Lifespan: Why We Age - and Why We Don't Have To
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- Create Date：2021-04-04 08:53:34
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：David A. Sinclair
- ISBN：0008292345
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Summary
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 book takes us to the frontlines of research 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。
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 book takes us to the frontlines of research 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。
Reviews
Filip Cvetko
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Very good and different from what I had expected。 It's not exactly generic。 Very good and different from what I had expected。 It's not exactly generic。 。。。more
Zhivko Kabaivanov
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Lifespan （2019） delves into cutting-edge genetic research and advances new theories on why we age and how we can prevent aging altogether。 From high-tech lab research to simple nutritional strategies， it serves as a guide to the varied ways in which we can already， or might soon be able to live longer and better lives。
QUINNS
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According to this book， we must reframe our approach to ageing if we want to live longer， healthier and better lives。 Ageing is not a fact of life but a disease that has the potential both to be understood and cured。 Genetics researchers seek a turning back of the clock on the ageing process; we are on the cusp of a world where ageing is no longer an inevitable part of life。 We are moving closer to a world where ageing will be optional， and people live longer than ever before。
Bob
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Definitely worth reading。 Made me very hopeful on the progress of not living forever but extending the quality of life into old age。 I became more aware how much control I have on this with every day choices！
Nat
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I'm sorry， but as a person living in a third world country where decent healthcare is not accessible to most people I find it hard to believe that it will somehow magically improve all over the world to the point where we all become immortal。 ***Didn't like that the author was implying that people should take certain supplements that were only proven to be beneficial for mice so far and haven't been studied properly on humans。 ***Didn't like the "animal based food = bad" propaganda。 *** Didn't f I'm sorry， but as a person living in a third world country where decent healthcare is not accessible to most people I find it hard to believe that it will somehow magically improve all over the world to the point where we all become immortal。 ***Didn't like that the author was implying that people should take certain supplements that were only proven to be beneficial for mice so far and haven't been studied properly on humans。 ***Didn't like the "animal based food = bad" propaganda。 *** Didn't finish the book as it became too boring as the author switched to philosophizing about the morals of achieving longer lifespan for humans。 。。。more
Cora Foerstner
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I’m giving this 4 stars because I think there are a few aspects of the book that some readers might not understand from the blurb。 I hope this review will give potential readers a better understanding of what to expect from Lifespan。 1） If you aren’t a science person， this is going to be a slower read。 I fall into this category。 There’s a lot of research and detailed explanations， which is a positive for me—I wanted to understand a little about his research and the why behind his recommendations I’m giving this 4 stars because I think there are a few aspects of the book that some readers might not understand from the blurb。 I hope this review will give potential readers a better understanding of what to expect from Lifespan。 1） If you aren’t a science person， this is going to be a slower read。 I fall into this category。 There’s a lot of research and detailed explanations， which is a positive for me—I wanted to understand a little about his research and the why behind his recommendations。 So if you aren’t someone who loves science but likes to understand the research behind a subject， this might be for you。 Sinclair does an excellent job of making his research palatable and understandable for a lay person; his explanations are easy to understand。 I loved his graphics and illustrations。 For me， his efforts to make his research accessible to everyone was a strength。2） If you are a science person， this book might be basic for you。 I suspect he wrote this book for people like me—an average person interested in being healthy and living a long active life。 If you already have an excellent knowledge of longevity studies and want a deeply academic book that goes into all the minute details， and you are deeply interested in the latest research， my suspicion is you might be disappointed。 If you have a little knowledge and want more， you’ll benefit。3） He’s quick to point out that there isn’t a pill that’s going to create longevity。 Exercise， healthy eating， and practicing lifestyle changed that promote good health are part of living longer。 He goes into this in the book。 4） A good portion of the second half of the book is a discussion on the morality， ethics， the medical applications of his research， problems as well as positive aspects of his research and of people living longer active lives。 a。 Some will find this annoying—it’s a pretty big switch from scientific research and stories about his discoveries。 b。 Personally， I liked this discussion。 As I read the book， my daughter and I discussed issues this research might have on society。 For example: longevity and better health becoming available for the wealthy， but the poor and those with lower incomes unable to benefit。 So， since I’d already thought about some of these things， I was pleased he recognized potential problems and wanted to address those issues。 I admire his honesty and acknowledgements of social issues。5） As much as I like his discussion （see #4）， I suspect a shorter discuss of those topics would have served him better。 The flip side of that is he couldn’t go into a lot of detail and fully address the issues he brought up。 A single book devoted to those issues might interest many people， perhaps with other scientists and medical doctors as co-authors addressing the needs and the “how to” of incorporating longevity research into our healthcare system。 Society definitely needs to address these topics。I hope this helps future readers。 I’d recommend this book， especially if you are someone who wants to make lifestyle changes to improve your health。 。。。more
Beatriz
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Very interesting
Tony Norton
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A book that demands life reassessment。 Difficult concepts rendered entirely understandable。 A fantastic introduction to one of the areas of disruption that together will change the way we live。 Highly recommended to anyone interested in societal change。
Hazel Bright
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Well， they don't teach professors how to teach， do they？ Pedagogy is for lesser human beings。 And that approach is apparent throughout the bulk of this book。 Lots of folksy I-was-once-a-fun-kiddie-had-a-neato-grandma type filler， lots of look-at-me-I'm-from-Harvard-hence-am-smarter-than-you type filler， lots of but-hey-I-gotta-sell-books-I'm-really-just-a-regular-guy-please-like-me type filler， lots of trying-to-be-neato-for-the-undergrads type filler， and a little tiny bit of science。Really dis Well， they don't teach professors how to teach， do they？ Pedagogy is for lesser human beings。 And that approach is apparent throughout the bulk of this book。 Lots of folksy I-was-once-a-fun-kiddie-had-a-neato-grandma type filler， lots of look-at-me-I'm-from-Harvard-hence-am-smarter-than-you type filler， lots of but-hey-I-gotta-sell-books-I'm-really-just-a-regular-guy-please-like-me type filler， lots of trying-to-be-neato-for-the-undergrads type filler， and a little tiny bit of science。Really disappointing。 。。。more
Kathryn
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Absolutely wonderful。
Way Chuang
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I don't want to drag on to old age because of the fear of prolonged sickness， but the author offers a solution， which albeit works in the animal trials and anecdotal accounts on human beings。 I am starting to take NMN and advised my mum to do so too。 I hope it will bear fruit on me 6 months down the road。 Fingers crossed。 I don't want to drag on to old age because of the fear of prolonged sickness， but the author offers a solution， which albeit works in the animal trials and anecdotal accounts on human beings。 I am starting to take NMN and advised my mum to do so too。 I hope it will bear fruit on me 6 months down the road。 Fingers crossed。 。。。more
tatsumi
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A ‘Fountain Of Youth’ Pill？ Sure， If You’re A Mouse。另一种套路w A ‘Fountain Of Youth’ Pill？ Sure， If You’re A Mouse。另一种套路w 。。。more
Alex Beaver
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Researchers have discovered the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate longevity and aging， and one day may be able to extend life expectancy by several decades。
Henry
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A bit too technical for me， long and dull。
Erica Clou
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Parts of it in the first half were really interesting， but it was also full of filler， repetition， and less than fascinating chapters in the second half。 I think he might have benefited from talking to some less privileged communities because some of the things he said， especially with regards to the job market， seemed way off the mark。 He seems to be unaware of the reality beyond the pre-2020 economic job-numbers which stop counting people that have "stopped looking for work。" Parts of it in the first half were really interesting， but it was also full of filler， repetition， and less than fascinating chapters in the second half。 I think he might have benefited from talking to some less privileged communities because some of the things he said， especially with regards to the job market， seemed way off the mark。 He seems to be unaware of the reality beyond the pre-2020 economic job-numbers which stop counting people that have "stopped looking for work。" 。。。more
TheWink
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There really is nothing new that I can add to other people's reviews。 If you， like me， have never read anything at all about the research being done on aging as a disease， then this book is a good place to start。 The material in the book that disappointed me was whenever he strayed in areas not having to do with the study of aging （nutritional advice， technological biotracking， predictions in areas outside of aging， etc。）。 Overall， if the author stuck to discussing the history of aging， past and There really is nothing new that I can add to other people's reviews。 If you， like me， have never read anything at all about the research being done on aging as a disease， then this book is a good place to start。 The material in the book that disappointed me was whenever he strayed in areas not having to do with the study of aging （nutritional advice， technological biotracking， predictions in areas outside of aging， etc。）。 Overall， if the author stuck to discussing the history of aging， past and current research in aging as a disease， and what more could be pursued in the research of aging， then the book would have been shorter （page count probably cut in half） and more impactful。 Now that my appetite for knowledge about aging has been whetted， I look forward to reading more about this subject in the future。 。。。more
J Pablo
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Changed my understanding on ageing Fantastically well written book that completely changed my understanding of ageing。 Some of the chapters at the start were a bit technical but nothing too difficult to grasp。
DoeJoe
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Stopped eating lunch。 I better now live healthily until at least 120， Mr。 Sinclair， or else I will revise my rating significantly downward。
Alexander Hudtwalcker
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What a book！ It's amazing to see how far science has come and all the research this scientists are doing。 I hope that goverments and the people are ready for what's to come。 What a book！ It's amazing to see how far science has come and all the research this scientists are doing。 I hope that goverments and the people are ready for what's to come。 。。。more
Shanzi
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Pros: author does a good job of explaining the science behind aging and explaining the societal impacts （both good and bad） of extending the average human lifespan。 He convinced me that extending my lifespan by 10-15 years is completely feasible with a few lifestyle adjustments。 His intro and conclusion sections are stellar。 Cons: at times the book read like my high school biology textbook which made it hard for me to be fully engaged in the text。 I wish he was quicker to make his points （just t Pros: author does a good job of explaining the science behind aging and explaining the societal impacts （both good and bad） of extending the average human lifespan。 He convinced me that extending my lifespan by 10-15 years is completely feasible with a few lifestyle adjustments。 His intro and conclusion sections are stellar。 Cons: at times the book read like my high school biology textbook which made it hard for me to be fully engaged in the text。 I wish he was quicker to make his points （just tell me what I have to do！！！） 。。。more
mehmet umut çağlar
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The first scientific part is amazing* especially Sinclair's last paper about the self-repair of eye neurons gives additional power to the book。 When the book published the results were just promising。 When I was reading the book the results are published。 As humanity， we manage to repair an adult mammal neuron by just bringing it to a "young" state。 That is an amazing booster for the impact of the book。https://www。nature。com/articles/s4158。。。* I also believe the book helped the writer to find th The first scientific part is amazing* especially Sinclair's last paper about the self-repair of eye neurons gives additional power to the book。 When the book published the results were just promising。 When I was reading the book the results are published。 As humanity， we manage to repair an adult mammal neuron by just bringing it to a "young" state。 That is an amazing booster for the impact of the book。https://www。nature。com/articles/s4158。。。* I also believe the book helped the writer to find the 200m$ for his Spac which might end up with an amazing company and the products we are all looking for。https://wallstreetpit。com/116075-davi。。。The second sociological part is weak。*He tries to do a decent job in a field that he is not an expert in。 *Do not read those parts as discussions of a scientific expert， but look at them as opinions of a curious intellectual。 You may or may not agree with those opinions but they are not backed up with enough data。 。。。more
Luke
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https://youtu。be/hEVLyPwJAZQ https://youtu。be/hEVLyPwJAZQ 。。。more
Srakyi
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Přestože většinu konceptů z knížky znám a sleduju z povzdálí， líbilo se mi polsechnout si je hezky uceleně na jednom místě。 A Sinclairovo （podložené） přesvědčení o tom， že stáří je nemoc， kterou zanedlouho budeme běžně léčit， dává do hlavy hromadu brouků。。。 :）
Lukasz
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I loved it。 A great insight into the science of aging and the newest discoveries。
Mr JM Pearse
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Great book explaining exciting developments that should ensure a much more pleasant old age。 There the obvious personal elements like staying fit and active， eating healthily and experimenting with cold and heat shocks to the body， but the advances of drugs like Rapamycin and Metformin are really exciting。 I'm 49 already。 I just hope those drugs become easily accessible with well-understood protocols soon。 Great book explaining exciting developments that should ensure a much more pleasant old age。 There the obvious personal elements like staying fit and active， eating healthily and experimenting with cold and heat shocks to the body， but the advances of drugs like Rapamycin and Metformin are really exciting。 I'm 49 already。 I just hope those drugs become easily accessible with well-understood protocols soon。 。。。more
Karen Shilvock-Cinefro
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An interesting science and research based book on living longer。 It is amazing what the future may hold for aging and the author brings up his and his colleagues research but I have a feeling we maybe a ways off from finding the fountain of youth。
Natalie
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Very thought-provoking！
DaniSanti
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David Sinclair is a passionate scientist about aging， and he transmits that in the book。David explains in a very thoughtful way the new theory about aging as a treatable disease by avoiding losing information， using the DVD metaphor。Despite the complexity of scientific terms， the co-author Matthew makes it very easy to follow the topics and understand them， in most cases。Highly recommendable if you are interested in science， aging， biology， 。。。While I do not think this is the final theory about David Sinclair is a passionate scientist about aging， and he transmits that in the book。David explains in a very thoughtful way the new theory about aging as a treatable disease by avoiding losing information， using the DVD metaphor。Despite the complexity of scientific terms， the co-author Matthew makes it very easy to follow the topics and understand them， in most cases。Highly recommendable if you are interested in science， aging， biology， 。。。While I do not think this is the final theory about aging， thanks to David I am more curious about it and care for myself following these principles and ideas。 Even when this theory may not be the final one， it helps to understand more why we age and be closer to a final theory。 。。。more
Brenda
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I heard the author interviewed on the podcast Smartless then I bought his book。 It is a fascinating and NB read。 More changes are being made to my lifestyle now to live well， being a senior。 Hope is on the horizon。 Thanks to the author for his work & sharing the knowledge now。
Tena
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