As the recession continues, some writers are going back to the basics. Way, way back. A Sunday NY Times article reported on “new cavemen” living in New York–an urban tribe that believe in imitating the diet and exercise habits of our “Paleolithic ancestors.”

The article cites University of California economics professor Arthur De Vany (pictured, via). De Vany will publish “The New Evolution Diet: The Smart Way to Lose Weight, Feel Great and Live Longer” in the UK next year. The article described his work: “Mr. De Vany’s blog promotes what he calls Evolutionary Fitness. Like his disciples in New York, he believes that ancient humans could perform physical feats that would awe the gym rats of today.”

De Vany isn’t the only writer focusing on this diet and exercise movement. Loren Cordain, Ph.D., published “The Paleo Diet: Lose Weight and Get Healthy by Eating the Food You Were Designed to Eat” and “The Paleo Diet for Athletes: A Nutritional Formula for Peak Athletic Performance.”

Finally, last year Nora Teresa Gedgaudas published another book, “Primal Body-Primal Mind: Empower Your Total Health The Way Evolution Intended (…And Didn’t). The Amazon description actually referred to the caveman trend in publishing: “Never again be confused-or fooled-by misleading or conflicting dietary information! This is NOT just another book about ‘caveman diets’ or ‘low carb eating.’ Although these topics are covered, there is a unique ‘twist’ to the material that will have you seeing your health and your diet in a way you never have before.”