Immortality, Inc.: Renegade Science, Silicon Valley Billions, and the Quest to Live Forever

by Chip Walter

This gripping narrative explores today's scientific pursuit of immortality, with exclusive visits inside Silicon Valley labs and interviews with the visionaries who believe we will soon crack into the aging process and cure death.

We live in an age when billionaires are betting their fortunes on laboratory advances to prove aging unnecessary and death a disease that can be cured. Researchers are delving into the mysteries of stem cells and the human genome, discovering what it means to grow old and how to keep those processes from happening. This isn't science fiction; it's real, it's serious, and it's on track to revolutionize our definitions of life and mortality.

In Immortality, Inc., veteran science journalist Chip Walter gains exclusive access to the champions of this radical cause, delivering a book that brings together for the first time the visions of molecular biologist and Apple chairman Arthur Levinson, genomics entrepreneur Craig Venter, futurist Ray Kurzweil, rejuvenation trailblazer Aubrey de Grey, and stem cell expert Robert Hariri. Along the way, Walter weaves in fascinating conversations about life, death, aging, and the future of the human race.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Business, Technology, Medicine, Health, Audiobook

320 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

I am an author, National Geographic Explorer, filmmaker and former CNN bureau chief. Mostly because of my irrational curiosity, I've developed an unusually broad background that spans both science and entertainment. I have written and sold multiple screenplays, but my sixth book, Doppelgänger, is my first novel, a science fiction thriller that explores a post-dystopian world where the main character is faced with solving his own murder, and where artificial intelligence approaches human consciousness. More details on that here: https://chipwalter.com/doppelganger.)

My earlier books include Immortality, Inc. -- Renegade Science, Silicon Valley Billions, and the Quest to Live Forever for National Geographic. It's available in bookstores everywhere. Salon's review: “Walter has clearly gained the trust of some of the most innovative and imaginative thinkers of the early 21st century, and in doing so he's able to offer the reader a glimpse inside their minds. And what we find there is certainly colorful. Whatever one thinks of the quest for immortality, it is impossible not to be intrigued by it”. The Wall Street Journal wrote, “While Immortality, Inc. is focused on aging and the efforts to defy it, the book is also a gripping chronicle of private-sector experimentation and ingenuity.” “Witty … worth the ride,” wrote Nature, and Publisher’s Weekly calls the book, “Fascinating.” It was chosen one of the nation’s top six science books by Malcolm Gladwell’s Next Big Idea Club.

Other books include Last Ape Standing: The Seven-Million-Year Story of How and Why We Survived; Thumbs, Toes and Tears – And Other Traits That Make Us Human (Walker –– Bloomsbury Publishing); I’m Working on That with William Shatner (Simon and Schuster); and Space Age for Random House, the companion volume to the primetime PBS series that I developed back in the stone age.

I have been fortunate enough to have my books published in eight languages that have reached mainstream audiences from Kyoto to Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, Hong Kong, Mexico City and Krakow, God help them.

The New York Times Book Review, called Last Ape “a lively journey… that takes an antic delight in the triumphal adaptations and terrifying near misses of human evolution.” ”The New Yorker called it “engaging” and “fascinating.” And Booklist called it, “captivating, informative, exceptionally well-written and accessible.” Thumbs, Toes and Tears also received some nice reviews: Publisher’s Weekly wrote“fascinating and superbly written,” while Kirkus Reviews said, “Walter narrates with flair and enthusiasm.”

When I did a stint in Hollywood, I sold screenplays to Universal/Imagine Films, Tri-Star and Warner Bros. I've written tons of articles over the years for National Geographic, The Economist, Slate, the Wall Street Journal, and Scientific American, among many others covering subjects from the origins of kissing, laughter and human consciousness to the origins of human art and the development of futuristic technologies. My work as a journalist and documentary filmmaker, have taken me all over the place -- from the Amazon Rain Forest and Outback of Australia to the Serengeti and remote islands of the Pacific. Even Antarctica as part of my current project with his wife Cyndy to travel all seven continents, never by jet.

Sorry for piling all of that information on you, but there's just a bit more. I'm deeply fascinated with two seemingly unrelated subjects – human behavior, and the increasingly rapid advance of technology and its effect upon our lives and society. I believe no technology, no matter how powerful, can succeed unless it connects positively and effectively on a human level. (Thus Doppelgänger.) To smooth the immense and disruptive transitions that lie ahead, I feel it's crucial for us to not only understand the power of emerging technology, but also to better comprehend the core attributes that make human

Reviews

[Ilana (illi69) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg. Fascinating. According to all his research and countless interviews with cutting edge scientists, Chip Walter (look him up, he’s no random joker) explains how we are closer than ever to reversing the aging process and achieving immortality. Scientific advances in the fields of genetics, enabled by computing technology and AI, are breaking down the information provided by our genes to predict and prevent life-threatening illnesses and conditions.

Other researchers are busily decoding our DNA and that of other mammals to discover why certain people and species have unusually long lives to find the keys to what makes us age. The process of aging is itself considered by many of the forerunners in these studies as a disease for which there must be a cure. Armed with all this information and backed by major investors such as Google—it would seem we will soon have the capacity to evolve humanity within mere years or decades, as opposed to the hundreds of thousands of years nature has taken.

For now these advances seem to be only within the reach of the one percent (Jeff Bezos comes to mind, as does Bill Gates, both mentioned here), but researchers are finding ways to make those advances economically available to the masses. There is speculation that humans could live for several hundred years with the aid of constantly evolving technology, and that artificial intelligence could help us in that quest by aggregating data in ways that no human brain could achieve.

I was riveted by this book, but through it all couldn’t help wondering why anyone would possibly want to live that long. Apparently humanity will experience a major paradigm shift about what living entails—from the ways we use our time and evolve relationships and families, with the possibility procreation might be discouraged to avoid exponential overpopulation.

This should interest readers who like to ponder question of mortality, and how this could eventually become a thing of the past. Gives plenty to think about for those like me who haven’t kept up with the scientific advances for the last couple of decades. The question now isn’t IF we can reach immortality, but WHEN. Science fiction made real, or when life is stranger than fiction.

[Billy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very accessible narrative about a very dense scientific field. While Walter does a good job explaining theories and various experiments and projects, I wasn’t expecting so much of the book to focus on the lives of the people behind them, and actually would have liked more about the science itself. Also, because a lot of the leading figures in the book are older, it seems like the whole idea of cheating death through science is one big Baby Boomer vanity project, which makes me laugh. Otherwise, this book lives up to the expectations I have for National Geographic reporting, but I guess the subject matter just didn’t hit me right.

[Rama Rao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technology and post-humanism

Technology could make us immortal; The Six Million Dollar Man, Robocop and The Matrix share common DNA of human beings enhanced by technology. The technology will be used to extend longevity and enhance physical and cognitive performance. The goal is to overcome mind and body limitations by making an individual better than merely being human. Immortality has gone secular in the last two decades and unhooked from the realm of gods. It's now the subject of serious intellectual and financial investment in the Silicon Valley to make longevity possible.

This book explores scientific pursuit of immortality with Silicon Valley visionaries. The champions of this radical cause include of molecular biologist and Apple chairman Arthur Levinson, genomics entrepreneur Craig Venter, futurist Ray Kurzweil, biologist Aubrey de Grey, and stem cell researcher Robert Hariri. This is the age of billionaires betting their fortunes on laboratory advances to prove aging is unnecessary, and death can be cured. This book does not go into the scientific and technological details behind aging research but provide a journalistic overview of how technocrats are changing the course of human endeavor.

[Viral · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to National Geographic for the ARC at BEA 2019!

This book was an exploration of modern research into aging, and the different groups and people who are trying to solve the problem of aging in a quest to live forever. We meet various different eccentric scientists and billionaire Silicon Valley venture capitalists spending hundreds of millions of dollars on trying to figure out how to prevent aging on a biochemical and physiological level. Spoiler: they are no where near close.

I'll be honest, I didn't really find the stories that appealing (as it was less about recent insights and more about who these researchers are), and I could help but feel weird with how Walter was geeking out about these SV billionaires and millionaires pouring tons of money into these moonshots that have, as he has shown, produced basically nothing of value, while millions starve and die of preventable diseases. There's even a line where one of the genius scientists says curing cancer isn't even that important because it would "only" extend the overall human life expectancy 8 years! Oh I'm sorry, billionaire hedge fund managers, I know you don't care that millions die from preventable diseases and huge chunks of society die from "boring things" like cancer, but I can't help but be disgusted as these wealthy investors geek over and spend hundreds of millions on these ridiculous ideas that go nowhere, while 30,000 Americans die every year b/c they lack adequate health care, and these SV robber barons are the very people who work so hard lobbying Congress to make sure universal healthcare is never realized in this country. Yes, Walter, reversing aging would be a game changing idea, for the very few who could afford it in our broken health care system. The rest of us will die from boring normal stuff, but it's ok, maybe b/c you wrote this book they'll let you into their little VIP club. Maybe.

Not an interesting read. Do not recommend.

[DMPasinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read. I typically don't read science narratives but I think I'm gonna start. It was written like a novel and it kept my interest. And, the best part, I learned a lot while being entertained.

[Scott Lupo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. It's not great, it's not awful. I expected more science, experiments, and trials for such a monumental undertaking as 'curing' death. Unfortunately, it is more of a popular style written book that has less to do with the science and more to do with who is leading the charge. Much of the book is a mini-biography on some of Silicon Valley's well-known characters like Ray Kurzweil, Arthur Levinson, Craig Venter, Aubrey de Grey, and others. These moneyed individuals do not like the idea of dying and so they are driven to solve that problem...and make some money along the way. The science part, which is pretty scant, is appealing and engrossing. They have made some amazing discoveries in leaps and bounds. Maybe too quickly, not understanding the true and long lasting effects they can have physically, socially, morally, etc. In some ways, these baby boomers are mad scientists with huge sums of money and an unrelenting fear of dying that drives them. The author most definitely takes the opposite view in this book by exalting them to the heights of gods. There are chapters dedicated to making them sound like they're saving the world from annihilation. A little over the top and dramatic. Overall, a pretty surface, candy for your brain type of book with little depth and a lot of butt kissing with a splash of recent scientific discoveries. Not great, not awful.

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off, I really disliked the writing style and tone of this book. It felt hokey and the analogies were of putting, sometimes didn't make sense. I had hoped there would be more science covered, but instead it was more a biography of the people who decided to try to hack death.

There is a lot of space devoted to how the companies were formed, the meetings and all sorts of boring details. Maybe it's interesting for some people, but I really didn't get much out of this book. Plus, whatever science was in here is now dated. Likely current state of some of these companies too. Science and tech start-ups move fast!

It was hard to keep straight the multitude of companies and connections and the little graph in the beginning of how these key people are connected didn't include all the company names. So that wasn't helpful.

There are better books out there, even on this topic, skip this one.

[Wendelle]

No joke, roughly the first 2/3 of this book was devoted to intimate details about the childhood, youth, and career growth of the featured personalities such as J. Craig Venter, Art Levinson, and Ray Kurzweil, written in a tone of fanboyish awe and cloying, saccharine servility. Do you really want to hear about J. Craig Venter's teenage sexual escapades, because with this book you will hear about it. This style of narrative was irritating to put up with. The research on gerontology fades into the background, if you really want to hear a sliver about it in this book, you might find some notes on the last 1/3 part. This is really more about the companies in Silicon Valley and the chairmen of their board that are interested in aging research, than any deep informative dive on aging research.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dedication of this book is to Tom Wolfe, and if you know anything about Tom Wolfe, he was a pioneer in the style of "gonzo journalism": the style that this book faithfully emulates. The book places you, the reader, as a fly on the wall following Chip Walter & the cast of characters, as they first collide and join forces to create new ventures to defeat aging. As someone who has followed many of the scientist-entrepreneurs in the book for years, I think this biographical style is the best introduction to them and their ideas. For example, reading the Singularity Is Near gives you some vision of Ray Kurzweil's motivations, but Immortality Inc (similar to the documentary film "Transcendent Man") starts with the human story behind the inventor, and why it led to the inventions and discovery. Even if you have heard of Craig Venter's shotgun sequencing innovation, you may not have heard of his harrowing experiences in Vietnam that changed the course of his life from underachieving surfer to world-renowned scientist. Because of this accessible, dramatic style, I would recommend this book across the board: from those with no prior knowledge of the field and those steeped in it.
If I had to pick one of the negative aspects of the book, I would say the ending is not very satisfying considering the book's novelistic style where one would expect a beginning, rising action, climax and resolution. Unfortunately, there is no resolution and the book ends with a cliffhanger—because the jury is still out on whether all these anti-aging ventures will be flops: they certainly have not cured aging as of 2020 and news reports out of these ventures are still deliberately opaque. That is not the fault of the book, per se, as the story is still ongoing, but there cannot be a satisfying retrospective until the jury comes back.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read, with great research but a little too long for the amount of content. E.g. do we really need a chapter on how baby boomers came to be?

[Joanne Manaster · Rating 3 out of 5]

I happened to read this book directly after Daniel Sinclair's interesting book, Lifespan, which talks about his own valid academic research into aging. Immortality, Inc. had additional information about various researchers and the development of highly funded companies to work on the aging issues, but the science was gleaned over rather than explained. I was good to learn about the high impact players who are working on these problems, but in the end, they seemed to be a bunch of massive silicon valley egos coming together to help rich boomers live forever.

[Phuong]

Chip shared insights into the anti-aging industry that are eye-opening, stunning, and gripping. It has an investigative-journalling feel and overall great read.

[Torie Tonelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should start by saying that this book has a lot of strong points. The writing is accessible, and the science is explained in such a way that a layperson can get a good idea of the various concepts introduced in the book. Walter's enthusiasm for the content is clear from the start, and his descriptions of the various scientists in the field are entertaining in large part because he paints a world that seems like something out of a science fiction novel-- eccentric genius and madmen hunched over the secrets to life itself, teetering on the precipice of a revolutionary discovery. In a lot of ways this passion is what saves the book because in spite of the limitations of the material it was genuinely interesting to read.

That said, there were some definitive disappointments. Part of it rests on the fact that I don't really think I am the target demographic for this book. Walter refers frequently to the baby boomers, and most of the lives he chooses to focus on stay in this age range. The scientific discoveries are also described in terms of what they can do to extend the lives of boomers, and while I understand that this is in part because this is the portion of our population that is currently aging, it seemed to go deeper than that. As a 19-year-old girl, the book seemed like it was meant for older folks-- particularly other boomers.

The actual content of the book wasn't what I expected. I approached the book thinking that it would be a look into the many ways humanity is trying to extend our collective lifespan, but what I got was more a set of fractured biographies. The stories were told with skill, to be sure, but the focus was directed at the people rather than at the science. If you are looking for a story about fascinating individuals with some scientific discoveries sprinkled in, this is the book for you; if you are looking for a comprehensive guide to the science of the future, keep moving.

I enjoyed the read overall, and it sparked an interest in the field. I'll probably look for more books that focus some more on the actual science, but as an introductory read, this functions well.

[Dan Trefethen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book recounts the recent efforts by some Very Rich People to beat the aging process and extend human longevity for decades or more.

It's a breezy, chatty book that provides mini-biographies of the main participants (Kurzweil, Venter, Diamandis, etc.) using sometimes slick metaphors. (“Kurzweil's personal and persistent visions of the future fit into the Silicon Valley vibe as smoothly as a $1,000 pair of Ferragamo loafers.”)

The efforts focus on a couple of different companies, the Google-backed Calico, and Venter's Human Longevity, Inc. (HLI). HLI provided what I would call “extreme diagnosis” - complete mapping of a patient's genome, full body MRI scan, extensive analysis of fluids, etc. They found ailments in about a third of their patients that the patients didn't know about. The Google effort included the use of machine learning (or AI) methods to decode the human genome to find a key that would unlock the potential for long life. Also, the use of placental (rather than embryonic) stem cells is highlighted.

The author has an appreciation for life extension methods that aren't yet really warranted by the evidence. The takeaway from this book is that there's a whole lot we don't know about human biology and genetics, and it will take a lot more experimentation and discovery before we meaningfully extend human longevity. After all, if everyone could afford the extreme diagnosis that HLI offers, more illnesses would be caught earlier – that's not really life extension per se, that's just really good preventive medicine.

The author only briefly touches on the ethics of a human population whose longevity is extended forty or fifty years, and what that would mean to population growth and stress on the earth's resources.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been thinking about immortality when I found immortality, Inc. I found the book to be a page turner full of interesting people and information. I don't know if scientists will find the key to immortality but, I did find Immortality inc, a great read.

I had heard of Ray Kurzweil before reading Immortality inc. I knew of some of his ideas but, did not know what he had invented. I found his story fascinating. Being on television with Steve Allen on I have a secret and all his inventions.

I had heard of J Craig Venter before. I knew he worked on the human Genome project. I would have thought he was an A student when he was younger and would have gotten into a top school out of College. That turned out not to be the case. I would never have thought he was in Vietnam or tried to commit Suicide by swimming in the ocean.

Those are only 2 of the amazing people from Immortality Inc. I also found the discussion of the naked mole rat and the bowhead whale interesting. A rat that can live for 25 years. And a whale the length of a semi-truck and weighing maybe 40 tons that can live past 200 years old. Wow. That blew my mind.

Oh, and another interesting discussion was about Blue zones. The places where people live long lives.

I thought William Shatners review on the cover of the book said it best: What a cast, what a story what a book.

[John Behle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked (that's four stars) the audiobook. Graham Winton's deft narration from the basis of Chip Walter's efficient, flowing text made a November 2020 week uplifted. The sprinkles of wry humor are fun.

The theme is life...or as the title suggests, life never ending. The book is current, with the next biotechnology breakthrough being funded by uber rich venture capitalists, rolling expensive dice for a forever outcome.

Walter's book even outlines what one can do right now. Pony up $25,000. Report to the lobby desk at Human Longevity, Inc, 4570 Executive Drive in endlessly sunny San Diego California. You sign on for a battery of ongoing tests, culminating in a full body MRI scan. It's a futuristic super physical, all the way down to measuring the fat in your liver. HLI's website claims they analyse "150 gigabytes of your body’s unique data...to partner with you to see it flourish. " For the premium package (higher priced), they..."continuously track your health to help preempt disease and aid in maximizing your performance."

Call 844-838-3344 to arrange your interview to start "...your personal health journey."

Good book. See you in San Diego.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by a science journalist, this book is an interesting journalistic reporting of some of the scientists, entrepreneurs and companies leading the charge in the quest to extending human lifespan and healthspan. The book is divided into four major sections, with chapters loosely organized under Need (a desire/market for longevity), Will (drive to fullfill the need), Resources (tools, money, expertise) and Success (current state of things).

While short on scientific detail of longevity research, this book provides a very readable background on some of my personal heroes in the longevity space as well as some of the companies they have founded. The author has taken the time to interview most of the lead actors (except for Larry Page) below and several employees at the companies discussed in the book.

Lead actors: Arthur Levinson, J. Craig Venter, Ray Kurzweil, Aubrey de Grey, Robert Hariri, Larry Page, Bill Maris, and Peter Diamandis.

Companies: Alcor Life Extension Foundation, Calico Labs, and Human Longevity Inc.

[Bill O'driscoll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Science writer Walter explores the world of researcher and financiers who believe humans are on the brink of figuring out how to extend life indefinitely. It's an engaging account of the science of aging, several of the people on this obsessive path, and of some of their research (such as the study of the bizarre animal known as the naked mole rat, which lives multiples of the lifespan of other rodents without seeming to age as we know it). However, readers who've read little else on the subject might come away thinking this line of research is much more mainstream than it actually is. And Walter makes scant effort to address the ethics of seeking "eternal life" on earth, or even its ecological feasibility, given that many scientists have grave doubts about civilization's prospects in the face of global warming and other environmental crises.

[Kim McGee · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens when you take the world's leading freethinkers from Silicon Valley labs, put them in a situation where money isn't a problem and have them tackle mortality? You crack the genome code, access stem cell miracles and develop cryogenic tanks to keep people on ice until we fully understand how to revive them. So many names and brilliant minds that it is easy to get a bit lost in the shuffle let alone tackle the science. It is amazing to see how far we have come and how far we still have to go to tackle the issue of living forever or at least much longer than we currently are. This book would appeal not only to futuristic science junkies but also those with a love of the innovative thinkers that have come out of Silicon Valley. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

[Charlene Xiaolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book on a road trip in Florida. It's an interesting topic and the author did a good job giving an overview of the history and status of the immortality and anti-aging related projects in Silicon Valley. The book doesn't dig very deep into the science and the solutions but talks a lot about the life of the people involved.

I'm glad there are companies and people focused on this aspect of human life, namely the extension of it. I personally don't think that will solve many of the fundamental existential problems, nor necessarily make the years alive happier. But that's not in the scope of this book anyway.

[ZhongWang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walter is such a great story teller. He put so many great minds on stage, many I had the previlige to know or talk to, and let them tell their approach to immortality. From hacking one's genetic codes, to manipulating one's cell biology and biochemistry, to digitizing one's mind, Walter made advanced science and technology topics easy without losing precision. I am not a fast reader but read it in two days. I wish David Sinclair and De Grey had got more coverage too. We don't know the path yet, if such a path exists. Being immortal fundamentally challenges evolution, as getting old means losing ability to adapt to the changing world, dying is important to the evolution process of a species.

[Brendan Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty interesting and well presented. I guess I am wanting to have a firm opinion now I have listened to this on audiobook. The science is intriguing, and the billions of dollars being thrown at prolonging life indefinitely certainly has me believing it is possible. But at what cost? And how will it be accessed equally? Imagine a world where only the super rich can afford to have (if not immortal) drastically increased life spans, while the third world, and less privileged can not.

[Janet Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fascinating book about the work being done to hold off aging and much more. It is a little hard to follow all the players and names at certain points. A quick reference guide would have helped. The write is engaging, really great job at keeping human storytelling in there to keep it from being a dry, scientific discussion.

[Jon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. This book has too much emphasis on the specific people and companies leading the charge to defeat aging, while glossing over the actual science behind the effort. The personal dramas just aren't that interesting, in my opinion. I recommend reading Lifespan by David Sinclair instead. It does a great job explaining biology concepts to laypeople.

[Reneta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat more technical book than I normally read. I was unaware that there is a lot of money and very prominent and smart, successful researchers, with the focus to expand life expectancy. Very up to date information given and the thoughts, and people, supporting this. Interesting read. I won this book via a Goodreads giveaway

[Ethan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fascinating subject, but the book was too heavy on biographies of companies and the men who founded them. Would've liked more about the technology, and the potential cultural, social, and economic changes that an end to aging would entail.

[Oz Paszkiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wild, fantastic, almost unimaginable. Walter takes complex topics and makes them easy to understand and even easier to read. I loved every second of this book, and the ethical quandaries I now must ponder are immense....

[Blaire Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have loved a more in-depth look at the science and less of a biography on all of the individuals involved with those at the forefront of this research. Nevertheless, an engaging & well written read.

[Jason Velez]

Excellent read

Fascinating, entertaining. Gives me hope for the near future. This book also introduced me to Kurzweil and his books. Look forward to more from Chip.

[Ben Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into complicated topic of morbidity compression. Excellent narrative that held my attention throughout.