Customer Reviews

Eternity Soup: Inside the Quest to End Aging

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I read all of the reviews here and thought that this book was a must read. But after finishing it, I was disappointed. I mulled on that opinion for a while, not wanting to damage this book's perfect review record so far, but it has been several weeks since I finished the book, and I was simply not impressed with it. Some people found the author funny, but I found him to be a bit silly and lacking objectivity. I expected more concrete information, but just when I thought he was going to draw a solid conclusion about a topic based on facts, he moved on to another topic, only to do the same thing again and again. The author also pokes fun at certain key players in the field, but this book does not offer any definite direction for the field of anti-aging medicine in its own right. At best, it is an ambivalent introduction to the field that is both subjective and a little boring. It is a book written by a layman for uncritical laymen. I enjoyed, "Ending Aging" by De Grey and Rae much more, even if Critser practically characterizes De Grey as a drunken and egotistical crackpot. Hopefully something better will come along soon, as things are moving along quite quickly in the scientific literature.

I'm a big fan of Greg Critser's work. This book may be my favorite. A smart, witty, and thoughtful read on the eternal quest to prolong life. While it's fun to smirk at the cult of caloric restriction and devotees of other anti-aging subcultures, Critser makes the science as absorbing as the characters. I also loved that -- just when that voice in the back of your mind starts asking, "maybe there IS something to this human growth hormone stuff" -- the book finally asks the real question: what do we hope to gain by prolonging life? One is left contemplating the quality of life as much as its duration. Plus, it's hard not to like a science book that comes with bonus recipes at the end. Highly recommended.

Critser conducts an extensive investigation into the world of anti-aging, showing the science, the personalities and the quackery behind this growing movement. Critser also brings his own story into the narrative, which makes it more personal. He is a very insightful writer with a biting sense of humor; he really does make you think about the impracticality and efficacy of calorie restriction, hormone therapy and nutritional supplements while keeping things entertaining. It's quick read and highly recommended.

This is a fascinating look into the surreal and controversial science of antiaging. Critser skillfully balances serious analysis and snort-out-loud humor in his investigations of this highly complex field, leading the reader straight to the most pertinent and intriguing dishes on the antiaging buffet. His ability to navigate a clear path through dense medical information makes this a fast, educational read for anybody interested in exactly how humankind is planning to extend its time on earth. Eternity Soup is thought-provoking and smart, and you might just increase your lifespan by reading it.

I like this book. Anyone who is going to die someday should read it. As for me, I like to learn, and I learned a lot from the author because he waded through the b.s. and covered the subject in a true way--he pretty much told it like it is. And there's nothing funnier than the truth. I mean, this book is fuuny, too. Another thing I like is I like to laugh. Last, I liked it because it made me think. I like being made to think. The author challenged the subject hard; but he respected it, too, ya know? That's a skill. I like skill. So that's allotta good stuff that I like in one book. By reading this book, I made up my own mind on my own. I figured out that, as far as the facts go, it's still better to spend allota time livin than to spend alotta time tryin not to die. But what do I know? You should read this book yourself and it'll help you make up your mind for your own self. You definitely won't regret it.

And, oh yeah, one more thing: the book pretty much starts with an italian, and it ends with an italian. There's just something fundamentally right about that. A cent'ann' figlioli!

The main point I would like to make here is that there are ideologues in any field, who push agenda rather than truth. This is no less true in the field of Life Extension/Anti-Aging. Critser exposes a number of these and rightfully so. However, the problem I always have with books like this is that they tend to skirt around the GOOD albeit less sexy stuff, the valid Anti-Aging research. One might get the idea from this book that Anti-Aging pursuits are governed by crackpots and leave it at that. That is the lean of this book. Because the upside of anti-aging research is not presented as rigorously, it would seem that the author also has an agenda. Regardless of those who drag the field down due to agenda, profit, and wishful thinking, I predict that within 20-25 years significant increase in human life span WILL become a reality, not to mention the amelioration of many diseases. It may seem improbable, but that is my opinion. The controversies, lack of evidence, and misguided agenda pointed out in Critser's book will then be long since moot. Research will proceed regardless.
At the end of one of his chapters, while pointing out how quirky (sic) Aubry de Grey might seem to a bunch of British fellows, he quotes someone as saying "those baby-boomers should just accept limits". If we indeed accept limits, we would still be hunter gatherers, many of us dying from infectious disease around a paleolithic firelight. Could you imagine suggesting to someone 100 years ago that you would be able to whip out a small piece of plastic from your pocket and talk to someone with it living 3000 miles away? WE SHOULD NEVER ACCEPT LIMITS (and in fact history has proven that we don't). Regardless, some of us don't and never will, the rest will simply reap the fruits of that labor, including the longer and healthier life we enjoy today.
In a nutshell, there are those who simply accept the so called normal course of aging, and some who don't. Right now, even if we don't we still die, however, in times to come it is this latter group, through trial, error and often misguided notion, that will ultimately breakthrough conferring a longer healthier life.

To long life.....

Over the past 2 years my husband and I have been on a quest to assure we will have a high quality life after retirement. In this process we have done a lot of research and consulted with several expert physicians in the field of anti-aging. When we read about Greg Critser's new book we were anxious to get his much acclaimed point of view. Not only was this a very enjoyable read, his thorough research and analysis helped us clarify some of our confusion. By including his personal experience we could identify with his "worth a try" perspective. We would highly recommend this book and appreciate that this is still very much a science in process but is getting on firmer ground all the time.

No matter what age you are, you should be doing whatever you can to stay healthy and increase your healthy lifespan. That simply makes good sense. If you agree, the next question is what is it that we should be doing? There are so many nay-sayers, and there are so many crooks willing to take our money for products at best worthless and at worst dangerous. Of course there are also a lot of good, potentially helpful, valid options out there. We may soon be increasing lifespan more than a year every year - and you know that means. You could live vastly healthier and longer. But how? It's impossible to sort through the myriad of hype and half truths put out by media on deadline. Where are the really top notch investigative reporters? Well here is one: Greg Critser. He delves deep. He captures the excitement of what is happening and what it could mean, the ups and downs, the thrill of the chase and the fog of ignorance that science is working through. Without taking sides, Greg helped me see the many different sides to this quest, perhaps the greatest and least heralded that man has ever been on. After all, we're talking about something larger than championship rings or gold medals even. This is what may be standing between us and death. Although there are no pat answers here, and the truth is, as always, somewhat complicated, Greg clarified about as much as I could expect as a layperson, and it was easy reading. I only wish there were a simple answer, but now, at least, I have a useful map of the land.

I loved the book. It really made you think. Since my grandmother lived to be 105, I hope to be a Centenarian,also, but wanting the quality of life like stated in the book.This was a fast read being humorous, entertaining, and educational with interesting interviews and studies explained by Greg.I can't wait for Critser's next intriguing and thought provoking book! Bravo!!

Eternity Soup is funny -- and informative. Quirky scientists (like underfed, crabby calorie-restrictors and pumped-up hormone docs), with their a-ha moments and political squabbles, are deftly drawn as Critser interweaves the latest thinking on anti-aging therapies with his own misadventures in the world of mice genetics and hard-drinking Cambridge dons. He's an erudite and amusing companion who views everything with a lot of background knowledge and more than a little skepticism. You'll laugh out loud, AND come away with some good advice to follow your own path to live longer. Includes great recipes for (you guessed it!) eternity soup, invented in the Renaissance and pretty damn tasty. More comical and picaresque than Critser's other books on Big Pharma Generation Rx: How Prescription Drugs Are Altering American Lives, Minds, and Bodiesand obesityFat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World, Eternity Soup is a great read -- entertaining, thought-provoking and practical.