Body Electric has given me lots of ideas for ways to get up and moving more often. The book also has me rethinking my longtime approach to exercise, away from single morning fitness sessions, and towards multiple "movement snacks" throughout my day.

There aren't many books I read that make an immediate difference in the quality of my day-to-day life and health, but this is one of them. My favorite thing about Body Electric is Zomorodi's inclusion of all life stages. There's something for everyone in here, from parents looking to help their kids move more, to retirees looking to maintain strength and mobility. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to feel better at work, at school, or just in daily life.

My thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me with a review copy of Body Electric.

[Brielle Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Ted RadioHour and Manoush Zomorodi so was very excited to receive this arc! From often listening to the podcast, I was pretty familiar with some of the concepts and research in Body Electric, but the book went into more depth.

I often joke that sitting is the new smoking, but Body Electric really explains why that is and what we can do to improve our wellbeing. I loved that Zamorodi and Dr. Diaz addressed misinformation and focused on evidence based science, while still making the material approachable and do-able for different people and bodies.

My favorite intervention is just walking more (along with the exercise snacks). I have been doing a lot of pilates and walking; I loved that the research in this book supports that (I have been feeling really guilty with my back pain I stopped running). Other strategies are also covered early in the book (which I really appreciated).

“I sing the body electric…

Was it doubted that those who corrupt their own bodies conceal themselves?
And if those who defile the living are as bad as they who defile the dead?
And if the body does not do fully as much as the soul?
And if the body were not the soul, what is the soul?

The love of the body of man or woman balks account, the body itself balks account…

(All is a procession,
The universe is a procession with measured and perfect motion.)” - Walt Whitman.


✨4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this audio arc. I am so glad Zomorodi narrated her own book! Body Electric comes out May 5, 2026.

[Mikala · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an avid runner and open-water swimmer, I didn’t expect a book about “moving more” to hit so close to home. But Body Electric is a gentle, evidence-based wake-up call for anyone whose active lifestyle is undercut by long stretches of sitting in front of screens. Zomorodi and Diaz make a compelling, highly readable case for five-minute “movement snacks” every 30 minutes znot as another punishing fitness challenge, but as small, sustainable shifts that can transform our health over time.

What I appreciated most was the tone. The book is full of scary data about our digital, sedentary lives—insulin resistance, rising blood pressure, nearsightedness, posture, even the perils of constant headphone use but almost every troubling finding is paired with practical recovery strategies. The approach is consistently encouraging rather than shaming: here’s the ideal goal; if you can’t do that, just do one more minute, or take one extra lap, and build from there. As someone who has listened to the podcast, I liked seeing how faithfully the book captures that same mix of science, storytelling, and real-life experiments. If you prefer conversation and interviews, the podcast may actually be the more engaging entry point, and I also enjoyed the short “5-minute” snippets that fit perfectly with the 25-and-5 strategy.

My one frustration is how strongly this feels geared toward urban knowledge workers with control over their environment. I work in sales and spend a lot of time in conferences, workshops, and customer meetings where I can’t just start pacing or stretching without sending the wrong signal to clients or higher-ups. Long-distance driving is also a big part of my job and life, and I wish the book had offered more specific guidance for those of us stuck in cars or airplanes for hours at a time. Even so, Body Electric gave me language, motivation, and concrete ideas to weave more movement into the margins of my day—and that alone makes it worth recommending.

[Kassie Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really interesting! Manoush did a great job of breaking everything down to a digestible level.
Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

This book is not just about the digital age we live in. It talks about the negatives of the technology focus we are in, it also talks about the physical and mental negatives that we face.

I enjoyed how the book broke down the negatives of the digital world we live in and how we got here. The author goes into the negatives of the technology that we use, while not being harsh on the reader for utilizing those screens.
Manoush does a great job at giving ways to better ourselves while we have to use technology. As well as ways to decrease our technology usage when possible.
I appreciate the discussions about the physical negatives that have been created due to the technology focused world we are living in. I think about this everyday at my desk job, when I realize I sit essentially all day. And trying to build in movement has been difficult. Manoush gives us tips to help with this in a caring way, not negative, and not unattainable.

I would recommend this book to most people. Especially if you are trying to improve your overall well being and decreasing your screen time.

[LauraBeach123 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manoush Zomorodi does a great job as narrator of Body Electric, keeping things easy to listen to and making it interesting too.

A lot of the information isn’t brand new, but it is exactly what we need to hear again and again. Move your body. Get up from your desk. Five minutes of movement for every 25 minutes of sitting makes a difference in your body, health and mood. Stop staring at screens all day and get outside into the sunshine, Just looking across the room isn’t enough to protect your eyes.

What makes the body electric method seem important is the science behind it. Keith Diaz brings in solid research that explains why these small habits matter so much for our health.

Overall, this audiobook is a great reset. Simple, practical ideas backed by real evidence. A good reminder to move a little more every day.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kelly Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very clear and easy to digest book and very inspiring! No one can read this and not incorporate some kind of minor changes to their daily lives. It is much more of a self-help than academic exploration (in a good way!), because based on the science and studies - which are cited and explained - there are clear suggestions and takeaways of what to do to improve our well-being. Once you start reading, you may think you got the idea after just a couple chapters, but I urge you that there is even more fascinating information in the rest of the book and it's worth reading. How the digital age affects each aspect of our body is explored and was insightful, along with looking at longevity studies and trying to plan for our future as we age and inevitably decline in our well-being.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC; all opinions are my own.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Body Electric is the kind of book that can make an immediate difference in the quality of your day-to-day life and health in simple, practical ways. It offers something for people at every stage of life—from parents who want to help their kids move more to retirees hoping to maintain strength and mobility.

The book is full of clear, easy-to-incorporate suggestions for getting up and moving more during the day. Nothing extreme or unrealistic—just practical ways to counter the fact that many of us spend hours sitting behind screens. The short synopsis at the beginning of each chapter also helps with readability and makes it easy to follow the main ideas.

I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to improve how they feel in their everyday life.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rayna (Poindextrix) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Body Electric is an informative and engaging deep dive into the concept that our increasingly digital lives are harming our wellbeing. While many of us may have intuited this, Body Electric comes armed with studies and statistics to back up the claim. Though it asserts that our time spent with screens is making us nearsighted, achy, foggy, and grumpy, the book is not scolding or shaming. It presents the problem and offers solutions for how to build movement breaks into the day.
At times the book feels repetitive, especially when discussing what too much screen time does to the body, but overall this was an interesting and enlightening read.
The fact that this book grew out of a podcast made it great as an audiobook. Zomorodi is an excellent narrator.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Macmillan Audio for the review copy!

[Cinnamon Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for both the ecopy and audio copy of this book!
Picked this up because I'm always down to read about how technology is affecting us and I was pleasantly surprised! This was a quick, informative read that doesn't preach about how we all need to throw away our phones, instead it looks at what we CAN do (because lets be honest, no one is throwing away their phone anytime soon) to be healthier and more aware about what our tech rich environment is doing to our bodies and our health.

I would recommend this for anyone and everyone! I started reading an e copy and then switched to the audio book and both were easily consumable. The stories and tone keep it easy to keep going.

Now I'm going to go take my walk break. LOL.

[Anika (Encyclopedia BritAnika) · Rating 4 out of 5]

We know screens and sedentary life are killing us or at least harming us. This book doesn’t tell you anything you don’t already know in that regard. But what I did like was how practical and achievable it was in its suggestions to better your life and move more and screen less. It wasn’t out to shame you or give you completely pie in the sky goals. It gives you small things - take breaks, take a walk, set timers for app use, stretch. Like yes I can do this thank you. I most need to get into the movement breaks during the work day and I think I can do it.

Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the advance review copy. Body Electric comes out May 5.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have actually never learned this much before while reading a book. I loved how this book would explain the problems/issues caused by staying inactive too long, following it by explaining what one can do and even create a to do list of what to do to keep your body healthy and strong. It is giving the reader a step by step solution to their problem. It’s insane how this book has put in perspective how badly the majority of people have been treating their body whether it’s by choice or not and how easy it can be to help your body. Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for this arc!

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Overall this was interesting, and although I have never listened to the Body Electric podcast I learned a lot about why my desk job and phone scrolling makes me feel so bad lol. To be honest though I expected much more of a scientific book, and was disappointed that this was written extremely simply and in a very self-help style, which I normally do not enjoy. Most of the info here was pretty obvious stuff, but if you enjoy self help books in general or this author's podcast you probably would like this more than I did.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took a surprisingly hopeful look at the current research surrounding the links between movement and brain/body health. (I appreciated how realistic it was— moving every 30 minutes is the gold standard, but there’s plenty of encouragement to do whatever you can.) I finished it feeling motivated to put some suggestions into action.

[Mary Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manoush Zomorodi is a delightful writer, combining science, anecdotes and personal experience. Move more, lots more, in small increments through the day, is the message. Look up from screens. She makes the message fresh by sharing why we should keep moving, and how to fit it in.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Body Electric makes a compelling case for individuals to incorporate small doses of regular movement into our everyday, largely sedentary lifestyle. The writing was a down-to-earth and approachable (written by a journalist). Blending science, research, testimonials and a lot of encouragement, the authors provide some ideas on how you can fit movement into your day, the myriad health (physical and psychological) benefits and the ways it'll change your body. While there's already been a lot in the mainstream media about the importance of moving your body to improve your health outcomes, tidbits in this book were interesting and maybe counter to some of my assumptions. So I'll definitely make a concerted effort to walk around a bit for 5 minutes every 30 minutes (but I also appreciate that this might be a goal to aspire to), and spend some time outside and not in front of a screen. 4.25/5

Many thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

[Shani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous audiobook perfect to listen to while you and moving your body. Lots of good ideas here to get away from technology and move. I’m surprised how easy it was to adopt. Now I will have to keep it up!

[Elizabeth]

As heard on https://omny.fm/shows/the-happiness-l...
Listening to The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos (What Screen Time Is Really Doing to Your Body with Manoush Zomorodi)

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

An accessible and informative read explaining the Body Electric project and its finding by NPR, with which I was not previously familiar.

I resonated with many parts of this book, but particularly resonated with Zomorodi's framing of information workers and their continuous "triaging" while at work. She explains why this type of work feels mentally and physically taxing, when all we've done during the work day is clack away on our keyboards and stare at multiple screens. This book made me re-evaluate how I spend my work day, encouraged me to listen to my body, and assured me that *all movement is good movement.*

I look forward to applying the practices into my daily life even though, as some study participants pointed out, it feels unrealistic and at times impossible. I also look forward to diving into the Body Electric podcast from NPR.

I am grateful for the free ARC ebook copy that was provided to me by NetGalley and Flatiron Books. All opinions are my own.

This title releases on May 5, 2026.