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Lifespan  By  cover art

Lifespan

By: David A. Sinclair PhD, Matthew D. LaPlante
Narrated by: David A. Sinclair PhD
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Publisher's summary

Audio bonus! Includes exclusive conversations with the authors!

From an acclaimed Harvard professor and one of Time’s most influential people, this paradigm-shifting audiobook shows how almost everything we think we know about aging is wrong, offers a front-row seat to the amazing global effort to slow, stop, and reverse aging, and calls listeners to consider a future where aging can be treated.

For decades, experts have believed that we are at the mercy of our genes and that natural damage to our genes - the kind that inevitably happens as we get older - makes us become sick and grow old.

But what if everything you think you know about aging is wrong? What if aging is a disease - and that disease is treatable?

In Lifespan, one of the world’s foremost experts on aging and genetics reveals a groundbreaking new theory that will forever change the way we think about why we age and what we can do about it. Aging isn’t immutable; we can have far more control over it than we realize. This eye-opening and provocative work takes us to the front lines of research that is pushing the boundaries on our perceived scientific limitations, revealing incredible breakthroughs - many from Dr. David Sinclair’s own lab - that demonstrate how we can slow down, or even reverse, the genetic clock. The key is activating newly discovered vitality genes - the decedents of an ancient survival circuit that is both the cause of aging and the key to reversing it. Dr. Sinclair shares the emerging technologies and simple lifestyle changes - such as intermittent fasting, cold exposure, and exercising with the right intensity - that have been shown to help lead to longer lives.

Lifespan provides a road map for taking charge of our own health destiny and a bold new vision for the future when humankind is able to live to be 100 years young.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 David Sinclair (P)2019 Simon & Schuster Audio

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Incredible

Sinclair is the single most interesting scientist I know of, and I just can't get enough of hearing about his and his field's discoveries and the promising future of human biology.

Sinclair's discoveries have had a direct impact in me completely regaining my own health after years of Lyme Disease and fatigue, and he is in large part the reason for my newly started journey towards medical school.

I can safely say this is currently my all time favorite book.
5/5 no question. Well written and well narrated by the author himself. I blew through it in two days.

Thank you, David.

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80 people found this helpful

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PDF?

I don't see where we get the PDF the author keeps referring to. Please advise me.

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69 people found this helpful

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The future is exciting, and I want to be there!

I've been following David Sinclair's research into aging for many years, and this book is a great summary of his work and that of others, where the field of aging research is headed, and what we can expect. Dr. Sinclair is and has always been an optimist. I'm an optimist too, so that's fine by me. While he isn't a medical doctor and can't give medical advice, he discusses supplements he takes and lifestyle choices he makes that he feels are helping him and his own family too, including his 80-year-old father who has returned to work and is enjoying vibrant good health. My own disclaimer, I have been taking an NAD booster for almost five years. I do believe it makes a difference. At 56, I have far more energy than same-aged friends, and I haven't been sick since I started taking it, something Dr. Sinclair mentions too. Because I have inherited a copy of the APOE4 gene for Alzheimer's, I'm always interested in learning about anything I can do (exercise) or take (supplements) that will help prevent that gene from turning on. Toward the final quarter of the book, Dr. Sinclair turns to the ethics of slowing or even preventing aging. What would a world look like in which people might start a new career in their seventies, or enjoy spending time with their great-great-grandchildren, still vital and engaged? How would it impact global overpopulation and use of resources? These are all important questions, and he presents various scenarios in a balanced way. Overall, a fabulous read. I'm going to get the PDF as well so I can look at the charts and images references (recommended by the author as well). I do truly feel that we're on the brink of longevity escape velocity, and I couldn't be more excited!

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Great listen, but a little preachy.

this is a great book that delivers a tremendous amount of information about the state of Aging research and life extension. it is read by the author with excerpts between the main chapters that include discussions between him and the Ghost Writer he hired to help him.

my only hang up with the book is that the author uses it to promote is political and social viewpoints. I don't blame him entirely but I do not necessarily agree with his politics so I found it to detract from the experience.

all that being said, I would highly recommend this book to anybody interested in living a longer healthier life.

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Informative, Interesting, AND REASONABLE

When I first read the title I was a little concerned this was going to be another one of those "miracle" drug/medicine/diet theories. Like 5 easy to steps to 500 years, this vitamin will cure cancer, or new super food regrows limbs! (That's a bit of an exaggeration, buy I'm sure you know what I'm talking mean). However, the authors position at Harvard made think he must be somewhat reasonable, so I gave the book a shot.

I was glad I gave this book the chance, and I enjoyed the book very much. It was informative, interesting, not overly complicated, and best of all, reasonable. I think the author does a good job leading up to the question of the title "why we age and why we don't have to." He provides relevant examples of organisms that that live far longer than we do proving the point that it is perfectly possible for biological functions to maintain themselves better than ours do right now. He also tells you of research recently done and being done that further show we can and probably will live longer in the near future. If your anything like me that last sentence sounds soooo much like an introduction to a scam, but if you give this book a try I think you'll find his presentation at worst to optimistic and at best revolutionary. I believe you will find his explanations to be at a layman level, and readily understandable.

And yes, he does tell you what he is doing to try to live longer which many people may want to skip to, but the whole book is a very fascinating depiction of the research behind these choices and the exciting prospects we can optimistically hope to see which is well worth the listening time. Furthermore, he does not pretend to be a doctor; he is a researcher, and makes no pretense to be an expert on what you should do to be healthy. He simply tells you what his research area in aging has discovered, and what he thinks the results mean.

I would definitely recommend this book to you, as I'm sure it will stir up an interest in this topic and encourage you to think about how you can work for a better future as it did for myself. Enjoy!

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Fillers, rambling and meager scientific content

Instead of wasting 11 hours on half-baked metaphors and self aggrandizing personal stories, simply listen to one of the podcasts or video interviews, It is also enlightening to read the Wikipedia page of the first author.

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A shift in paradigms

I've listened to four or five podcasts with Dr. Sinclair that took place over the last year. there is some repetition of that material in the book, but I appreciate that he goes into much more depth on the different ways aging happens (zombie cells, lower NAD causing less efficient repair enzymes, etc) and the sociological implications. I appreciate that he does not gloss over the challenges with overpopulation and food supply. I am also an optimist, so appreciate that he lays down pathways to how it could work. I most appreciate that he keeps government representatives and other parts of the government advised on the possibilities and probabilities. We definitely need this information percolating into the general public to get the conversation started. This is much better than a bombshell announcement. So thank you, Dr. Sinclair, for not endorsing any companies or labs. Thank you for staying independent and for reinvesting your own earnings back into this important work. I am so happy to see your work being pursued by the next generation. New and exciting things are coming!

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Listener beware ...

This author is very self-aggrandizing and goes way too far into the political realm. He would do better to stick to science and how it can help people lead healthier lives as we age. I couldn't finish the book.

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Popular review of the science of aging

I think the book provides a valuable review of the current state of knowledge and possible future trends of a very actively developing field of biological research into aging. The fact that the book comes from one of the leading researchers in this relatively new field makes it more authentic and interesting.

It takes a bit of effort to get through some of the terminology of advanced bio-medical research used in this book but, it is fair to say, that the complicated terms are well balanced by quite casual narrative provided by the authors.

I felt that the link between lab discoveries and human applications, especially the time-frame for practical anti-aging interventions, was over-sensationalized, I guess to generate more interest and maybe more funding for further research. The anti-aging application of many promising compounds mentioned in the book appear to have positive effects on mice but are still untested on humans.

The book also engages in the politics of health systems with a measure US healthcare and medical funding bashing.

I hope this book and the information theory of aging proposed here withstands a test of time in the years to come.

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Political Views are Harmful and Wrong

The first half of the book is a good summary of the science of aging. Nothing really earth shattering, but a decent job overall. Then he gets political extolling liberal policies and the benefit of having our corrupt government play and even larger role in both research and our individual lives. Like most liberals, he's completely blind to all the harm caused by the things he is advocating for. Sad that someone can be so smart in one area and a compete idiot in another.

Overall, I don't think I'd waste my money on half a book that is average at best.

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