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The Longevity Code: Your Personal Prescription for a Longer, Sweeter Life
Zorba Paster , and Susan Meltsner Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback  General
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ASIN: 0609808141 Release Date: 2001-12-26 |
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Longevity is determined by more than a good diet, low cholesterol levels, exercise, good genes, and avoidance of smoking, says Zorba Paster, M.D., an instructor at the University of Wisconsin Medical School and family medicine practitioner. (His call-in radio program, Zorba Paster on Your Health, is heard on National Public Radio.) "Just as critical are how much you like your job, whether you have a good or rotten relationship with your parents and children, what sort of friendships you have, whether you're depressed or happy, angry or delighted, abusive or kindhearted." In The Longevity Code, Paster explains the five "spheres of wellness": physical, mental, kinship (family and social), spiritual, and material (meaningful work, sufficient money, safe and pleasing surroundings). If you have balance and good health in all five spheres, says Paster, you'll live longer.Not every "longevity booster" is right for everybody, so Paster uses self-tests, fill-in charts, activity suggestions, and plenty of anecdotes to help you develop your own individualized plan. Then he offers 76 "boosters": steps that you can take to increase your longevity. Some are simple to put into action immediately, such as "own a pet," "drink plenty of water," and "take care of your teeth and gums." Others, however, take a great deal more effort and commitment, such as "reduce air pollution, radon, and indoor toxins," "don't live in a violent environment," and "cultivate a resilient, optimistic, can-do attitude." Paster offers tips to get you started on each one that you choose. --Joan Price
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We're all interested in living a long life, but few of us are willing to sacrifice everything to attain that longevity. After all, what good is living an additional decade at the expense of enjoying the previous ones?Customer Reviews:
Wonderful for someone wanting to make lifestyle changes........2001-05-09
He covers issues like getting out of abusive an relationship and a negative job environment and much of what he has in the book has been covered in a vast number of other books and magazines, and even on TV.
But for someone who doesn't read alot of books on making lifestyle changes this is one that will probably have in it, the information that one might need 5-6 other books to cover.
It is a great book for the person who has never made positive lifestyle choices and needs a book that will cover all the bases.
A full life is more important than a low cholesterol!.......2001-03-19
Dr. Zorba's main point, just like the Greek's, is that there's more to life than simply good cholesterol and a low blood pressure. It's not that these strictly medical points are unimportant, it's just that the other areas in one's world can be just as significant, if not more so, in making life long.....and sweet. Dr. Zorba divides life into five interconnected spheres: physical, mental, kinship/social, spiritual and material (financial and job-related.) In each of these spheres readers are encouraged to find their own personal strengths and weaknesses. The book has a series of fill-in-the-blank charts and lists to help you personalize this information. There is a set of cards in the book's center with which can be used for "Playing the hand you're dealt." The game is to arrange you longevity "boosters" and "busters" into some kind of order, discarding the ones that don't count for your specific genetics and lifestyle, and then to work on the ones that define your own unique longevity "game." It may be a little hokey, but I got a lot of good ideas for myself out of it.
What I really enjoyed about the book, though, were the stories. Just as things would start to get a little dull, the good doctor would tell a little tale about one of his own patients to make the point. I particularly liked the one about "Ralph," whose two-month ride up to Alaska on a Harley did more good for his good health and longevity than all the standard medical advice he'd been given before it. This was true despite the fact that motorcycle riding is "dangerous," if looked at out of context. Although riding a motorcycle may worsen your odds in the strictly physical sphere, it may actually boost your overall life expectancy when the mental, social and even spiritual spheres of the experience are included. In fact, motorcycling your way to a long life has a kind of Zen feeling about it, especially when you include the bike maintenance.
This actually seems relevant, by the way, given the book's unexpected introduction by the Dalai Lama.
Anyway, "The Longevity Code" seems like a well-balanced book, written by a natural storyteller whose advice is backed up by scientific evidence and clarified by examples from his life as an actual family doctor. I was surprised how much I really liked it.
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