The End of Illness

By: David B. Agus

Narrated by: Holter Graham

Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Can we live robustly until our last breath? Do we have to suffer from debilitating conditions and sickness? Is it possible to add more vibrant years to our lives? In The End of Illness, David B. Agus, MD, one of the world’s leading cancer doctors, researchers, and technology innovators, tackles these fundamental questions, challenging long-held wisdoms and dismantling misperceptions about what “health” means. With a blend of storytelling, landmark research, and provocative ideas on health, Dr. Agus presents an eye-opening picture of the human body and all of the ways it works - and fails - showing us how a new perspective on our individual health will allow each of us to achieve that often elusive but now reachable goal of a long, vigorous life.

When Dr. Agus decided to pursue a career in oncology, many of his mentors questioned his choice. Why, they asked, would a promising young doctor want to enter a field known for its inescapably grim outcomes? But it was precisely the lack of progress that inspired Dr. Agus to join the war on cancer. He moved away from the modern methods of the medical establishment, which aim to reduce our afflictions to a single point. Instead, as he does in this book, Dr. Agus argues for the adoption of a systemic view - a way of honoring our bodies as complex, whole systems. This outlook informs how we can avoid all illnesses - not just cancer. Dr. Agus empowers us to take charge of our individual health in personal, customized ways we could not have imagined before.

This indispensable book is not only a manifesto - a call for revising the way we think about health - it’s also filled with practical but impossible-to-ignore suggestions, including:

©2012 Dr. David B. Agus. All rights reserved (P)2012 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“In this brilliant book, David Agus introduces a whole new way of looking at illness and health. Taking a cue from physics, he views the body as a complex system and helps us see how everything from cancer to nutrition fits into one whole picture. The result is both a useful guide on how to stay healthy and a fascinating analysis of the latest in medical science.” (Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs)

“Dr. David Agus has given us a remarkable peek into our health - and the impact will be profound. I’ve made it my mission in life to live strong and help others do the same. The End of Illness is one more empowering piece to the puzzle of knowing how to do just that. This book will prevent illness, revolutionize treatments, and lengthen people's lives. A tour de force in its delivery and message.” (Lance Armstrong, 7-time Tour de France winner and Founder and Chairman, LIVESTRONG)

"David Agus is one of America’s great doctors and medical researchers, a man dedicated to improving the health of as many people as he can. Written in a style and format that will truly engage readers, The End of Illness presents a dramatic, new way of thinking about our own health - a way that could lead to greatly improving the quality of life for millions, starting right now.” (Al Gore, 45th Vice President of the United States, Nobel Laureate in Peace, 2007)

he didn't research enough

What disappointed you about The End of Illness?

His lack of knowledge about the double blind studies done on supplementation and how important it is with the way food is grown and harvested. Statins are dangerous. They do a lot of harm and no one should be suggesting that everyone should be on them. Insane. Makes me wonder who backs him!!!! There are good things he talks about but these two things are so scary that I will not recommend this book to anyone!

Has The End of Illness turned you off from other books in this genre?

No.

What does Holter Graham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love audio books!

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Anger and disappointment.

'don't believe everything you hear' med advice

This was rather disappointing, as it was marketed to be quite 'revolutionary'. Basically, it could be summed up as, "we're not sure about what we thought we knew." The author states that many of the studies done in the last few decades have been debunked - i.e. Selenium, lycopiene (stuff from tomatos), and vitamins do not really 'starve' cancer. Also, there are mostly mixed reviews about whether or not vitamins even do what they are marketed to do! He gives advice such as "wear comfortable shoes." I mean, basically, it was a wake-up call in the sense that you shouldn't believe all the 'pop' medical information. So if you've been believing everything you see on Dr. Oz, than maybe this would be a good book for you.

Take what you need and leave the rest.

Would you try another book from David B. Agus and/or Holter Graham?

No

What do you think your next listen will be?

Hard to say

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Boring

Any additional comments?

There are so many different opinions from very reliable sorces about what we need to do to obtain and maintain optimum health. One day coffee is bad. Next year or so....it is ok or even good for you. Take what you need and leave the rest.

Seems incomplete

Agus fails to explain his assumption that optimal micronutrient levels can be achieved through the consumption of natural/whole foods. This sounds like an unfounded campaign against supplementation. Incomplete at best.