Drop Dead Healthy

One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection

By: A. J. Jacobs

Narrated by: A. J. Jacobs

Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author and king of "immersion journalism" A.J. Jacobs tackles his most challenging experiment yet: a yearlong mission to radically improve every element of his body and mind - from his brain to his fingertips to his abs.

Having lifted his spirit in The Year of Living Biblically and sharpened his mind in The Know-It-All, A. J. Jacobs had one feat left in the self-improvement trinity: to become the healthiest man in the world. He doesn't just want to lose a couple of pounds, or finish a triathlon, or lower his cholesterol.

First, he had to tackle a complicated web of diet and exercise advice, most which is nonsensical, unproven, and contradictory. Second, he had to consult a team of medical advisers. And finally, he had to subject himself, over the course of two years, to a grueling regimen of exercises, a range of diets and nutritional plans, and a brutal array of techniques and practices to improve everything from his hearing to his sleep - all the while testing the patience of his wife.

This latest work bursts with hilarity and warmth, all the while testing our culture's assumptions and obsessions with what makes good health and allowing the listener to reflect on his or her own health, body, and eventual mortality.

©2012 A. J. Jacobs (P)2012 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

“We can become healthier by learning from AJ's discomfort in this very funny book. He moves us from theory to practice by dragging his body through all the longevity practices. (Dr. Mehmet Oz)

"Can one man go from a 'python that ate agoat' physique to perfect specimen? From Roman soldier workouts to Areca palm plants, fromthe sublime to the absurd, AJ has tried it all. I laughed my ass off the wholeway and learned a ton ... including about my ass." (Timothy Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek)

"Who wouldn't want to be fitter, happier, more productive? In this riotous, madcap book, AJ Jacobs sets himself an ambitious goal: to become the person we all wish we could be. It's vintage AJ. Do your future self a favor and read this book." (Joshua Foer, author of Moonwalking with Einstein)

Drop Dead Funny

I enjoyed Living Biblical and The Know It All slightly more however this is another great book from A. J. Jacobs. His unique blend of over the top extreme-ism and seemingly earnest efforts to meet his goals (in this case to be the "healthiest man alive") provide a seemingly never ending source of entertainment. I find most of the best of the humor comes from self-deprecation (his wife in particular gets the best one-liners) and his description of people/characters around him. There is also some sharing of personal family information that adds a humanizing element to what could be a somewhat over the top affair.

The author is a great narrator, he animates without being too animated. He added a lot of value by narrating himself. I do wish that I could get a physical copy of some of the appendixes he shares at the end, just reading them isn't really that helpful. It comes with the territory I guess.

A.J. if you read this don't just forget about it because I am being nice, I will gladly say something mean about you/your voice (or anything else you want me to) if you will mention me in your next book! Pretty please?!

Funny and relatable.

What did you love best about Drop Dead Healthy?

Jacobs is a relatable, anxious, narrator. He is honest about his life and his health status.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

He is not consistent in his monthly reporting. I want to know how many pounds he weighed each month so I can hear how he is improving, etc. He does not try diets that are truly sensible - I'd love to hear how he did on a recommended and healthy diet rather than just a juice fast.

What about A. J. Jacobs’s performance did you like?

He's funny and willing to try things like accupuncture.

Entertaining

Would you consider the audio edition of Drop Dead Healthy to be better than the print version?

I only listened to the audio edition; I never got around to reading the print edition.

Would you be willing to try another book from A. J. Jacobs? Why or why not?

Yes. He's fun, but not really much depth.

Informative and entertaining, no more.

What made the experience of listening to Drop Dead Healthy the most enjoyable?

I could relate to Mr Jacobs pursuit of healthiness. I am confused on what to pursue and feel that I am damn if I do, damned if I don't. He helped a little with clearing up some of this confusion.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

A.J. Jacob voice is a little whiney. Part of his charm I guess, but it grated on me a bit.

Any additional comments?

This book is entertaining an informative. It is easy to listen to and relate to. It isn't a guide to fitness and health, just a log of a journey. It might change your life, but then again it might just entertain you. Good book, enjoyable and informative. Worth a listen to.

About his experience than search for healthy life

I'm a fan of the author's antics -- his adventures delving into the validity of topics that we have often wondered about but not thinking too deeply on. I enjoyed his other books, "My Life as an Experiment" (practicing radical honesty and outsourcing errands and tasks to India, including reading bedtime stories to his kids) and "The Know-It-All" (reading the encyclopedia from A to Z). This book is still as entertaining as the others. Where it falls short is the book doesn't really go into the effects of the exercise and eating regiments he tries out. The problem with healthy eating and living is that it doesn't always materialize. However, it still left me feeling that the book was incomplete. So what become of drinking wine and coffee? Or cutting back sugar? Or extreme exercising? Or running without shoes? Or eating raw food? The author is feeling a little more energy. Is that it? It might have been more interesting if the author had more time with people following certain regiments (like caloric restriction or caveman diet) and see what their meals and lives are like.

why my wife thinks I am going crazy

first of all, thank you AJ for the most entertaining book on diets, fads and more.
Each day as I finished 1 chapter; I look at the takeaways and even start implementing some... resulting in a portrait of my older self hanging outside the bedroom door, talking about taking testosterone tablets, researching on treadmill desks, installing squatty potty,etc.
one final day, my wife had to institute an INTERVENTION for what she labels as a mid life crisis.

Delightfully Entertaining

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, Jacobs is a very entertaining writer and his reading is just terrific. The information is good, because he is able to access people who are experts in the field that he is talking about.

Which scene was your favorite?

There were many wonderful chapters, but the chapter on germs was one of my favorites.

Enjoyable and Informative… and Funny!!

I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. Jacobs attacks the self-imposed task to be the healthiest man in the world and the journey is hilarious.

I like that he covers the whole spectrum. Not just the usual: diet and exercise, though that is a theme throughout the book. He looks into eye health, skin health, ear health, and even to a degree - emotional health.

He keeps it true to a columnist reporting on a fad, and while he takes part in many experiences and experiments, he shines a vulnerable light on how excited he gets as well as how unenthused his wife gets about each new health venture.

He is never prescriptive, never lands on “THE” answer. Only studies, counter studies, and his anecdotal guinea pig experience. For that reason, I feel I can trust him. I myself have purchased a treadmill desk thanks to his experience and the fact that it’s one of the things that he stuck with in his 2 year journey with this book.

I highly recommend this read.

Excellent , very good book, try it!

me gusto y vuelvo a escuchar partes cada tanto. es gracioso y es fácil identificarse con el personaje. ojalá tuviera un mejor final pero creo también eso es algo que todos compartimos con el autor .

I like this book by A.J. Jacobs. Its easy to listen and funny. Is also deep in human existence. It is very easy to get identified with the author going through all the things he has to do fo be healthy. Finally the truth is that is not so healthy trying so hard to be healthy. This is a lesson for many of us. Again I wished it had a better ending but we must face the real world in which even if we try hard to be healthy some day everything ends.

Ok... amusing at times...

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The book was lightly amusing. It wasn't a book that I JUST HAD to listen to at given points in the day. It was light hearted, made me smile and chuckle at times, but truthfully I had hoped to gain more insight and knowledge from it.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes

Do you think Drop Dead Healthy needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Not really