Lifespan
Why We Age—and Why We Don't Have To
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4.3 • 312 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“Brilliant and enthralling.” —The Wall Street Journal
A paradigm-shifting book from an acclaimed Harvard Medical School scientist and one of Time’s most influential people.
It’s a seemingly undeniable truth that aging is inevitable. But what if everything we’ve been taught to believe about aging is wrong? What if we could choose our lifespan?
In this groundbreaking book, Dr. David Sinclair, leading world authority on genetics and longevity, reveals a bold new theory for why we age. As he writes: “Aging is a disease, and that disease is treatable.”
This eye-opening and provocative work takes us to the frontlines of research that is pushing the boundaries on our perceived scientific limitations, revealing incredible breakthroughs—many from Dr. David Sinclair’s own lab at Harvard—that demonstrate how we can slow down, or even reverse, aging. The key is activating newly discovered vitality genes, the descendants of an ancient genetic survival circuit that is both the cause of aging and the key to reversing it. Recent experiments in genetic reprogramming suggest that in the near future we may not just be able to feel younger, but actually become younger.
Through a page-turning narrative, Dr. Sinclair invites you into the process of scientific discovery and reveals the emerging technologies and simple lifestyle changes—such as intermittent fasting, cold exposure, exercising with the right intensity, and eating less meat—that have been shown to help us live younger and healthier for longer. At once a roadmap for taking charge of our own health destiny and a bold new vision for the future of humankind, Lifespan will forever change the way we think about why we age and what we can do about it.
Customer Reviews
Very helpful information in the first 2/3 of the book
Understanding the biology behind aging was very informational, but not necessary, to the common practices that can allow us to extend our lifespan and health-span. To me, the best chapters were in part two of the book where Dr. Sinclair discusses what we can do to live a longer and better life. The last two chapters, the third part of the book, seemed like more speculation than true facts. As a whole, I would highly recommend this book to people with above-average reading comprehension.
Worth reading
Informative, readable, relatable, and thought provoking.
Fascinating material
David Sinclair has a lot to offer in this book. The subject matter is urgent, and worth reading if you have an interest in optimizing your health for longevity. There are a lot of moments in the book, however, that tend to drift away from the health aspect of the book. In one chapter, he speaks entirely of the politics of longer lives, which I’d argue has little to do with why I and others would have picked up the book in the first place. The sentiment is worth reading, just not why I chose to read the book. Sinclair tries to offer some of the context necessary to understand the science of longevity, but without a background in biology, it tends to get really hard to understand. It isn’t his fault, just a fact of the subject matter.
Overall, really good stuff. Definitely a must read for health nerds.