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The Way of The Iceman: How The Wim Hof Method Creates Radiant, Longterm Health―Using The Science and Secrets of Breath Control, Cold-Training and Commitment
Science has now proved that the legendary Wim Hof Method of breath control and cold-training can dramatically enhance energy levels, improve circulation, reduce stress, boost the immune system, strengthen the body and successfully combat many diseases. While Wim Hof himself has run marathons in -30 C in shorts, swum hundreds of meters under the ice, sat in a tank of ice for 90 minutes without his core temperature changing and boosted his metabolism by over 300%, The Way of The Iceman documents how anyone can use Wim's methods to transform their health and strength, quickly and safely.
"After teaching specialized breathing techniques to SEALs for years, helping them focus, stay warm in the cold ocean and get centered in combat, I can attest to the authenticity and power of Wim Hof's methods. Wim Hof is providing a great service with his new book The Way of The Iceman by bringing breath training and simple, powerful health practices into mainstream consciousness."
--Mark Divine, US Navy SEAL (ret), Founder SEALFIT, Best selling author of Unbeatable Mind and Way of the SEAL
"I am continuously searching for ways to expand my mind, body and spirit--Wim Hof and The Way of The Iceman have done just that! He shows us that human potential is limitless and we are ALL capable of anything we set our minds to."
--Lewis Howes, New York Times bestselling author of The School of Greatness
"What fascinates me most about Wim Hof's method is the potential application for athletes...the science in this book shows that we can all amplify our recovery, maximize our pain tolerance, massively jack up energy levels and even learn to control inflammation...and it can be done without resorting to toxic drugs. In fact, the system outlined in this manual might just be the key to producing a generation of enhanced but drug-free athletes."
--Paul "Coach" Wade, author of Convict Conditioning
"Inspiration inspires. What I like most about Wim and his book is how he taught me to trust my body, overcome fear and give me the best opportunity for success. He mixes personal experience and science--which becomes truly motivating. Wim provides the tools you need to master self-discipline, gain courage and live a vibrant life. He is Aquaman and Tony Robbins rolled into one. He is The Iceman!"
--Jesse Itzler, author of Living With A SEAL
"Homo sapiens is a species that is uniquely and tragically ill-adapted to our environment. Maladies ranging from heart disease to diabetes to autoimmune disorders are generated by the mismatch between the natural world we evolved to live in and the artificial realms in which we find ourselves today. Wim Hof's teachings show us how to recalibrate our bodies in a way that recognizes the extremes of our natural environment as teachers to be celebrated and consulted, rather than enemies to be insulated against. Wim's deepest insights resonate with our hunter-gatherer ancestors, who understood the wisdom of adapting to the natural world rather than trying to dominate and control it."
--Christopher Ryan, PhD., New York Times best-selling author of Sex at Dawn
"We live in a chaotic modern world with daily assaults on our health from frenetic schedules, poor sleep, high stress, chronic disease, and infectious illness. Our brain and nervous system have been highjacked by this toxic environment, always on high alert with real consequences to our physical and mental health.
With The Way of The Iceman , Wim Hof has given a profound gift to public health. The science is solid and the results actual and measureable. As you follow his remarkable life story it is readily apparent that this man is no charlatan or snake oil salesman.
Through years of commitment and self-experimentation, Wim has empirically figured out how to exert significant control over the autonomic nervous system, a feat once thought impossible. His method has held up to scrutiny under the dispassionate lens of science, expanding our knowledge of what is possible with dedicated training in what is now known as the Wim Hof Method.
Deceptively simple, and incredibly powerful, The Way of the Iceman gives you not only the scientific framework, but actionable steps you can implement to take back control over your high-jacked brain, increase resilience from illness, and start healing yourself from the inside out. The Wim Hof Method has become a cornerstone in my personal daily wellness plan, and as a public health physician, I cannot recommend it highly enough."
--Dr. Chris Hardy, D.O. MPH, CSCS, Pu...
"After teaching specialized breathing techniques to SEALs for years, helping them focus, stay warm in the cold ocean and get centered in combat, I can attest to the authenticity and power of Wim Hof's methods. Wim Hof is providing a great service with his new book The Way of The Iceman by bringing breath training and simple, powerful health practices into mainstream consciousness."
--Mark Divine, US Navy SEAL (ret), Founder SEALFIT, Best selling author of Unbeatable Mind and Way of the SEAL
"I am continuously searching for ways to expand my mind, body and spirit--Wim Hof and The Way of The Iceman have done just that! He shows us that human potential is limitless and we are ALL capable of anything we set our minds to."
--Lewis Howes, New York Times bestselling author of The School of Greatness
"What fascinates me most about Wim Hof's method is the potential application for athletes...the science in this book shows that we can all amplify our recovery, maximize our pain tolerance, massively jack up energy levels and even learn to control inflammation...and it can be done without resorting to toxic drugs. In fact, the system outlined in this manual might just be the key to producing a generation of enhanced but drug-free athletes."
--Paul "Coach" Wade, author of Convict Conditioning
"Inspiration inspires. What I like most about Wim and his book is how he taught me to trust my body, overcome fear and give me the best opportunity for success. He mixes personal experience and science--which becomes truly motivating. Wim provides the tools you need to master self-discipline, gain courage and live a vibrant life. He is Aquaman and Tony Robbins rolled into one. He is The Iceman!"
--Jesse Itzler, author of Living With A SEAL
"Homo sapiens is a species that is uniquely and tragically ill-adapted to our environment. Maladies ranging from heart disease to diabetes to autoimmune disorders are generated by the mismatch between the natural world we evolved to live in and the artificial realms in which we find ourselves today. Wim Hof's teachings show us how to recalibrate our bodies in a way that recognizes the extremes of our natural environment as teachers to be celebrated and consulted, rather than enemies to be insulated against. Wim's deepest insights resonate with our hunter-gatherer ancestors, who understood the wisdom of adapting to the natural world rather than trying to dominate and control it."
--Christopher Ryan, PhD., New York Times best-selling author of Sex at Dawn
"We live in a chaotic modern world with daily assaults on our health from frenetic schedules, poor sleep, high stress, chronic disease, and infectious illness. Our brain and nervous system have been highjacked by this toxic environment, always on high alert with real consequences to our physical and mental health.
With The Way of The Iceman , Wim Hof has given a profound gift to public health. The science is solid and the results actual and measureable. As you follow his remarkable life story it is readily apparent that this man is no charlatan or snake oil salesman.
Through years of commitment and self-experimentation, Wim has empirically figured out how to exert significant control over the autonomic nervous system, a feat once thought impossible. His method has held up to scrutiny under the dispassionate lens of science, expanding our knowledge of what is possible with dedicated training in what is now known as the Wim Hof Method.
Deceptively simple, and incredibly powerful, The Way of the Iceman gives you not only the scientific framework, but actionable steps you can implement to take back control over your high-jacked brain, increase resilience from illness, and start healing yourself from the inside out. The Wim Hof Method has become a cornerstone in my personal daily wellness plan, and as a public health physician, I cannot recommend it highly enough."
--Dr. Chris Hardy, D.O. MPH, CSCS, Pu...
168 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
February 10, 2017
Wim Hof technics are surely interesting and the concept of training in cold conditions deserves a further analysis. However I consider this book to be a bad book: it's vague, highly repetitive, written as directed to simple-minded people, and everything it contains can ben summarized in 5-10 pages.
June 13, 2018
I think there is merit to wim hof's techniques. Breathing techniques and exercises have existed for a thousand or more years and "Tummo breathing", which hof mentions as having overlap with his techniques, is part of the six yogas of naropa which were compiled ~1100CE and has long been known to produce positive effects. His cold exposure training has also been studied in labs and shown to have some positivie effects.
However the book would have been better off as a leaflet. It's entirety can be summarised in a few sentences, which I'll do here to save you the effort:
1. Do this breathing exercise until you feel light headed/lethargic: breathe in deeply (but don't force it), breathe out slowly, repeat 30 times. Then take a very deep breath, exhale completely, and hold your breath for as long as you can.
2. Take cold showers daily. Start by taking a warm shower like normal then having a short cold shower. Build up to just taking a cold shower 5+ minutes without a warm shower first. Work on keeping your breathing calm and regular during the cold shower.
3. Once a week put your hands and feet in a bowl of ice water for ~2 minutes
However the book would have been better off as a leaflet. It's entirety can be summarised in a few sentences, which I'll do here to save you the effort:
1. Do this breathing exercise until you feel light headed/lethargic: breathe in deeply (but don't force it), breathe out slowly, repeat 30 times. Then take a very deep breath, exhale completely, and hold your breath for as long as you can.
2. Take cold showers daily. Start by taking a warm shower like normal then having a short cold shower. Build up to just taking a cold shower 5+ minutes without a warm shower first. Work on keeping your breathing calm and regular during the cold shower.
3. Once a week put your hands and feet in a bowl of ice water for ~2 minutes
May 9, 2017
Wim Hof is often presented as a freak of nature. If you’re flipping through the science channels, you might see a segment that shows him subjecting himself to extremely cold temperatures with no ill effects. This book is an attempt by Hof, and co-author Koen De Jong, to counter the proposition that he’s some sort of mutant (or—worse--that his demonstrations are cons) by offering a method by which anyone can achieve the same feats. It should be noted that long before Hof and YouTube came on the scene, there were people [notably Taoist and Tibetan Buddhist monks] performing similar acts.
Hof’s method (called the “Wim Hof Method” or WHM herein and in this book) consists of three components: cold training, breath exercises, and commitment building. The book explores this three-legged stool from both the scientific and practical dimensions. There’s one chapter on each of these elements that describes what it does to the body and how it contributes to well-being, and later chapters both describe what scientific studies have found so far and outline the approach by which the reader can explore the WHM on their own.
There’s a lot of front matter in this book (two forwards, a prologue, and an introduction), but the book more-or-less consists of seven chapters. The first of these is a mini-bio of Hof. It describes a fascinating event in Hof’s youth in which he was exposed to cold, as well as his travels to India in an attempt to find a yoga teacher. [As is the case with most people who come to India seeking to find that quintessential guru—i.e. a half-naked, weather-beaten, and forehead paint-streaked classical guru—he found that he had to wade through a sea of charlatans and shysters while never finding the true masters who are likely hidden away in caves in the Himalayas. Note: this is not to say that one can’t find excellent yoga instruction in India but it’ll likely be by someone fully-clothed and not someone smoking pot on a ghat in Varanasi.] This resulted in Hof taking an experimental approach in which he studied the effects of various activities on himself (and such experimentation is what he advocates for others as well.) It should be noted that Hof didn’t invent this method from scratch—e.g. the breath component is based on Tibetan Tummo meditation.
As mentioned, Chapters 2 through 4 explore the three components of the WHM, i.e. cold training, breath exercise, and commitment building, respectively. These chapters describe the science of how these three elements generally (as opposed to a later chapter that describes studies in more depth) act upon the body. The commitment section describes a number of arduous feats such as climbing Kilimanjaro in a T-shirt and shorts, but also describes the role of diet (with particular emphasis on the fast-5 diet which is similar to, but not precisely, what Hof came to practice organically.)
Chapter 5 dives more deeply into the science than does the preceding chapters, and focuses on the studies in which Hof has participated in his attempt to facilitate a better understanding of his method.
The penultimate chapter suggests what the WHM might do for people in various classes, including: healthy people, athletes, and people suffering from various physical and mental ailments. With respect to the latter, there is discussion of exemplary cases as well as the possible means by which the training might act.
The final chapter is a brief outline of how the WHM can be put into practice by readers. There is also a sample log by which practitioners can chart their experience.
There are a range of graphics including line diagrams and photographs. Most of the photographs are inspirational shots of Hof in action, but there are diagrams and other graphics used to convey scientific ideas. There’s a recommended reading page as well as a works cited page. Both lists are small and confined to a few key sources of information, with the latter being the more scholarly works. There is also a glossary that may prove handy for some readers.
This book is illuminating and many stand to benefit from it. I found the approach of the authors to be sound; it’s basically “see for yourself.” This book could easily have been a sales brochure, and in some ways it is, but the fact that it emphasizes the science and the suggestion that the reader try the practice lends credibility. I’d highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to expand and explore the limits of their capability.
Hof’s method (called the “Wim Hof Method” or WHM herein and in this book) consists of three components: cold training, breath exercises, and commitment building. The book explores this three-legged stool from both the scientific and practical dimensions. There’s one chapter on each of these elements that describes what it does to the body and how it contributes to well-being, and later chapters both describe what scientific studies have found so far and outline the approach by which the reader can explore the WHM on their own.
There’s a lot of front matter in this book (two forwards, a prologue, and an introduction), but the book more-or-less consists of seven chapters. The first of these is a mini-bio of Hof. It describes a fascinating event in Hof’s youth in which he was exposed to cold, as well as his travels to India in an attempt to find a yoga teacher. [As is the case with most people who come to India seeking to find that quintessential guru—i.e. a half-naked, weather-beaten, and forehead paint-streaked classical guru—he found that he had to wade through a sea of charlatans and shysters while never finding the true masters who are likely hidden away in caves in the Himalayas. Note: this is not to say that one can’t find excellent yoga instruction in India but it’ll likely be by someone fully-clothed and not someone smoking pot on a ghat in Varanasi.] This resulted in Hof taking an experimental approach in which he studied the effects of various activities on himself (and such experimentation is what he advocates for others as well.) It should be noted that Hof didn’t invent this method from scratch—e.g. the breath component is based on Tibetan Tummo meditation.
As mentioned, Chapters 2 through 4 explore the three components of the WHM, i.e. cold training, breath exercise, and commitment building, respectively. These chapters describe the science of how these three elements generally (as opposed to a later chapter that describes studies in more depth) act upon the body. The commitment section describes a number of arduous feats such as climbing Kilimanjaro in a T-shirt and shorts, but also describes the role of diet (with particular emphasis on the fast-5 diet which is similar to, but not precisely, what Hof came to practice organically.)
Chapter 5 dives more deeply into the science than does the preceding chapters, and focuses on the studies in which Hof has participated in his attempt to facilitate a better understanding of his method.
The penultimate chapter suggests what the WHM might do for people in various classes, including: healthy people, athletes, and people suffering from various physical and mental ailments. With respect to the latter, there is discussion of exemplary cases as well as the possible means by which the training might act.
The final chapter is a brief outline of how the WHM can be put into practice by readers. There is also a sample log by which practitioners can chart their experience.
There are a range of graphics including line diagrams and photographs. Most of the photographs are inspirational shots of Hof in action, but there are diagrams and other graphics used to convey scientific ideas. There’s a recommended reading page as well as a works cited page. Both lists are small and confined to a few key sources of information, with the latter being the more scholarly works. There is also a glossary that may prove handy for some readers.
This book is illuminating and many stand to benefit from it. I found the approach of the authors to be sound; it’s basically “see for yourself.” This book could easily have been a sales brochure, and in some ways it is, but the fact that it emphasizes the science and the suggestion that the reader try the practice lends credibility. I’d highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to expand and explore the limits of their capability.
November 15, 2023
the method in itself is very interesting, the book however was mediocre at best
January 14, 2020
Great book about the Ice Man Wim Hof. I recently did a workshop to learn the breathing techniques used in this book, followed by an ice bath. It was out of my comfort zone but that's why I tried.
Afterwards I got more interested in the way Wim Hof can control his body and boost his immune system. I was especially curious about the physiology of it all. The book did not really satisfy that curiosity, they explain some parts but I will try to look for articles by researchers since I was not really convinced.
But, the book gives a helpful and clear description about what to do if you want to try these techniques yourself. I did read the dutch version, which was easy to read and well written. On here I see a lot of reviews of the writing being poor, but that must be the translation.
Afterwards I got more interested in the way Wim Hof can control his body and boost his immune system. I was especially curious about the physiology of it all. The book did not really satisfy that curiosity, they explain some parts but I will try to look for articles by researchers since I was not really convinced.
But, the book gives a helpful and clear description about what to do if you want to try these techniques yourself. I did read the dutch version, which was easy to read and well written. On here I see a lot of reviews of the writing being poor, but that must be the translation.
November 9, 2020
Love the method, but I think the book was too short and not as in-depth as I wanted it to be. Worth checking out if you don't have a lot of time and want to get a quick overview of WHM. That said, it's vague and poorly written.
January 13, 2017
Interesting ideas but reads like it was written by a 10 year old
April 23, 2019
Nothing more than an advert for Wim.
November 22, 2024
Както забелязвам всеки път, когато се излъжа да прочета някоя от тоя тип книги, относно ЧОВЕШКИТЕ ПОСТИЖЕНИЯ КОИТО РАЗБИВАТ ВСИЧКИ РАМКИ!!!!!, в тях много рядко има нещо повече от елементарно търсене на сензацията.
Вим Хоф е известен с това, че привлича вниманието на медиите с топенето си в ледени води за повече време, отколкото други хора го правят и със седене гол на високи планински върхове известно време без да умре или измръзне прекалено.
Разбира се, статиите за "невероятните постижения на човешкия дух и възможности", както и самата книга, естествено, представят тия неща като много по-вълнуващи, отколкото ги описах аз, но фактите си остават.
"Методът" на ледения човек, описан в книгата е да се къпем със студена вода и да си топим ръцете в студена вода - така постепенно свикваме със студа и можем да се излагаме на по-голям студ от повечето хора.
Което е безспорно полезно в умерени дози, но ние това си го знаем, а сензационният език на книгата дразни неимоверно. Добре, че е супер тънка.
Вим Хоф е известен с това, че привлича вниманието на медиите с топенето си в ледени води за повече време, отколкото други хора го правят и със седене гол на високи планински върхове известно време без да умре или измръзне прекалено.
Разбира се, статиите за "невероятните постижения на човешкия дух и възможности", както и самата книга, естествено, представят тия неща като много по-вълнуващи, отколкото ги описах аз, но фактите си остават.
"Методът" на ледения човек, описан в книгата е да се къпем със студена вода и да си топим ръцете в студена вода - така постепенно свикваме със студа и можем да се излагаме на по-голям студ от повечето хора.
Което е безспорно полезно в умерени дози, но ние това си го знаем, а сензационният език на книгата дразни неимоверно. Добре, че е супер тънка.
March 20, 2017
I struggled with what to rate this book. I find Hof fascinating but there were portions of the book that clearly came across as being an awkward translation into English some something that would be much more literary in Dutch. This is something I encountered with my Dad sharing Dutch proverbs with me growing up (since my Dutch is largely non-existent).
At the end, I decided to reflect how I felt at the end of reading the book rather than through the process. It would have been a 5 but there is really very little beyond the basics of the method which is understandable since the advanced stuff is what he teaches for a living.
At the end, I decided to reflect how I felt at the end of reading the book rather than through the process. It would have been a 5 but there is really very little beyond the basics of the method which is understandable since the advanced stuff is what he teaches for a living.
April 8, 2020
I thought I'd be sceptical, but what do you know. I'm intrigued.
But what was that about Ibuprofen and longevity? Just a mention, and then nothing.
Well, Google, I guess.
But what was that about Ibuprofen and longevity? Just a mention, and then nothing.
Well, Google, I guess.
May 16, 2019
Късно видях, че книгата е в съавторство с друг човек освен Вим Хоф и както предположих, почти не усетих самия него из книгата, а Кун Де Йонг - неговият съавтор.
Не беше лошо написана, доста обяснителна даже, но видимо от човек, който е фен на този метод, а не от самия основател. Поне аз останах с това впечатление и усещане, а търсех друга връзка в книгата.
Ако сте решили да опитате метода на Вим Хоф, първо проучете повече, тъй като е много здравословен, но трбява да се направи правилно и внимателно. И не е нужно да си купувате тази книга (според мен). Напълно достатъчно би било да гледате клипчетата му онлайн и да получите съвети от първо лице. :)
Не беше лошо написана, доста обяснителна даже, но видимо от човек, който е фен на този метод, а не от самия основател. Поне аз останах с това впечатление и усещане, а търсех друга връзка в книгата.
Ако сте решили да опитате метода на Вим Хоф, първо проучете повече, тъй като е много здравословен, но трбява да се направи правилно и внимателно. И не е нужно да си купувате тази книга (според мен). Напълно достатъчно би било да гледате клипчетата му онлайн и да получите съвети от първо лице. :)
January 1, 2018
Breathing and cold showers
The book has the science and evidence from many individuals that cold showers and breathing help the body and mind. Hof is not saying it can cure any disease, but he does say that it does not hurt to try these simple exercises at home to see if it would help. He also mentions anyone could do these simple exercises to get more energy, sleep better, and to adapt to the cold weather. The book was a quick read, and I recommend reading it.
The book has the science and evidence from many individuals that cold showers and breathing help the body and mind. Hof is not saying it can cure any disease, but he does say that it does not hurt to try these simple exercises at home to see if it would help. He also mentions anyone could do these simple exercises to get more energy, sleep better, and to adapt to the cold weather. The book was a quick read, and I recommend reading it.
October 15, 2017
Great subject matter but the book was a very poor read—presumably due to translation and/or author’s inadequate English. Would still recommend the book to people uninitiated to Wim Hof.
April 3, 2024
En "El poder del frío" de Wim Hof, el autor nos adentra en un viaje revelador hacia la automejora y la salud a través de métodos aparentemente contra intuitivos, como la exposición al frío y ejercicios respiratorios. Hof, con una narrativa que entrelaza su filosofía de vida con sus experiencias personales, sostiene que "el 80 % de lo que hace está relacionado con la respiración" y que el entrenamiento en frío "juega un papel importante a la hora de hacernos sentir bien". Esta idea se complementa con la convicción de que el frío no solo es saludable, sino esencial para aprovechar el potencial físico y mental humano, que según Hof, está al alcance de todos. Es en esta premisa donde Hof nos desafía a redescubrir nuestra capacidad innata para influir en nuestro sistema nervioso autónomo y usar las "grasas de baja energía como combustible".
La obra detalla cómo Hof ha estructurado su vida en torno a la exploración y dominio del frío, empleándolo no solo como medio para mejorar la salud física y mental, sino también como un puente hacia el autoconocimiento. La cita "Nuestra respiración es el vínculo entre el mundo físico y el alma" resume la esencia de su método, que combina técnicas de respiración profunda y exposición al frío para desencadenar cambios positivos en el cuerpo y la mente. A través de anécdotas personales y explicaciones científicas, Hof argumenta que prácticas simples como tomar duchas de agua fría pueden tener efectos profundos, desde mejorar la circulación y el sistema inmunitario hasta aumentar la energía y el bienestar emocional.
Finalmente, "El poder del frío" no es solo un testimonio de las hazañas físicas de Hof, sino un manual práctico que invita al lector a experimentar los beneficios de sus métodos. Hof desmitifica la idea de que el frío es un enemigo, presentándolo como un aliado valioso en la búsqueda del bienestar. Al enfatizar la importancia de la respiración y la capacidad de controlar el sistema nervioso autónomo, el libro ofrece una perspectiva refrescante sobre la salud y el potencial humano. A través de su experiencia personal y los testimonios de aquellos que han adoptado su método, Hof inspira a los lectores a desafiar sus límites, prometiendo un camino hacia una vida más plena y saludable.
La obra detalla cómo Hof ha estructurado su vida en torno a la exploración y dominio del frío, empleándolo no solo como medio para mejorar la salud física y mental, sino también como un puente hacia el autoconocimiento. La cita "Nuestra respiración es el vínculo entre el mundo físico y el alma" resume la esencia de su método, que combina técnicas de respiración profunda y exposición al frío para desencadenar cambios positivos en el cuerpo y la mente. A través de anécdotas personales y explicaciones científicas, Hof argumenta que prácticas simples como tomar duchas de agua fría pueden tener efectos profundos, desde mejorar la circulación y el sistema inmunitario hasta aumentar la energía y el bienestar emocional.
Finalmente, "El poder del frío" no es solo un testimonio de las hazañas físicas de Hof, sino un manual práctico que invita al lector a experimentar los beneficios de sus métodos. Hof desmitifica la idea de que el frío es un enemigo, presentándolo como un aliado valioso en la búsqueda del bienestar. Al enfatizar la importancia de la respiración y la capacidad de controlar el sistema nervioso autónomo, el libro ofrece una perspectiva refrescante sobre la salud y el potencial humano. A través de su experiencia personal y los testimonios de aquellos que han adoptado su método, Hof inspira a los lectores a desafiar sus límites, prometiendo un camino hacia una vida más plena y saludable.
January 12, 2020
Libro para aprender y poder poner en práctica lo aprendido!
January 8, 2019
The writing in this book seems to me very basic in it’s approach and logic, however it gave me what I needed in terms of helping me to understand what the Wim Hof method was all about. Prior to reading the book I didn’t understand the reasons why you would want to do the breathing and the science behind the benefits of cold ice baths and showers.
The book details how Wim Hof believes that cold therapy can affect the autoimmune system and improve the bodies immunity to illness. Wim believes that he can control his autonomic nervous system and the book details some studies and individual experiences that seem to demonstrate an improved immune response through the use of cold therapy and breathing exercises.
The book does cover the basics of the science, however there have been very few studies on the effects of cold therapy on the human body and so the science presented is thin on the ground with quite a bit more research to be done. That aside I think they have done a good job of detailing the research done so far, how an individual can approach it, and why they might want to.
The book details how Wim Hof believes that cold therapy can affect the autoimmune system and improve the bodies immunity to illness. Wim believes that he can control his autonomic nervous system and the book details some studies and individual experiences that seem to demonstrate an improved immune response through the use of cold therapy and breathing exercises.
The book does cover the basics of the science, however there have been very few studies on the effects of cold therapy on the human body and so the science presented is thin on the ground with quite a bit more research to be done. That aside I think they have done a good job of detailing the research done so far, how an individual can approach it, and why they might want to.
January 5, 2019
The book was so much engaging that I have finished the book within two days. I was trying cold therapy myself before being aware of this book. Now, I have even strong motivation to keep continue my cold shower with added breathe techniques.
The book was mostly related with the research findings rather than the technique itself. But it gives strong boost of willingness to keep continue on exposing to the cold. Anyways it has a lot of health benefits.
The book was mostly related with the research findings rather than the technique itself. But it gives strong boost of willingness to keep continue on exposing to the cold. Anyways it has a lot of health benefits.
December 28, 2017
This is an amazing life changing book. Practicing the techniques will bring health, energy and focus to your life. The Science behind and the impact on every cell of your body by using the method its so awesome that will blow your mind.
May 13, 2019
I'm not impressed by the writing, and the science still seems dubious, but nonetheless I'm very excited about the Wim Hof Method and have started incorporating the breathing exercises and cold showers into my routine. Next up, swimming in the Chicago River. Time will tell...
February 22, 2018
Awesome
Great information about possible alternatives to medicine or assists to help improve medicine. Will give this as a gift and recommend to others
Great information about possible alternatives to medicine or assists to help improve medicine. Will give this as a gift and recommend to others
August 6, 2020
Fine, I guess.
August 9, 2021
The 1st of this book's 3 prologues quotes Jiddu Krishnamurti who said that "the cessation of thought is the awakening of intelligence". This quotes tells you lots about Wim Hof's pretensions: so long as you don't think too hard about what he says, he'll sound legit.
The 2nd prologue, written by loveable huckster Jesse Itzler, says that ice-bathing is a shortcut to Nirvana. There's a theme here, which by the end of the book is clear as day: the Wim Hof method has just enough scientific backing to legitimize faith in it, though not enough to consider it true. It's got a religious fervour not present in most other health circles because, if questioned, its paltry foundations might crumble completely. Uncertainty breeds true believers.
The book starts with an overview of Wim's life. He was a spiritual seeker from a young age, who found his own personal nirvana somewhere in India when he dove beneath a freezing waterfall and found his body-mind shocked into silence. He's pursued the freezing cold ever since as his way of training and silencing the mind. This pursuit has seen him do extraordinary things, but that's beside the point. Unless you want to claim his records for weathering extreme cold, why should we care about the Wim Hof method?
Apparently, for health reasons. Research into the Wim Hof method is minimal even now, 5 years after this book was published. What is known, without a doubt, is this: that Hof can increase his metabolic rate by ~300%, keeping him warm in freezing temperatures, and that he can control his autonomic nervous system, which was believed to be impossible, thus giving him resistance on demand to a specific endotoxin. These are impressive feats, to be sure, but increasing the metabolic rate to keep us warm is trivial--nowadays we can just wear more clothes or turn on the air-con--and the practical consequences of controlling the autonomic nervous system remain completely speculative.
Besides that, this book offers nothing but speculation, falsehoods, and rehashes of others' ideas. There is no proven link between cold exposure, brown fat activation, and remission of overweight and obesity. The author notes that many Wim Hof practitioners spontaneously start wearing shoes less, but earthing remains a pseudoscience. Is deep breathing best for "optimal functioning", or is shallow breathing best? Cold exposure actually worsens exercise recovery by dampening the inflammatory response. Twitter messages are cited as evidence that cold water immersion cures varicose veins and more. There's a bizarre mention of an over-the-counter painkiller that might prolong life. It quotes at length the work and ideas of Konstantin Buteyko which have repeatedly been found to be useless except for mild cases of asthma.
This book is full of anecdotes, religious fervour, and speculation. Go to an ice-bath course if there's one nearby, they're fun. But cold water immersion is not a cure all. In fact, it's not been proven to cure anything.
The 2nd prologue, written by loveable huckster Jesse Itzler, says that ice-bathing is a shortcut to Nirvana. There's a theme here, which by the end of the book is clear as day: the Wim Hof method has just enough scientific backing to legitimize faith in it, though not enough to consider it true. It's got a religious fervour not present in most other health circles because, if questioned, its paltry foundations might crumble completely. Uncertainty breeds true believers.
The book starts with an overview of Wim's life. He was a spiritual seeker from a young age, who found his own personal nirvana somewhere in India when he dove beneath a freezing waterfall and found his body-mind shocked into silence. He's pursued the freezing cold ever since as his way of training and silencing the mind. This pursuit has seen him do extraordinary things, but that's beside the point. Unless you want to claim his records for weathering extreme cold, why should we care about the Wim Hof method?
Apparently, for health reasons. Research into the Wim Hof method is minimal even now, 5 years after this book was published. What is known, without a doubt, is this: that Hof can increase his metabolic rate by ~300%, keeping him warm in freezing temperatures, and that he can control his autonomic nervous system, which was believed to be impossible, thus giving him resistance on demand to a specific endotoxin. These are impressive feats, to be sure, but increasing the metabolic rate to keep us warm is trivial--nowadays we can just wear more clothes or turn on the air-con--and the practical consequences of controlling the autonomic nervous system remain completely speculative.
Besides that, this book offers nothing but speculation, falsehoods, and rehashes of others' ideas. There is no proven link between cold exposure, brown fat activation, and remission of overweight and obesity. The author notes that many Wim Hof practitioners spontaneously start wearing shoes less, but earthing remains a pseudoscience. Is deep breathing best for "optimal functioning", or is shallow breathing best? Cold exposure actually worsens exercise recovery by dampening the inflammatory response. Twitter messages are cited as evidence that cold water immersion cures varicose veins and more. There's a bizarre mention of an over-the-counter painkiller that might prolong life. It quotes at length the work and ideas of Konstantin Buteyko which have repeatedly been found to be useless except for mild cases of asthma.
This book is full of anecdotes, religious fervour, and speculation. Go to an ice-bath course if there's one nearby, they're fun. But cold water immersion is not a cure all. In fact, it's not been proven to cure anything.
January 16, 2021
The Way of the Iceman provides information about the benefits of cold showers and breathing exercises. The concepts are well explained and the book is written in a very basic way that everyone could understand. For someone like me who already has knowledge about the benefits of being exposed to cold temperature, I expected more details considering all the knowledge and expertise that Wim Hof has. However, this book is a very good start for people who wants to learn about the Wim Hof technique. As always, be judgemental when you read books: it has been proven that the cold helps for depression and anxiety and many other problems, but if you have a condition that requires you to take medication, take them and add those exercises.
I would recommend this book to anyone, always happy to share my love for the cold and all the benefits you can get from it.
I would recommend this book to anyone, always happy to share my love for the cold and all the benefits you can get from it.
March 31, 2020
Very interesting read content-wise, but unfortunately it was poorly written. It appears to be written for a non-scientific audience (or; at least one that doesn't read books often..), but I'd expect people who choose to read this work are interested in personal development and the functionings of the human body; which makes the easy writing redundant.
Nonetheless, it's concise and contains practical advice, and I did appreciate the tone of the book ('it's not enough to understand it at an intellectual level, you'll need to experience it for yourself by taking cold showers. Which is very accessible.') I for one have been taking cold showers since I finished reading it:)
Nonetheless, it's concise and contains practical advice, and I did appreciate the tone of the book ('it's not enough to understand it at an intellectual level, you'll need to experience it for yourself by taking cold showers. Which is very accessible.') I for one have been taking cold showers since I finished reading it:)
August 24, 2020
4 stars purely for the interesting biological facts about the body regarding breathing and cold showers. As for instructions for exercises? I feel like it lacks so much depth compared to his 10 weeks course, so this more of "handbook that explains why his course work" rather than a teaching guide.
December 26, 2021
Vytecne napsany, precteny za jeden den (ackoliv datum na goodreads je jiny) a predevsim podlozeno jmeny, institucemi a fakty, ktere existuji (!) V teto dobe je velmi dulezite dbat na pravdivost. Wimovy metody urcite vyzkousim. Jsou primitivni, ale ocividne funguji. V jednoduchosti je sila a to tenhle borec vi.
February 3, 2023
This year I am making it a goal to read one “self help” book a month and as I am beginning to practice the Wim Hof Method, I wanted a good summary of what I am embarking on. It definitely presents interesting points and inspiring anecdotal evidence
September 24, 2023
A quick read that I finished in one day. Interesting but I am not sure I am really into the material.
August 16, 2019
Oh give me a break. The introduction says the author approached this as a skeptic but then has nothing bad to say about the iceman.
Still the book has gotten me to do a few breathing exercises and cold showers but I won’t be hiking without clothes in winter to cure every disease.
Still the book has gotten me to do a few breathing exercises and cold showers but I won’t be hiking without clothes in winter to cure every disease.
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