How Not to Die

By: Michael Greger MD, Gene Stone

Narrated by: Michael Greger MD

Length: 17 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the physician behind the wildly popular website Nutrition Facts, How Not to Die reveals the groundbreaking scientific evidence behind the only diet that can prevent and reverse many of the causes of disease-related death.

The vast majority of premature deaths can be prevented through simple changes in diet and lifestyle. In How Not to Die, Dr. Michael Greger, the internationally renowned nutrition expert, physician, and founder of Nutrition Facts, examines the 15 top causes of premature death in America - heart disease, various cancers, diabetes, Parkinson's, high blood pressure, and more - and explains how nutritional and lifestyle interventions can sometimes trump prescription pills and other pharmaceutical and surgical approaches, freeing us to live healthier lives.

The simple truth is that most doctors are good at treating acute illnesses but bad at preventing chronic disease. The 15 leading causes of death claim the lives of 1.6 million Americans annually. This doesn't have to be the case. By following Dr. Greger's advice, all of it backed up by strong scientific evidence, you will learn which foods to eat and which lifestyle changes to make to live longer.

History of prostate cancer in your family? Put down that glass of milk, and add flaxseed to your diet whenever you can. Have high blood pressure? Hibiscus tea can work better than a leading hypertensive drug - and without the side effects. Fighting off liver disease? Drinking coffee can reduce liver inflammation. Battling breast cancer? Consuming soy is associated with prolonged survival. Worried about heart disease (the number-one killer in the United States)? Switch to a whole-food, plant-based diet, which has been repeatedly shown not just to prevent the disease but often to stop it in its tracks.

In addition to showing what to eat to help treat the top 15 causes of death, How Not to Die includes Dr. Greger's Daily Dozen - a checklist of the 12 foods we should consume every day. Full of practical, actionable advice and surprising, cutting-edge nutritional science, these doctor's orders are just what we need to live longer, healthier lives.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2015 Michael Greger, MD (P)2015 Macmillan Audio

A stunningly important book

What made the experience of listening to How Not to Die the most enjoyable?

I have read a lot of books on the importance of nutrition -- a LOT. The China Study, anything that Furhman or Weil or Hyman or a dozen others have written. All of them excellent. This one, though, is the one that finally convinced me to quit playing Russian Roulette with my health and get serious. I have listened to it twice and ordered the hard copy because there is so much good information - information backed my multiple studies - about exactly what to eat and why.

If I could only have one book in my library, this would be it. You may not resonate with how Greger reads his book, but the information in it is far too valuable to let that deter you from reading it.

Clear, Compelling & Transformative

If you only listen to one book about reversing &/or preventing chronic disease related to lifestyle choices this should be the book. The information is research based, scientifically accurate and compelling. Dr Greger presents his subject in language that non-medical people can easily understand. He breaks the book into chapters focused on different diseases--for example heart disease, respiratory illness, & brain disease--to name three of fifteen illnesses covered.

Please don't misunderstand me when I use the term easy. What I mean is that the message Dr Greger is discussing is easy follow and grasp. However, following a plant-based diet is difficult going until you get the hang of it. This is hard work--because processed foods, prepared food, fast food and anything not plant-based is off the list. That said, it is worth the effort. It is possible to heal what ails you by changing what you choose to eat.

Dr Greger has an excellent not-for-profit web site with lots of information and video lectures available as well. He is passionate about educating the public and trying to get his message out there. Sometimes this can feel a bit overwhelming--also occasionally I might have preferred a professional narrator. All that aside, if you want to take charge of your own health and wellness this is the book to read. Life changing and really pretty fantastic.

Good ideas but horrible narration

The book is well research. However the narration is so irritating that it was difficult to take in the ideas.
I thought for sure it was being read by an actor who didn't know that first thing about what he was reading and was hugely overcompensating by overacting, over emphasizing and the parts where he wanted to demonstrate his incredible empathy was severely lacking that in his tone. Now I guess the problem is that it should've been read by an actor. The author's ideas are worth hearing - just not from him. His tone is nauseatingly dripping with self-righteous narcissism. It's almost impossible to look past and hear his ideas.

The best book on Nutrition out there!

I find if I eat the daily dozen I don't crave junkfood like I used to.

Highly Recommend!

Would you listen to How Not to Die again? Why?

Yes. This book is full of important, evidence-based information on health and nutrition. It's a wonderful listen - so well organized, with just the right amount of anecdote and humor (that fans of Dr. Greger from NutritionFacts.org will no doubt find familiar). I listen to audiobooks all the time - Dr. Greger as writer and narrator *could not* be any better. What a joy to read!

Who was your favorite character and why?

The entire book is a gem.

Have you listened to any of Michael Greger, MD’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I follow Dr. Greger on his website (free), NutrionFacts.org. His voice, energy, humor, can be fully appreciated on the audio. Simply the best! This is no textbook....the personal stories, anecdotes, and humor spread throughout the book are a treasure. I definitely found myself having a chuckle here and there.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

At just over 17 hours long....I finished this book off in 3-days, with commuting, time spent in the gym, and long hikes. I will read it again very soon.

Any additional comments?

I could not recommend this audiobook any more highly. A great listen. It could save your life and that of the people you love - all by changing what we put in our mouths.

My favorite book of its kind!

What did you love best about How Not to Die?

So thorough and compelling!

What other book might you compare How Not to Die to and why?

Proteinaholic, The Campbell Plan, China Study, Food Revolution. All awesome books, too. All about plant based eating and positive effects.

Have you listened to any of Michael Greger, MD’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have and it is very close to his presentations. He reads in an entertaining manner, just like his presentations.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. There is too much info to listen in one sitting (and over 17 hours). But I listened to it daily and couldn't wait until the next time. I am also reading the hard copy and listening to it again.

Evidence based

This is a persons life long love affair with evidence based nutrition. I'm so glad that Dr. Greger did his own audio. His corky personality shines and adds a little flavor. I strongly recommend it.

Must listen - the best nutrition book I've ever read

The best diet explained and backed up with overwhelming scientific evidence. Uncovering how the food and pharma industry dont want you to live the healthiest possible and how you can start living a life rich in energy, sexual capacity and longitivity. Love it.

A MUST read for everyone!

If I could give this 20 stars I would. I have followed Michael Greger for some time through his free videos on NutritionFacts.org so already had a great respect for him but this book brings it all together and makes what could be dry and dull facts into a very palatable and fascinating story. Dr. Greger takes no money from his books or speaking engagements, donating all of the proceeds to charity and he is not just expounding his own pet theories. Everything he says is backed up by scientific studies. You owe it to your children, your partner, your parents, but most of all to yourself, to hear the latest science behind the often preventable causes of the diseases that cripple, kill, or make life miserable for so many of us. As a nurse practitioner, working many years with patients, I can attest to the widespread misery caused by these conditions, but you don't have to be in the medical field. Just look around you, or maybe in the mirror. Ultimately, all of us have to make our own decisions about how we will live our lives but this book will allow you to get the facts before you make those life altering decisions. I started just a few months ago, in my late 70's, to eat a plant-based diet and have lost 24 pounds to date, completely reversed my adult onset diabetes, and feel better than I have ever felt in my life. Dr Greger shows you that you don't have to just accept your heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or whatever is affecting your quality of life. I don't know about you, but I would do anything to avoid living on pills with all of their side effects for the rest of my life. I thought I would miss more things than I do but regardless, I decided it isn't worth dying for a double bacon cheeseburger, a pizza, half and half in my coffee, or other tempting treats, no matter how good it looks. I plan to buy hard copies of his book and give them to my loved ones for Christmas and just hope and pray they will actually read it. I think it is one of the most important books to come along in years. The big take-away is that even if you have advanced disease, it can often be mitigated or even totally reversed through a plant-based diet. Who wouldn't want to try that!

This is what we need to know about health

If you could sum up How Not to Die in three words, what would they be?

Comprehensive healthcare evidence

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dr Greger because he provides scientific evidence to support his health recommendations

What does Michael Greger, MD bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Dr Greger speaks directly to you in his own believable voice giving you the most complete health care advice you need to reverse and prevent all disease.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My main reaction is: why didn't I learn this previously after paying so much for healthcare and education.

Any additional comments?

This should be required listening for the human race.