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The Book of Animal Secrets: Nature's Lessons for a Long and Happy Life
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The End of Illness comes an ingenious guide to what our fellow animals can teach us about living longer, healthier, happier lives.Mother nature has a lot to teach us, if only we open our eyes. Pigeons and dolphins offer creative strategies for preserving our memories and warding off dementia, while squirrels and pigs harbor secrets for managing chronic pain. Rhinoceroses demonstrate the subtle power of our environments—and how to exercise better—while chimps have surprising parenting tips, not to mention great diet advice. Studying elephants has unlocked insights into preventing cancer, and we can look to giraffes for solutions to cardiovascular issues. Ants reveal the unusual benefits of collaboration and altruism, dogs are masterful mentors in living the good life, prairie voles hold clues to connection, and hitchhikers from our evolutionary past may bring us to the edge of immortality. In The Book of Animal Secrets, visionary physician and biomedical researcher David B. Agus, MD, explores all these ways—and more—that we can harness the wonders of the animal kingdom in our own, very human lives. Filled with lively storytelling and astonishing practical takeaways, this revelatory guide will have you rethinking what’s possible for your health and wellbeing—now and for years to come.
- GenresNonfictionScienceNature
406 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2023
49 people are currently reading
443 people want to read
About the author
David B. Agus
7 books80 followersDr. David B. Agus is one of the world’s leading cancer doctors and pioneering biomedical researchers. Over the past twenty years he’s received acclaim for his innovations in medicine and contributions to new technologies that will change how all of us maintain our health. He’s also built a reputation for having a unique way of looking at the relationship of the body to health and disease. He explains, “Sometimes you have to go to war to understand peace. My work in the cancer war has taught me a lot about all things health-related, much of which goes against conventional wisdom.”
Dr. Agus is professor of medicine and engineering at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and the Viterbi School of Engineering and heads USC’s Westside Cancer Center and the Center for Applied Molecular Medicine. He received his bachelor’s degree from Princeton and his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He trained at Johns Hopkins and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. A staunch advocate for personalized medicine, he chairs the Global Agenda Council on Genetics for the World Economic Forum, and is co-founder of Applied Proteomics and Navigenics, two health-care technology and wellness companies.
Dr. Agus’s honors and awards include the American Cancer Society Physician Research Award, a Clinical Scholar Award from the Sloan-Kettering Institute, and the 2009 GQ magazine Rock Star of Science Award.
Dr. Agus is professor of medicine and engineering at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and the Viterbi School of Engineering and heads USC’s Westside Cancer Center and the Center for Applied Molecular Medicine. He received his bachelor’s degree from Princeton and his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He trained at Johns Hopkins and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. A staunch advocate for personalized medicine, he chairs the Global Agenda Council on Genetics for the World Economic Forum, and is co-founder of Applied Proteomics and Navigenics, two health-care technology and wellness companies.
Dr. Agus’s honors and awards include the American Cancer Society Physician Research Award, a Clinical Scholar Award from the Sloan-Kettering Institute, and the 2009 GQ magazine Rock Star of Science Award.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 18, 2025
The Book of Animal Secrets: Nature's Lessons for a Long and Happy Life by David B. Agus, MD author of A Short Guide to A Long Life – one of my takes on this book is at https://realini.blogspot.com/2016/08/... and I will soon write another review on this
9 out of 10
This is essential reading, in that we all want a Long and Happy Life, unless of course, we are talking depression, suicidal tendencies and other ailments, but then the good doctor has some suggestions that will work for, better said against such states, like the immersion in nature, the seventeen minutes or so daily of contact with it
I am blessed to have two macaws – also had five borzois, all at the same time, a few other canines, and now I have to feed many cats in the garden, the other day I have had the record dozen guests – and according to doctor David Agus, there is a lot to gain, I just have to sit back and watch, take notice, apply and enjoy
Or else, use ear plugs for when Balzac - the fifteen years old, at least that is what I think he is, I can remember the period, but not exactly – screams, because I just stepped out to give some food to a couple of pigeons, and spoiled as he is, well, both, Puccini, the reg and green, too, he does not tolerate absenteeism
One issue I have with The Book of Animal Spirits is that it gets too technical at times, and I mean not for the average reader – all of the content is really easy to get – just for lazy, uncooperative yours truly – and let me add, the crowd that worships the Orange Jesus, those people are morons in my book, Elon Musk included
Yes, he knows about rockets, electric cars – which his idol despises – but still, he is stupid as glass in the matter of choosing this monster – he also exemplifies, with Orange Felon and some others, what happens when somebody is rich, but has no means to reach Eudaimonia, a state of an elevated happiness
Sure, he jumps on stage with the Orange Fool, at his rally, he gets high, but that is not substantive, meaningful, it is the cheerfulness of an idiot – enough said, besides, I am going against the Spirit of the book, which teaches about being optimistic, and ‘embracing the weirdness of others, including ourselves’
I venture to speculate and say that the good doctor David Agus does not mean supporting a would-be Hitler – over the past days, the favorite to become the next (and former) leader of the free world has said he would use the army against internal enemies, the former chief of staff of the army said he is the most serious danger…
And a fascist, before I forget, the Orange Baboon has also sent Covid tests to his buddy, Putin, when there were queues that were miles long, of people waiting to get tested, and this is just over the past few days – I mean some of the aforementioned details appear in an upcoming book, by the iconic Bob Woodward
The journalist https://realini.blogspot.com/2023/08/... that had exposed Nixon, together with Carl Bernstein, will release new secrets, and it is so tragic that the needle will not move, voters are so dumb (on that side) that they will not consider anything new, and just push the monster higher
And to say that some of the Animal Secrets include being alert, and studies show how important positivity is https://realini.blogspot.com/2015/05/... some aspects are beyond our control, like the Eight Hugs Each Day rule, which is highlighted by doctor David Agus
What to do if you do not get those, say in my case, where I just live with the spouse – who says frequently enough, the end of the arrangement – because of material considerations, and the macaws, otherwise there is no touching, anything, so yes, there is paying for intimacy, which I do, within the impose limits
Here the notion that money does not bring merriment can be disputed, I get it, you could not get to those sex workers and increase the financial exchange and say hugs, make me felicitous and more, it does not work that way, but there was this ad for Lexus, saying something like those who say money do not bring joy do not know what to do with it
As in buy a Lexus, and for the case presented, more cash would get access to better service, looks, oxytocin – take what happened last Thursday, when I went to somebody recommended by a man from…Chile – he works here, but let us stay on course, I am supposed to talk about Lessons For a Long and Happy Life, right, yes, it is supposed to be the book, but this is how I operate in this space, mixing things up
Doing the ‘weave’, if I quote the Great Orange Ape, so I call, and this woman who sells happiness says avenue Victoria, number 32, and when there, I ask what entrance, she confused the matter, it was one, instead of two, which is annoying, and when up on her floor, she has this tv on, with a loud noise and aggravating program
I say lower the volume, and when she just acts with reluctance, I say better turn it off, and she replies no, for during the ‘hugs session’, she would be watching the show, she did only oral sex, saying at this price, what do you expect, albeit her rates are average, never mind exorbitant for what is (not) on offer and when I said I want to see something, she reluctantly took the top off, and nothing more, saying I just gave birth, you want secretions pouring, or something like that, and she had no idea what Chile is, talk of recommendation, it must have been some scheme, as in they exchange the number between or something, anyway, it does not pay https://realini.blogspot.com/2022/12/...
Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se
There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
Some favorite quotes from To The Hermitage and other works
‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’
‚Parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus’
“From Monty Python - The Meaning of Life...Well, it's nothing very special...Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.”
9 out of 10
This is essential reading, in that we all want a Long and Happy Life, unless of course, we are talking depression, suicidal tendencies and other ailments, but then the good doctor has some suggestions that will work for, better said against such states, like the immersion in nature, the seventeen minutes or so daily of contact with it
I am blessed to have two macaws – also had five borzois, all at the same time, a few other canines, and now I have to feed many cats in the garden, the other day I have had the record dozen guests – and according to doctor David Agus, there is a lot to gain, I just have to sit back and watch, take notice, apply and enjoy
Or else, use ear plugs for when Balzac - the fifteen years old, at least that is what I think he is, I can remember the period, but not exactly – screams, because I just stepped out to give some food to a couple of pigeons, and spoiled as he is, well, both, Puccini, the reg and green, too, he does not tolerate absenteeism
One issue I have with The Book of Animal Spirits is that it gets too technical at times, and I mean not for the average reader – all of the content is really easy to get – just for lazy, uncooperative yours truly – and let me add, the crowd that worships the Orange Jesus, those people are morons in my book, Elon Musk included
Yes, he knows about rockets, electric cars – which his idol despises – but still, he is stupid as glass in the matter of choosing this monster – he also exemplifies, with Orange Felon and some others, what happens when somebody is rich, but has no means to reach Eudaimonia, a state of an elevated happiness
Sure, he jumps on stage with the Orange Fool, at his rally, he gets high, but that is not substantive, meaningful, it is the cheerfulness of an idiot – enough said, besides, I am going against the Spirit of the book, which teaches about being optimistic, and ‘embracing the weirdness of others, including ourselves’
I venture to speculate and say that the good doctor David Agus does not mean supporting a would-be Hitler – over the past days, the favorite to become the next (and former) leader of the free world has said he would use the army against internal enemies, the former chief of staff of the army said he is the most serious danger…
And a fascist, before I forget, the Orange Baboon has also sent Covid tests to his buddy, Putin, when there were queues that were miles long, of people waiting to get tested, and this is just over the past few days – I mean some of the aforementioned details appear in an upcoming book, by the iconic Bob Woodward
The journalist https://realini.blogspot.com/2023/08/... that had exposed Nixon, together with Carl Bernstein, will release new secrets, and it is so tragic that the needle will not move, voters are so dumb (on that side) that they will not consider anything new, and just push the monster higher
And to say that some of the Animal Secrets include being alert, and studies show how important positivity is https://realini.blogspot.com/2015/05/... some aspects are beyond our control, like the Eight Hugs Each Day rule, which is highlighted by doctor David Agus
What to do if you do not get those, say in my case, where I just live with the spouse – who says frequently enough, the end of the arrangement – because of material considerations, and the macaws, otherwise there is no touching, anything, so yes, there is paying for intimacy, which I do, within the impose limits
Here the notion that money does not bring merriment can be disputed, I get it, you could not get to those sex workers and increase the financial exchange and say hugs, make me felicitous and more, it does not work that way, but there was this ad for Lexus, saying something like those who say money do not bring joy do not know what to do with it
As in buy a Lexus, and for the case presented, more cash would get access to better service, looks, oxytocin – take what happened last Thursday, when I went to somebody recommended by a man from…Chile – he works here, but let us stay on course, I am supposed to talk about Lessons For a Long and Happy Life, right, yes, it is supposed to be the book, but this is how I operate in this space, mixing things up
Doing the ‘weave’, if I quote the Great Orange Ape, so I call, and this woman who sells happiness says avenue Victoria, number 32, and when there, I ask what entrance, she confused the matter, it was one, instead of two, which is annoying, and when up on her floor, she has this tv on, with a loud noise and aggravating program
I say lower the volume, and when she just acts with reluctance, I say better turn it off, and she replies no, for during the ‘hugs session’, she would be watching the show, she did only oral sex, saying at this price, what do you expect, albeit her rates are average, never mind exorbitant for what is (not) on offer and when I said I want to see something, she reluctantly took the top off, and nothing more, saying I just gave birth, you want secretions pouring, or something like that, and she had no idea what Chile is, talk of recommendation, it must have been some scheme, as in they exchange the number between or something, anyway, it does not pay https://realini.blogspot.com/2022/12/...
Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se
There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
Some favorite quotes from To The Hermitage and other works
‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’
‚Parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus’
“From Monty Python - The Meaning of Life...Well, it's nothing very special...Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.”
July 24, 2023
PLAGIARISM! This book is a leading example of plagiarism today, according to Plagiarism Today. Thanks to assiduous L.A. Times reporting, we know that the book not just misses attributions, but reproduces long passages from a wide range of sources. Worse, words here and there changed in a middle-school effort to disguise the problem. https://www.latimes.com/science/story... As Plagiarism Today explains, when a journalist can come up with nearly 100 instances without much effort, there’s much more serious work to be done than adding more footnotes. https://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2023/...
The coverage continues, with a March 17 story saying that the pattern of plagiarism shows up in Dr. Agus’s earlier books. https://www.latimes.com/science/story...
A book on a scientific topic should be held to a standard where intentional violations of authorial ethics isn’t permitted. Nobody should support plagiarism, and NOBODY should buy Dr. Agus’s shoddy and dishonest work.
The coverage continues, with a March 17 story saying that the pattern of plagiarism shows up in Dr. Agus’s earlier books. https://www.latimes.com/science/story...
A book on a scientific topic should be held to a standard where intentional violations of authorial ethics isn’t permitted. Nobody should support plagiarism, and NOBODY should buy Dr. Agus’s shoddy and dishonest work.
July 27, 2023
I don’t understand how this book has been published when it was withdrawn once already for massive plagiarism. Not just a little bit of plagiarism, but it was reported that there were close to 100 instances of plagiarism in this book. A subsequent report showed that Agus’ other books had instances of plagiarism as well. They should all be withdrawn. The actual authors who work on publishing informative science books do so out of public interest- there is often very little money as a result of this sort of book publishing. And the authors and scientists that actually do that work deserve the respect of the public. Their work should not be stolen cavalierly and then plagiarized! How must they feel?
This man is no author, he should apologize to the true authors who he has been stealing from, and all of his books should be withdrawn by the publisher.
This man is no author, he should apologize to the true authors who he has been stealing from, and all of his books should be withdrawn by the publisher.
August 10, 2024
This book had really good info but Dr Agus deserved a better editor. It's about what we can learn from animals, and how we can leverage our differences to better understand ourselves. Why don't the biggest mammals get cancer? Why are vols monogamous? Really interesting areas of research that could pay off to help humans in the future. Buuut it didn't have the right balance. Some parts were long and drawn out, but some more interesting ones were too brief. Sometimes he explained medical terms that are commonplace, and other times he gave no explanation where one was warranted. (Especially impactful when the reader happens to be on an airplane 😐) And you know how Word underlines your misspelled words? Yeah one of the charts made it all the way into the book with wavy lines underneath the title. The book felt rushed overall. Great idea and contents that needed to be further szhuszhed before going to print.
#bookstack2024
#bookstack2024
April 2, 2023
Nothing too different in this book from many others written by doctors prescribing spending time in nature, exercise, positive social interactions and eating unprocessed foods for a healthy life. Dr Agus goes into interesting detail explaining how giraffes, elephants, voles and other animals thrive without high blood pressure, cancer or even pain.
The book was recalled for claims of insufficient referencing but I found the book heavily referenced. He does explain the book would increase in size substantially if every single sentence was cited but that did not take away from my reading enjoyment.
The book was recalled for claims of insufficient referencing but I found the book heavily referenced. He does explain the book would increase in size substantially if every single sentence was cited but that did not take away from my reading enjoyment.
July 24, 2023
I'd recommend we all go to the original source and read Barbara Natterson Horowitz’s Zoobiquity. It’s an inspiring read from a brilliant woman cardiologist at UCLA about how inspirational the world of animal health can be. It has sparked a revolution in understanding human health! The species-spanning approach that is Zoobiquity has been breaking down walls for years, there have been major conferences about the idea, and it is widely taught in universities. Highly recommended for a credible author who produced a work using true originality!
December 30, 2023
Just Ok. I was hoping for something more substantive. The premise sounded interesting. What can elephants teach us about cancer? (they don't get this disease). Why don't giraffes don't develop heart disease despite having the highest blood pressure of any animal? While several of the author's examples taken from the animal kingdom are thought-provoking, others seem included just to add length to the book. There is also nothing unique about the author's conclusions. Eat right, exercise, spend time in nature and socialize is advice you would get from pretty much any physician.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2024
Dr. David Argus offers an insightful account of how humans and animals share common ground.
Hormones, habits and needs: a refreshing reminder that we 'intelligent' humans can learn so much from what nature provides. For the average reader, dig in deep for some weighty discussions about research and the marvelous people behind the discoveries. Octopuses, giraffes, lions, voles, elephants...you'll love what the doctors have learned. Share this with students who are thinking about medicine or medical research. And the end is totally heartwarming. Here's to all who get to the end... a big hug!
Hormones, habits and needs: a refreshing reminder that we 'intelligent' humans can learn so much from what nature provides. For the average reader, dig in deep for some weighty discussions about research and the marvelous people behind the discoveries. Octopuses, giraffes, lions, voles, elephants...you'll love what the doctors have learned. Share this with students who are thinking about medicine or medical research. And the end is totally heartwarming. Here's to all who get to the end... a big hug!
December 31, 2023
This is a very good book of curiosity and facts, and, even more, work to be done in biology research to cure disease. The road may keep being slow and long.
I felt at times that it may have been written by someone other than a scientist or doctor. And, having science degrees, I wanted it to be more in-depth. However, for the general public, this is good and poses more questions and arouses more curiosity for science research.
I felt at times that it may have been written by someone other than a scientist or doctor. And, having science degrees, I wanted it to be more in-depth. However, for the general public, this is good and poses more questions and arouses more curiosity for science research.
January 29, 2024
I really wanted to like this book. I've waited months for it, but it was such a disappointment. The idea is terrific and I wanted some advice on how to live a healthier life, based on the animal kingdom's lessons, but it was so wordy that it was hard to stick with an entire chapter. I found myself skipping to the end of each chapter where there was a summary. Sorry, but it wasn't the book I was hoping for.
June 10, 2024
As a layman, I found this book readable. It also provides biochemical information for those with a stronger scientific background. It was loaded with interesting facts, and suggested ways a person might emulate some animal behavior for healthier living.
May 22, 2024
very thorough
I kept thinking how much research he did to talk to others and learn all the amazing things other animals have. I love that researching benefits other animals has over humans can help humans in the long run. The epilogue was great for a quick refresher on what we learned in each chapter.
I kept thinking how much research he did to talk to others and learn all the amazing things other animals have. I love that researching benefits other animals has over humans can help humans in the long run. The epilogue was great for a quick refresher on what we learned in each chapter.
August 10, 2024
Dnf. Found it dry and boring... And when I heard of the plagiarism allegations, done.
December 27, 2024
Not at all what I expected. So much science! I'm surprised how much I liked it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews