Why We Die
The New Science of Aging and the Quest for Immortality
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"Utterly fascinating." —Bill Bryson
"An incredible journey." —Siddhartha Mukherjee
*WINNER OF THE 2025 ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN PUBLISHERS PROSE AWARD FOR BEST BOOK ON BIOLOGY*
*2025 NAUTILUS BOOK AWARDS GOLD WINNER FOR SCIENCE AND COSMOLOGY*
A groundbreaking exploration of the science of longevity and mortality—from Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist Venki Ramakrishnan
The knowledge of death is so terrifying that we live most of our lives in denial of it. One of the most difficult moments of childhood must be when each of us first realizes that not only we but all our loved ones will die—and there is nothing we can do about it.
Or at least, there hasn’t been. Today, we are living through a revolution in biology. Giant strides are being made in understanding why we age—and why some species live longer than others. Could we eventually cheat disease and death and live for a very long time, possibly many times our current lifespan?
Venki Ramakrishnan, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and former president of the Royal Society, takes us on a riveting journey to the frontiers of biology, asking whether we must be mortal. Covering the recent breakthroughs in scientific research, he examines the cutting edge of efforts to extend lifespan by altering our physiology. But might death serve a necessary biological purpose? What are the social and ethical costs of attempting to live forever?
Why We Die is a narrative of uncommon insight and beauty from one of our leading public intellectuals.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This discerning study by Ramakrishnan (Gene Machine), a Nobel Prize–winning molecular biologist, examines the science of aging and efforts to stop it. Discussing the molecular processes that contribute to aging, he explains that the ends of chromosomes feature repeated genetic sequences, some of which are lost every time a cell divides until the replicated sequences have been exhausted. At that point, the cell stops dividing, reducing the body's capacity to regenerate tissue. Ramakrishnan demonstrates a healthy skepticism when surveying attempts to extend human life, suggesting that while some animal studies indicate calorie-restricted diets and transfusing younger individuals' blood into older patients might slow aging, there's not yet enough evidence that these strategies would work for humans. The author has a knack for making biology accessible ("You can think of damage to mitochondria from oxidation as a case of our cells rusting from within"), and he brings a searching philosophical sensibility when considering the wisdom of seeking to extend life, cautioning that "a greatly extended life span would deprive our lives of urgency and meaning, a desire to make each day count." The result is a strikingly pensive exploration of how bodies decline and whether efforts to slow that process are worth the cost.
