The fundamental theory of this web site is that the human organism is exquisitely adapted to an environment that no longer exists.  Our modern world is totally inappropriate for the bodies we inhabit.  The vast majority of our mental and physical problems result from this mismatch.  The solution is to find ways to recreate that evolutionary environment in our daily lives.

This web site's goal is to provide you, descendant of the sole surviving species of genus Homo -- the baddest mammalian predators that ever lived -- insights and entertainment to supplement your primal lifestyle.

There are a lot of primal/paleo web sites these days.  How is yours different?

First of all, I'm a complete amateur.  I'm not formally educated in medicine, physiology, nutrition, or any such thing (although I do have an anthropology degree).  I don't make a living off my primal lifestyle; I'm just a regular guy with a desk job.  Only in late 2009 did I discover that health is important, and that gave me the zeal of the converted.  The body's ability to heal itself truly amazes me, and this web site is an outlet for that enthusiasm.

Second, you will notice there are no ads on this web site.  One reason is that I am too technically maladroit to figure out how to implement them.  But the main reason is that I want you to know my opinions are not affected by any outside interest.  Here at Urban Primalist, we do it all for the love.

Could you elaborate a little bit on this philosophy of "primalism"?

Anatomically modern humans have existed for at least 200,000 years.  About 70,000 years ago, the Toba volcano exploded in one of Earth's largest volcanic eruptions, plunging the earth into prolonged winter.  Very few plants and animals in the region survived, and populations of predators around the world plunged.  Homo Sapiens Sapiens was reduced to as few as 1,000 breeding pairs.

Those survivors were the toughest, smartest, most resourceful predators the world had ever seen.  Every other humanoid species -- members of a genus over two million years old -- subsequently died out, but these men and women miraculously survived.  We are their direct descendants.

Only 10,000 years ago, our recent ancestors discovered agriculture and built the first cities.  It was humanity's greatest mistake (PDF).  Although our numbers multiplied, our stature and brain capacity collapsed.  Former apex predators are now barely surviving on a diet of unbalanced and anti-nutritious foods in a toxic environment.  The average human brain capacity today is significantly smaller than that of our ancestors who survived Toba.  Mankind is a degenerate victim of his own success.

But the damage, though dramatic, is only superficial -- and reversible. 

We are now experiencing another winnowing of the genome, driven this time by technological and cultural change rather than natural disaster.  Will your descendants and ideas still exist 70,000 years from now?  Don't drop the ball!

How did you get into this?

Despite some casual attempts to get fit, I found my health slipping away as the years passed.  At 33 years old, I weighed over 200 pounds (at 5'9") with snowballing health complaints.  When my son was conceived, I was motivated to shape up fast.  But I had no idea what I was doing and didn't have much successwith conventional approaches to health.

Then I stumbled across Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint, and the lights turned on.  I made a complete recovery within a week from all my health complaints.  I lost 25 pounds of fat in the first two months and just kept getting stronger.  It was better than winning the lottery, and I learned for the first time what it feels like to be a free man.

Since then, I've wanted to share the truth about healthy living with others who might be stuck in the same position.  The urban environment is full of traps, but with the right knowledge, we can thrive in this environment, just as our ancestors did in every other environment since leaving the rainforest.

I welcome all thoughtful correspondence.  Heck, even thoughtless correspondence will get a reply.  Address your email to Timothy at this domain.