Book Review: ‘Outlive’

Book Review: ‘Outlive’
Short Url
Updated 26 May 2024
Follow

Book Review: ‘Outlive’

Book Review: ‘Outlive’

In “Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity,” Dr. Peter Attia (with Bill Gifford), a renowned physician and longevity expert, flips the script on aging.

He argues for a proactive approach that involves taking control of one’s health to prevent chronic diseases before they happen.

Attia ditches the one-size-fits-all mentality and instead focuses on four key pillars: diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management. He dives into the science behind each, explaining how they impact cellular health and ultimately, lifespan.

“Outlive” does not promise you a fad diet or a magic pill. Attia emphasizes personalized strategies and encourages tracking key health markers like blood sugar and blood pressure to understand the body's unique needs.

But it is not all biohacking. Attia acknowledges the mind-body connection, highlighting the importance of sleep and good relationships for a long, fulfilling life.

Moreover, the book explores the intricate science behind longevity and delves into the various factors that contribute to living a longer, healthier life.

The book provides readers with actionable strategies to optimize their healthspan, allowing them to not only extend their years but also improve their quality of life as they age.

Like an owner’s manual for health, “Outlive” empowers the reader to take charge, optimize their health, and not just live longer, but live a life that feels truly alive.


What We Are Reading Today: An Untraceable Life

Photo/Supplied
Photo/Supplied
Updated 5 min 38 sec ago
Follow

What We Are Reading Today: An Untraceable Life

Photo/Supplied

Author: Stephen J. Campbell

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) never signed a painting, and none of his supposed self-portraits can be securely ascribed to his hand. He revealed next to nothing about his life in his extensive writings, yet countless pages have been written about him that assign him an identity: genius, entrepreneur, celebrity artist, outsider.
Addressing the ethical stakes involved in studying past lives, Stephen J. Campbell shows how this invented Leonardo has invited speculation from figures ranging from art dealers and curators to scholars, scientists, and biographers, many of whom have filled in the gaps of what can be known of Leonardo’s life with claims to decode secrets, reveal mysteries of a vanished past, or discover lost masterpieces of spectacular value.

 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Snakes of Australia’

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Snakes of Australia’
Updated 13 February 2025
Follow

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Snakes of Australia’

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Snakes of Australia’

Authors: Tie Eipper & Scott Eipper

With more than 1,000 photographs, Snakes of Australia illustrates and describes in detail all 240 of the continent’s species and subspecies—from file snakes, pythons, colubrids, and natricids to elapids, marine elapids, homalopsids, and blind snakes. It features introductions to each family, species descriptions, type locations, distribution maps, and quick-identification keys to each family and genera.

It also covers English and scientific names, appearance, range, ecology, disposition, danger level, and IUCN Red List Category.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Bees of the World’ by Laurence Packer

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Bees of the World’ by Laurence Packer
Updated 12 February 2025
Follow

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Bees of the World’ by Laurence Packer

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Bees of the World’ by Laurence Packer

When many people think of bees, they are likely to picture the western domesticated honey bee, insects that live in large, socially complex societies inside a hive with a single queen and thousands of workers. 

But this familiar bee is just one of more than 20,000 species of bees—and almost none of the others is anything like it. In “Bees of the World,” Laurence Packer, one of the world’s foremost experts on wild bees, celebrates the amazing diversity of bees—from size and appearance to nests and social organization.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Experiments of the Mind’ by Emily Martin

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Experiments of the Mind’ by Emily Martin
Updated 11 February 2025
Follow

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Experiments of the Mind’ by Emily Martin

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Experiments of the Mind’ by Emily Martin

Experimental cognitive psychology research is a hidden force in our online lives. We engage with it, often unknowingly, whenever we download a health app, complete a Facebook quiz, or rate our latest purchase.

How did experimental psychology come to play an outsized role in these developments?

“Experiments of the Mind” considers this question through a look at cognitive psychology laboratories. 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Truth About Everything’

Photo/Supplied
Photo/Supplied
Updated 10 February 2025
Follow

What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Truth About Everything’

Photo/Supplied
  • Wiest wants to remind people of the importance of authenticity and self-acceptance in today’s often superficial, fast-paced world

Published in 2013, “The Truth About Everything” is a collection of personal experiences by Brianna Wiest which attempts to provide an understanding of love, loss and self-discovery.

One of the strengths of the publication is the author’s writing style. Wiest adopts a tone that provides a reflection of her views without lecturing.

Her straightforward language makes her insights digestible, offering the chance to connect with her, while encouraging personal introspection and growth.

Another fascinating aspect of the book is Wiest’s attempts to motivate readers to acknowledge their deepest feelings and imperfections. She considers this attitude critical to establishing genuine connections and achieve eventual healing.

Wiest wants to remind people of the importance of authenticity and self-acceptance in today’s often superficial, fast-paced world.

Judging from the online reviews, some readers prefer the structure of the book, with its short chapters and quotes.

Other reviewers were more critical and stated that some ideas were repeated or not grouped thematically.

Wiest challenges readers to re-examine what they thought to be true, and urges them to embark on their own spiritual journeys so that they can find their own truths to share with the world.