Customer Reviews

Younger next year : a guide to living like 50 until you're 80 and beyond

5 star:		(160)
4 star:		(42)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

Of all the anti-aging books I've seen, this is one of most laid back and entertaining. It's written by two guys. Harry, the doctor, covers the science aspects of aging, while the other guy, Chris, talks about applying the info.

The book is centered around "Harry's Rules." These are seven rules for the reader to follow. They include such things as "Quit eating crap" or "Exercise six days a week for the rest of your life." While they might seem to be basic pieces of information, they are sound advice and have some science behind them.

All-in-all, I found this to be a very informative and amusing book and I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking for a book on aging. The realistic key here is not to go into things thinking you're going to STOP the aging process, rather think of SLOWING DOWN the aging process. Aging readers may also find Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff helpful as 54% of people over the age of 60 get a torn rotator cuff.

I have been trying for years to get my husband interested in exercise and eating better. I gave him this book just before he went on a trip and he actually read it. He is now a changed person - he rides his bike regularly and purchased a heart monitor. This weekend he bought a set of weights and starting this week he is going to my personal trainer for three sessions to get a schedule he can follow at home. I saw him the other day rereading sections of the book. Nothing has worked to motivate him until he read this book! Thanks so much to the authors.

First of all, this book is funny and well written. The thing that really stood out for me in this book was that it gives you an accurate idea on what to expect from age 50 on. Being in my late 50s, I can see from personal experience that these authors know what they are talking about. Living in Las Vegas I see men with what we call in Las Vegas "buffet bellys" (huge gut) I seen old people so overweight and out of shape that the only pleasure they have left is gorging themselves at buffets. The science in this book makes very good sense. This book should be a "must read" for anyone entering their 50s-60s who is intrested in staying alive, possibly missing some of the scairest of the diseases and being able to have a sex life in their later years. I cant recommend the book enough for that age group of men and women. I meant to give this book 5 stars, but I cant seem to change the ratings

I saw this book in a local bookstore last winter, flipped through it, thought it looked interesting, and came on to Amazon to see what the reviews were saying. They were okay, not great, I had other things to read, so I decided to pass on this one. I ran across it at my local library a month ago, and decided to check it out. I'm glad I did. The book is written in a simple, conversational and very readable style and I learned a few things. Frankly, when I'm plowing through information on diet, nutrition and exercise, I prefer something friendly and easy to read.

Several reviewers complained that the book is basic, common sense information padded with a lot of "fluff." Well, sure. Why not? Americans obviously need basic, common sense information. Look at the way books giving inflated promises and ridiculous diet plans tend to fly off the shelves and garner rave reviews ... and those are nothing but fluff, nonsense and padding.

The "fluff" in this book entertained me (for the most part). Some of the manly-man bits about running down gazelles and eating them raw got a little old, but the basic message is one that most Americans need to take to heart: use it, or lose it. I watched both of my grandfathers become senile and old beyond their years. Both of them died in their seventies, miserable, angry and sick, and much of what ailed them could've been cured by diet and exercise. Instead, they chose to sit on the couch, watch TV, and complain about everything.

I'm 39 years old. I'm already noticing that when I pull a muscle or twist a joint, it takes much longer to heal than it did. My body has stopped growing, healing has slowed down, and now it's up to me to resist the pull of the tide. I can spend the next 40 or 50 years slowing down and puffing up, or I can be flat-bellied, trim, muscular and full of health for a long time. This book gives some good, basic, no-nonsense advice to achieving that end.

One negative reviewer griped that sure, he knows exercise is good for him, but that the authors don't touch on motivation and how to get yourself to stop eating pizza, get off the couch, and go for a run. Well, they do talk about that: "Suck it up and do your job." As a long-time sedentary person myself, I'm realizing that it's really the only thing I can do. There isn't a magic formula I can chant to make my morning bike ride more fun - it just takes doing it, whether I enjoy it or not, and eventually ... I'll begin to enjoy it. I took up snowboarding about four years ago at the age of 35. I hated it the first season, tolerated it the second season, enjoyed it the third, loved it the fourth, and now I can hardly wait to get onto the slopes. It does get easier, but you've got to force yourself out there at first. If you can't force yourself, then get a friend to help you. Make a bet. Sign up for a class. Do something. But at the very bottom of it all, you're still going to have to get off the overstuffed recliner and "just do it." I know, it sucks, but ultimately it's going to be worth it!

Time is running out, but most of us aren't out running...or bicycling, or skiing, or lifting weights, or dozens of other things we can do to extend the quality years of our lives. Aging should be the same as with food...about getting better, not getting old and rotten. The authors provide a diagram (a blueprint can't be made to fit everybody) for improving the quality of your coming years, and for improving the possible quantity of those years as well. Written with men in mind, it is true for both men and women. As is sometimes said, "A must-read"!

I read this book, because I saw a review of it on Total Health on TV. I saw the authors discuss the book, and I thought that what they said couldn't be true. Its just wishful thinking. Well, I started to read the book and couldn't put it down. I think the main point of the book is exercise, consistent, for enough time and at a sufficient level to keep going. Vigorous exercise, not just pleasant exercise. I am a geek. I admit that, but I've been feeling tireder every year, and although I am not yet 50, and I am not a guy. I've decided to take the adviced to heart. Hiking the mountains in Bolivia doesn't sound bad to me. Biking through Italy sounds even better. Life doesn't end at 50, it can be exciting, and wonderful. I want that for myself. I want to keep mentally alert so I can enjoy the things I love, like reading, study, and exercise is part of that as well. The hardest part for me is the social one. I am not a social person at all, but as I heard someone say I'd rather live till I die, rather than die before I live.

Several people have criticized this book because it doesn't list referances or medical reviews of the statements it makes about C-6 and C-10. I did a Google search and found hundreds of articles that support what they say in this book about exercise. Yes, they fail to list these studies, but they are on-line from top researchers. Do more reading, if you want more proof.
I was disappointed that they did not mention Jack LaLanne, who is now 91 and the Godfather of Fitness. He has taught since 1931 that exercise is the key to a long healthy life. He takes no medicine and has no heart disease or mental decline.
This book is worth reading just for what they explain is the cause of artery disease. They make it very easy to understand.

Maya Angelou said of Oprah's Book Club, 'I don't like all of the books she recommends (Winfrey) but at least she gets people out to read.'

Sage advice. If it takes the glibness and sarcasm of Chris to get you off the couch, feeling sorry for yourself, riddled with extra pounds while you wheeze your excuses for not exercising, out the door and on the track, Good Lord man, that's OK.

We don't all respond to the platitudes of wise Medical Practitioners citing stories of cholesterol and the C-6 C-10 Mambo. Hell. I'm still trying to figure out the good cholesterol and the baddies. But I do know this. If I do what they say (I've worked out all my life but have been doing it THEIR way for 3 months) I end up feeling awfully good.

Let me repeat that. I don't know if I'm holding back the tide, if I'm Horatio at the bridge or if I'm fooling my body into exchanging decay for more aerobic muscle. I just know that I feel good.

I also appreciate the effort they direct towards our relationships. It's not mush. For men, we forget the axiom of 'dancing with the girl that brought us.' Have fun. Work on your relationship while you work on yourself. Like Chris says. Be a guy. Suck it up. Do it.

I think it's a lifesaver. I bought two more copies for my brothers. Like Ms. Angelou says . . . well, you know what I mean. A great anthem to go into your 50's and 60's with. 5 stars. Larry Scantlebury

My dad gave me this book a few months ago. He gave it to all of his kids. I took and I kinda laughed, thinking, 'Oh man, why on earth would give me this book...live like you are 50 when you are 80? Yeah, thats gonna be helpful for me now. My dad is in terrific shape and he enjoyed reading the book and I decided to check it out.

Yes, the book is geared toward the older population but I was able to take A LOT from it and start using it now. Chris Crowley tackles the book from an older man that is using the tools to look and feel younger and to be healthier. Dr. Lodge discusses why if we do certain things, it will dramatically improve our health and in essence, slow down the aging process and make our latter years healthier and more enjoyable. There were several areas of discussion that I found very useful:

Exercise Now--I am able to continually make excuses about not exercising but they make a great point. Look at exercise as a job that you have to do 6 days a week. Not 3 days a week and not even 5 days a week. You have to do this at least 6 days every week. Its not always easy but it is great advice.

Stop the aging process--Your body wants to stay as young as it can and it has been recently with fast food, television, cars, etc. that people don't do things and don't go out and get exercise or walk around or just staying active. The human body has had to work hard for thousands and thousands of years...it is only the past 100 years where our body is not having to work and our bodies hate that. They want to be moving...they want to get worked out but we often inhibit that need by being lazy.

Older people--I have seen the differences. My dad is 73 and he is a complete machine. He plays tennis 2 days a week, he works out 3 other days and he does exercies for the other 2 days. You compare him to the majority of other people his age and to people 10 years younger and he looks better than 98% of them. That is because he is working out, eating well and enjoying life. My mother is getting on that bandwagon as well and is looking good.

How it affects me today--It has gotten me working toward improving my overall health. I am working out more and I am understand better a lot of what was taught in the book. I see what I want to look like in 20, 30 and 40 years and what I need to do to reach that.

Tone of the book--It initially irritated me in how they switch back and forth between chapters but I ended up looking forward to each new point of view (medical and common man) at the start of each chapter. It is effective. You get the science (Chris Crowley) and you get the common person (Dr. Lodge) talking about what he is doing to improve his health and his life. Crowley displays enthusiasm in what he is doing to improve his life and Dr. Lodge is able to bring the sciences down to a level that I could understand. I enjoyed the book and I see this as a book that can benefit those 50+ but can also be very beneficial for those well under 50.

This book repackages a number of well known recommendations - exercise - eat right - and don't drink too much, into a highly readable and pursuasive format. It also contains some newer information regarding the role of exercise and the production of Cytokine 6, the master chemical for inflammation and decay, which in turn triggers the production of Cytokine 10, the master chemical for repair and regrowth of the body. C-6 and C-10 are described by author Lodge as "just shorthand for chemical cascades involving hundreds of proteins in a dance of such complexity that we are just beginning to understand the details". (p.71).

The mechanism for the triggering of the production of C-10 leads the authors to recommend vigourous exercise for 45 minutes a day, six days a week, in order to overcome the biological decay that comes with the inactivity associated with aging. There is nothing wrong with this advice. In the healthy it can do no harm and such excercise will no doubt enhance feelings of well being and assist in getting a good night's sleep. But does it have the biological effect claimed by the authors?

Lodge states that the details in the book are drawn from hundereds of articles, papers and reference books (p312). However there are absolutely no references to peer reviewed scientific literature in support of any of his theories, so there is no means by which to verify whether he is on sound scientific ground or just another pop-culture health writer dabbling in common sense anecdotal evidence and junk science.

This is not a book for those who wish to be guided by scientific knowledge - additional research will be required. Having said that, since reading this book I have increased the frequency of my execise regime to that recommended by the authors. (just in case they have the science correct).