Outlive

I agree with another review here that this book should have a different title / tagline. I would not have picked it up except it was recommended to me.

A high level review of why we should be interested in our healthspan, not our lifespan. Plenty of "common sense but commonly ignored" things that you should consider, the earlier the better.

We should not expect to abuse and fail to maintain our bodies for 40 years and then rely on medicine to "fix" it.

I found this more useful than most self-help books - it aims to challenge and change your mindset.

Every time I read a book with a US centric viewpoint which mentions the yearly MOT people have with their MD, I wonder why we don't have that here.

When this book was recommended to me I was put off by the title. The author clears it up in the first chapter: the goal is to live as well as possible, not long as possible. Most people who live into their 70s, 80s or beyond have what he calls "a marginal" decade when their health, strengths, and mental focus decline. But -- unless you are unlucky genetically or from some trauma -- it does not have to be marginal at all. You do have to take responsibility for your health at your current age and "bank reserves" to utilize in your old age. Reserves of muscle, aerobic fitness, neurological pathways and social connections (in real life not online).

I think everyone should read this book, the younger the better

It is a primer for the subject matter, but a very good one. If you are starting off reading about modern longevity studies I'd have a tough time recommending anything else more.

Will it motivate you to put the info into action? That's on you. But if you are not the type to be easily motivated to make some simple changes to temporarily evade merging with the infinite...then probably not. Maybe instead think of it like this: it might give you a better probability of reading an obit for someone you weren't fond of.

This book should pass the test of time, even if some of the specific treatments, routines and advice will likely be outdated in 5-20 years. The goal to live (and the methods to achieve) a rich and active life that you can enjoy in your 80s and 90s is something that most health books don't even consider.

The chapter about Peter's mental health made the book stand out amongst similar "here's how to be healthy" books.