The Longevity Project: Surprising Discoveries for Health and Long Life from the Landmark Eight-Decade Study [Paperback]

Howard S. Friedman (Author), Leslie R. Martin (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 28, 2012

"An extraordinary eighty-year study has led to some unexpected discoveries about long life."
-O, The Oprah Magazine

For years we have been told to obsessively monitor when we're angry, what we eat, how much we worry, and how often we go to the gym. So why isn't everyone healthy? Drawing from the most extensive study of long life ever conducted, The Longevity Project busts many long- held myths, revealing how:

• Many of those who worked the hardest actually lived the longest
• Getting married is not a magic ticket to good health
• It's not the happy-go-lucky who thrive-it's the prudent and persistent

  With self-tests that illuminate your own best paths to longer life, this book changes the conversation about what it really takes to achieve a long, healthy life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this illuminating addition to the burgeoning bookshelf on longevity, UC-Riverside health researchers Friedman and Martin draw on an eight-decade-long Stanford University study of 1,500 people to find surprising lessons about who lives a long, healthy life and why. The authors learned, for example, that people don't die simply from working long hours or from stress, that marriage is no golden ticket to old age, and the happy-all-the-time types may peter out before the serious plodders. If there's a secret to old age, the authors find, it's living conscientiously and bringing forethought, planning, and perseverance to one's professional and personal life. Individual life stories show how different people find the right balance in different ways, depending on their personalities and social situations. Lively despite the huge volume of material from 80 years of study, and packed with eye-opening self-assessment tests, this book says there's no magic pill, but does offer a generous dose of hope: even if life deals you a less than perfect hand, you're not doomed to an early demise if you live with purpose and make connections with the people around you. (Mar.)
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Review

"Provocative. An absorbing and invaluable read."

(-The Wall Street Journal )

"I recommend you read the book."

(-Katherine Bouton, The New York Times )

"A remarkable achievement with surprising conclusions."

(-Andrew Weil, M.D. )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Plume (February 28, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452297702
• ISBN-13: 978-0452297708
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #152,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 91 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting with some subjective interpretation March 8, 2011

By D_shrink VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This was an easy read of 248pp. It concerned a continuation of a longitudinal study first begun by Dr. Lewis Terman of Stanford Univ. in 1921. Termin died in 1958 and the authors continued with their interpretation of his original study. The original group of subjects were chosen for what Termin considered to be their high IQ's and they numbered 1548 being born circa 1910.

The text is filled with numerous abbreviated self-assessment questionnaires to give the reader an idea of what the original subjects had to answer. I found the book generally informative and definitely written for the lay person, but also somewhat subjective in many of the conclusions reached. The trouble with all self-assessment questionnaires is that they are biased in giving the view of the assessee, rather than an outside observer.

The main idea behind the book is that there is no one particular thing that leads to longevity, but that it is simply a result of some genetics modified by lifestyle choices which are less challenging than those dangerous decisions made by some living closer to the edge [as choosing to smoke or use illicit drugs]. In other words, it was the totality of things done during a lifetime rather than anyone thing that might cause someone to live to be a hundred.

The authors determined that the best CHILDHOOD PREDICTOR of longevity was CONSCIENTIOUSNESS, the trait of being dependable and following through on life goals, as they defined it. They also felt that good health leads to happiness and longevity rather than happiness leading to good health.

Here is a partial list of some things the authors felt were true:
1. Although breast feeding is good for the baby's health it does not of itself lead to a longer lifespan.
2. Divorce by parents while the subject was a child was the leading indicator of a shortened lifespan.
3. Starting school before the age of 6 or learning to read before starting school was detrimental to a long life. I disagree but this a a subjective opinion on my part.
4. Women who had a higher frequency of achieving orgasm during sex tended to live longer than their less fulfilled sisters. At least we can assume they were happier if not longer lived.
5. It was the happiness of the man in a marriage that predicted the couple's later health. That would seem to be somewhat contradicted by the previous point.
6. Playing with pets did not lead to a longer life. Again, I would disagree.
7. Both more masculinized males and females as measured by the self assessment scales tended to die sooner than their respective more feminized cohorts.
8. Being married to the same person for a long time [however, one might define that] benefited males as far as longevity, but added little or nothing to the lifespan of the female partner.

The book was enjoyable and very easy to read and understand whether one agrees with all the points or not, so I would suggest reading it and then deciding for yourself how you feel about the many items discussed.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Unable to put it down March 22, 2011

By Gerry Weitz

Format:Hardcover

I was not able to put down this fascinating book that caused me to page back through my own life, looking for past lifestyles and situations that could have dramatically shortened my life. I took so many risks, some of which were very unnecessary. After reading the book I have even more appreciation for my wife, who has helped me settle down into a very responsible lifestyle that is very gratifying and hopefully, as predicted by the authors will also lead to a long life.

It is rare that I read a book cover to cover as I am very busy with my business. But this book I got very personally involved with. Though written by someone with a strong academic background, he wrote it so that a working guy like myself could enjoy it. It is a great book to share with your friends and open up discussion about lifestyle choices and the wisdom or lack of wisdom around those choices. I also believe it may cause people in the health professions to rethink the combination of life skills and attributes for a better life. Educators should put the findings of this book to use restructuring programs based on skills associated with steadiness, responsibility and moderation.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing study that illuminates the scientific endeavor for the lay reader! March 26, 2011

By tasha r howe

Format:Hardcover

Even though this book does shed light on some interesting myth busters regarding health and well-being, I found the most fascinating part the detective story inside the landmark 80-year study. The authors do a great job of making behavioral science exciting for the non-scientist. You wanted to know how they eliminated one explanation, formed a new hypothesis, tested it, and then refined their explanations for various contributors to death, such as trauma, stress, and neuroticism. The self-assessments were fun and help the reader assess his/her own journey to health. The case studies were great illustrations of main points, and it was fun to read about some really famous people who started out as 12 year old genius kids identified by their teachers as having great potential. Then Dr. Terman pulls them out of their classroom and starts picking their brains for another quarter century. Another impressive aspect of the science is how Friedman, Martin, and a slew of graduate students and colleagues validated half-century old measures on newer samples of people. The statistical archaeology was fascinating! While the final stop is predictable (find your bliss and follow it with conscientiousness and perseverance, and be sure to build social ties along the way), the journey is one you enjoy going on. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the evolution of scientific thinking, history, health science, and critical thinking regarding popular myths.