Young Forever

by Mark Hyman

Aging has long been considered a normal process. We think disease, frailty, and gradual decline are inevitable parts of life. But they're not.
Science today sees aging as a treatable disease. By addressing the root causes of aging we can not only increase our health span and live longer but prevent and reverse the diseases of aging-including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and dementia.

In Young Forever, Dr Mark Hyman challenges us to reimagine our biology, health, and the process of aging. To uncover the secrets to longevity, he explores the biological hallmarks of aging, its causes, and its consequences-then shows us how to overcome them with simple dietary, lifestyle, and emerging longevity strategies.
You will
·How to optimize your body's Key Longevity Switches
·How to reduce inflammation and support the health of your immune system
·How to exercise, sleep, and de-stress for healthy aging
·How to eat your way to a long life, featuring Dr Hyman's Pegan Diet
·Which supplements are right for you ·Where the research on aging is headed

With dozens of tips as well as 30 delicious, age-defying recipes, Young Forever is a revolutionary, practical guide to creating and sustaining health - for life.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Self Help, Nutrition, Audiobook, Science, Food

410 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 16, 2023

About the author

Mark Hyman, MD, believes that we all deserve a life of vitality--and that we have the potential to create it for ourselves. That's why he is dedicated to tackling the root causes of chronic disease by harnessing the power of Functional Medicine to transform healthcare. Dr. Hyman and his team work every day to empower people, organizations, and communities to heal their bodies and minds, and improve our social and economic resilience.

Dr. Hyman is a practicing family physician, an eleven-time New York Times bestselling author, and an internationally recognized leader, speaker, educator, and advocate in his field. He is the Director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine. He is also the founder and medical director of The UltraWellness Center, chairman of the board of the Institute for Functional Medicine, a medical editor of The Huffington Post, and was a regular medical contributor on many television shows including CBS This Morning, Today Show, CNN, and The View, Katie, and The Dr. Oz Show.

Dr. Hyman works with individuals and organizations, as well as policymakers and influencers. He has testified before both the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the Senate Working Group on Health Care Reform on Functional Medicine. He has consulted with the Surgeon General on diabetes prevention and participated in the 2009 White House Forum on Prevention and Wellness. Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa nominated Dr. Hyman for the President's Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health. In addition, Dr. Hyman has worked with President Clinton, presenting at the Clinton Foundation's Health Matters, Achieving Wellness in Every Generation conference, and the Clinton Global Initiative, as well as with the World Economic Forum on global health issues. He is the winner of the Linus Pauling Award, The Nantucket Project Award, and was inducted in the Books for Better Life Hall of Fame.

Dr. Hyman also works with fellow leaders in his field to help people and communities thrive--with Rick Warren, Dr. Mehmet Oz, and Dr. Daniel Amen, he created The Daniel Plan, a faith-based initiative that helped The Saddleback Church collectively lose 250,000 pounds. He is as an advisor and guest co-host on The Dr. Oz Show and is on the board of Dr. Oz's HealthCorps, which tackles the obesity epidemic by educating American students about nutrition. With Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. Michael Roizen, Dr. Hyman crafted and helped introduce the Take Back Your Health Act of 2009 to the United States Senate to provide for reimbursement of lifestyle treatment of chronic disease. And, with Tim Ryan in 2015, helped introduce the ENRICH Act into Congress to fund nutrition in medical education. Dr. Hyman plays a substantial role in a major film produced by Laurie David and Katie Couric, released in 2014, called Fed Up, which addresses childhood obesity.

Reviews

[Liong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you want to live up to 120 or 200 years old? Of course, I want to.

Do you want to live up to 120 but your body is weak and painful? Of course, you don't want to.

Dr. Mark Hyman is trying to help us to live longer and better.

We cannot stop our chronological age but we can reduce and maintain our biological age by advances in science.

This book explains why we are ageing so fast and suggests many professional methods for longevity.

Exercise, sleep, diet, emotion, and supplements are recommended in this book.

I need to occasionally keep this book on my table for important health references. 🧐

[Sharon Orlopp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to Young Forever: The Secrets to Living Your Longest, Healthiest Life on audiobook and it's fantastic. It is chock full of great research and tips for living a healthier, longer life.

Hyman is a physician and author. He is a huge believer in functional medicine which focuses on your entire health, rather than having patients see six different doctors to treat six different diseases. All of the primary, critical diseases occur due to inflammation. Functional medicine focuses on treating inflammation. It's an individualized approach to your health that keys in on prevention rather than reaction.

The primary maxims of living healthy are:
* Don't smoke
* Maintain your ideal weight
* Exercise

We all know these are the three main levers to being healthy, yet sadly we don't always do them. There is massive research being done on aging and longevity. With the current rate of innovation, life might be extended for individuals to live to be over 100 sometime within the next 15 years. But it also requires action on our part.

Some of the key takeaways include:
* Use food as your medicine to increase your longevity.

* Powerful medicine is at the end of your fork.

* If your food is wrong, medicine can't help.

* If your food is right, medicine isn't necessary.

* Your body is the smartest doctor. Pay attention to it.

* If you start walking at age 60, your health improves signficantly.

* The way we live and eat is causing a trail of exhaust.

* Our modern diet is pro-inflammatory.

* Toxins damage our DNA and our mitochondria.

* Sugar and starch cause our bodies to age and rage.

* You should have between 12 - 16 hours between dinner and breakfast so that your digestion and brain cleansing occurs.

* 70% of diseases are due to gut health.

* Epigenetic clocks can measure your biological age (compared to your chronological age/date of birth)

* Food can be medicine or poison.

* Daily behaviors determine your lifespan and your healthspan.

* Intermittent fasting can reduce the chance of a heart attack by 40% and the chance of Alzheimer's by 66%

* Tennis players live seven years longer than the average person

Highly recommend!

[Iain · Rating 2 out of 5]

50% Overly-repetitive US nutritional journal
50% Infomercial for various supplements and treatments which include the author's programme and own companies

While the Mark Hyman has a long academic and literary palmares, this is a really onerous read and it's difficult to see what it offers which is new and helpful to 98% of lay readers.

The summary chapter, 277 - ironically bloated- pages in, fundamentally advocates the sort of balanced lifestyle; a good diet; regular exercise and good sleep habits that mirrors every article on good health written in the last five years.

There is interesting copy around functional medicine but overall this is a disappointing book which leaves you feeling slightly dirty due to its cultish and attention grabbing pitch.

[Elyse Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook….read by Dr. Mark Hyman
…..9 hours and 28 minutes

Mark Hyman - functional medical doctor - is training to be the healthiest hundred year old person he can be —
both physically and mentally.
He discusses the principals, practices and programs that support people living longer and healthier —and better.

Dr. Hyman has been doing revolutionary research — and the study of disease for more than thirty years.
The goal is to prevent age-related chronic diseases. Certain lifestyle choices can slow down the process.

Mark visited the Blue Zone where people live the longest.
They eat very little sugar.
Love, community and delicious food is part of their lifestyle.
Movement is incorporated into their lives. They don’t retire. They are surrounded by a lifelong community of friends and lovers.
These communities don’t need to go to a gym, or buy organic food… although technically, their food is organic.
Our modern life must be adjusted. But there is a lot we can keep learning from the Blue Zones. (Mark’s research was a little toughy-feely)… but overall it’s hard to argue basic healthy choices have benefits.

The lessons are simple:
…Live close to nature, love deeply, eat simple foods ideally by your own hands, move naturally, laugh, rest maintain a normal weight, don’t smoke,exercise, and actually live: enjoy life.

But skydiving at age 100? I wasn’t interested in skydiving at ‘any’ age.

Looking at root causes of diseases? > it’s the purpose of Functional medicine. Shouldn’t it be of all medicine?
However - the research is not a perfect science.

Our Beds:
“Should only be used for sleeping and romance”, Hyman says.
…no books - no electronics — no food - no TV
I say he’s missing out on these pleasures—but thats’s me.
There was one year that Paul and I both had separate physical accidents — we broke numerous bones.
We had six surgeries between us - all in San Francisco— so there was ‘the driving’ —
When not in S.F. for surgery or hospital overnights — we were in bed together for pretty much an ‘entire year’ recovering.
Romance? You gotta be kidding….
We turned our bed into our office —
We occasionally laughed about having handicap sex. Tried it - didn’t work out too well.
But…
movies - books - iPhones - food - it all came to bed with us….
Did we feel any less healthy from our bed-toys (ha- pun not intended)…
NO … not on your life!!

Mark Hyman has been divorced—perhaps he might ‘re’ - research his rigid bed rules —
just sayin -

Okay — other ‘general’ things about Mr. Hyman’s ‘Forever Young’ plan…
Towards the last 10-15% of this book, the already familiar to me LISTS of things to do - from eating,
supplements,
exercise: (aerobic, strength, flexibility regimens),
along with an array of other benefits from hot & cold therapy, reading, service, dreaming, loving, and jumping out of airplanes at age 120…. lol
The GOOD DO LIFESTYLE LIST is soooooo LONG ….
so many supplements to take each day — varieties of the rainbow foods each day - organic each day - number of glasses of water each day - green tea each day - superfoods - intermittent fasting - more fiber - more berries - walk every morning - meditate - sauna - steam - cream ….
Begins to all sound SOOOO FUNNY …. SOOOOO obsessive all with the intention of achieving the ultimate chronological age ‘forever young’!!!

Joking aside—of course there is good healthy information in this book (repetitive, ‘mostly’ information we already have learned)….
But …..
Dr. Hyman ‘use’ to inform and ‘sound’ a little more human ….
Today … he goes by Dr. Mark ( please— really?)….
and that’s about when I started to feel somewhat turned off ….
by our super-hero-futuristic-hard-body-perfect-eating-man machine.

Yeah — the book is fine -
Anyone could benefit re-visiting some healthy advice (much of which most either already do or don’t)… so not sure ‘how’ much this book will transform anyone.

I’m not putting my books down while in bed. I’d feel too much added grief, and loss if I took Dr. Mark’s no-reading in bed advice.

A fair rating: 4 stars.
Did I love it? I don’t know. Honestly— I didn’t hate it — but Dr. Mark bugs me. 🐜

However …. I admit I do love our home sauna - hot and cold pools. I do these things for pure pleasure- not health reasons. ( but if it’s healthy, nice!)

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with his philosophy & approach to living a healthier lifestyle, but he seems a bit out of touch with what the majority of people are able to afford, such as testing, supplements, new treatments. The book eventually turns into marketing his products, program & testing.Great ideas, but not realistic for the average person.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genres: Nonfiction/Health

I liked this one for a couple of reasons. First, I liked his approach to wellness. While he did mention some biohacks for longevity that are out of reach for the majority, his main focus seemed to be on nutrition. And the bonus was that there was no finger pointing about other ideas and plans that are out there. I loved how he emphasized that people need to pay attention to their own bodies to see what works for them and what doesn't.

This is the 6th book by this author that I've read and I think this is my favorite one so far. So 4 stars.

[Dom Burbidge · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really disappointing. The first half of the book is educational and what I was expecting after listening to Dr. Hyman on a podcast. The second half is just a constant repetition of Hyman selling his own brand products, his affiliates, and clearly paid endorsements. It’s frustrating to read when everything is ‘…I recommend product X and product Y… from this website that I have invested interest in…’

There are how many ways to perform resistance training? But I got sick with Hyman mentioning Tom Brady’s resistance bands as seemingly the only way to increase strength.

I found the concept he preaches about diet interesting and perhaps quite contradictory too. Where throughout the whole book he almost seems to shun a non-meat eating diet as it doesn’t contain enough protein, and yet when he finally lays out what we should be putting on our plate he refers to meat as a condiment and that we should only be eating small amounts, if any. I’m not sure where his concept for not getting enough protein goes then.

The principles are good for staying young. But the book is not enjoyable to read after the first part. I feel a bit like Dr. Hyman repeating myself here.

I recommend avoiding the book and instead searching for Dr. Hyman on a podcast interview or a book summary app where you’ll get his main ideas without the marketing spam.

[Stefan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Audible version ..

Sorry but I can not stand Mark's narration of his book.
Sounds like a breathless 10 year old who keeps getting excited.

Please leave out the fairy tales...
Adam lived to 900+ years.
Noah likewise 900+ years.
This is a book of science, please stop interspersing fairytails.

Have listened to the first 2 chapters.
There seems to be a problem with American authors...
Stop trying to tell me how good the book is and 'selling' it to me.
I'm reading it, I have already purchased it.

I read Peter Attia's "Outlive" instead, fantastic book. Definitely a must read.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing really new here. I’ve read all of Dr. Hyman’s books and I felt this was just kinda dry. I’d like to not age and if you have read his book on what to eat, that should be good. This was ok but boring.

[Krisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young Forever explores the science behind living a healthy, long life. It also provides the practical steps to take in order to incorporate it into your daily self care plan. This is an excellent, well written, well researched resource for health and wellness.

Thank you NetGalley & Little, Brown and Company for sending this book for review consideration.

[Helga Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr Hyman is a leading Functional Medicine Practitioner. He integrates the latest science with his personal healing experience and decades of clinical insights to health. He outlines a path towards growing older while staying young in body, mind, and spirit. He describes recent scientific advances with insights that can improve our lives and live longer. He is in the forefront of the frontier in medical science today. This is an accessible and practical guidebook.

The first third of the book explains the science related to our health, the second third explains why this information is important for our health, the last third explores how you can implement it into your life. Hyman explores the hallmarks of aging, their causes, and consequences. He shows how you can overcome them with dietary, lifestyle and emerging longevity strategies. The body can be optimized to reduce inflammation, support the immune system, sleep, exercise, and de-stress. He features the Pegan diet, a diet that includes mostly plants, good fats, and animal protein in palm size amounts as condiments because you need animal protein to maintain muscles and prevent sarcopenia in older age. His diet limits dairy- includes butter, goat milk and goat and sheep cheese over dairy. He advocates high- quality protein from meat, poultry, and eggs but stresses that not all sources are equal. It is important to focus on humane practices, environmental stewardship, and health impact. Phytonutrients are superfoods that contain flavanols, lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin, and resveratrol and are found in fruits and vegetables. Low flavanol levels in diets can drive to age related memory loss. (Good foods of this type include tea, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, leaks, and kale). These foods added to your diet can benefit bran health and overall health.

Hyman has completely reversed type 2 diabetes and metabolic dysfunctions with a limited keto diet then continuing with his longevity diet. Lifestyle changes are a critical component of his healthy living plan. This includes time restricted diets-12,14, or 16 hours of fasting that can be easily accomplished or intermittent fasting for longer terms. He recommends specific vitamins and supplements for sarcopenia support especially if a diet lacking in animal proteins doesn’t get the 3 branched amino acids-leucine, isoleucine, and valine. He has a chart that shows the amount of plant protein needed to equal 4 ounces of lean good quality animal protein, i.e 4 cups of quinoa equals 4 oz of lean chicken or turkey minus the amino acids. It is important to exercise. He recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous high aerobic exercise for maximum VO2. It should include yoga, strength training (1 hour a week) and any other exercise. He also utilizes heat and cold therapy, like saunas and cold baths now and then which is beneficial for cell regeneration. He has utilized regenerative medicine for his painful arthritis and degenerative scoliosis and claims it will be available soon. He used Prolozone for a frozen shoulder (good for knee osteoarthritis, etc.). This includes peptides, ozone, and other exosomes. It can eliminate the dangerous medicines and surgeries that are used today.

This is not a diet book but a book that teaches you how to get biologically younger while growing chronologically older. People can live well over 100 as seen in Blue Zones, Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica: Ikaria, Greece and Loma Linda, California. It focuses on lifestyle change with a focus on what you eat. Science proves you become what you eat, and it is confirmed in older years. This is a very informative book that investigates the science of longevity. I have read many of Dr Hymans books and blogs.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Those who have read his other books know that he expounds a diet of meats and vegetables while reducing sugar and starches (e.g., breads). You'll find that component in here but there really isn't a straightforward program to follow. He'll suggest everything from anal oxygen injections to fasting; some suggestions have scientific research to back them but I feel like a lot more were either subjective or conjectures, without true evidence supporting them. Readers would likely end up wasting a lot of time and money without really expanding their years.

Admittedly, I had a hard time with two aspects of the book. He notes the blue zones lived longer lives by eating animal products but that seems to contradict nearly every scientific research out there that says otherwise (even when animal products are at a much lower percentage to plants in meals). I don't think the author of the blue zones would agree with that assertion either. Hyman also states several times that sugar and starches are the cause of diseases like diabetes - but the research I've seen puts the cause as fats, especially trans and saturated (e.g., to give lab rats diabetes, you feed them a lot of animal products with saturated fat, not sugar or starches). So it became harder to take this book seriously when it seemed there were a lot of unfounded 'new agey' type of recommendations that didn't seem grounded in research.

Also problematic is that the author sells his own products. In that regard, this 'young forever'(TM) program relies on you buying the supplements/products in his store. I do not doubt that he believes in the efficacy of what he sells but when an author's income relies on their special products, it feels like there is too much of a conflict of interest should newly emerging research prove foundations incorrect (the author would want to stick to selling his products and not want to admit they aren't useful (or he'd lose money)). In a way, this book feels like a bit of fear mongering in order to create a ready clientele for his products.

I am glad that he recommends eating more fiber/plants since that seems to be the best way to live longer these days. But there are a LOT of odd/strange recommendations: you'll have to get a barrage of random and narrowly targeted tests, let's not even mention the injections (apparently, there are many ways to get oxygen into your body beyond just breathing). I don't feel there really is a 'program' for living longer here and that the data/research just doesn't support any clear plan an individual can take other than the usual of not smoking and eating better, move more and have a good home life. In that regard, this book may be far too soon to really be a sound way to help add years to your life. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Lindsay Nixon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing new here. The only “new” anything is his suggestion that aging is a disease.

If you’ve read any health article (or blog post, or podcast) in the last 5-15 years, or one of his previous books, you’ve read everything in this book already. He providers a watery summary about mitochondria and guy bugs then says what we all know: eat a blanched diet (mostly colorful vegetables), sleep, exercise, have a meaningful life with hobbies and community, blah blah.

He also encourages so many very expensive supplements some of which (like MCT oil) are not anything a human would naturally consume. I find it impossible to believe you can’t be healthy (or not age) without these “magic potions.”

What really irked me was the tone that if you have a medical problem it’s your fault for not eating right or exercising etc.

While I agree Diet and lifestyle can influence health in either direction, having a medical illness is not a moral failing nor is it always “your fault”.

Diet
- eat colorful vegetables
- no wheat
- no starch
- no sugar
- no refined oils or fats unless seeds and nuts
- no omega 6
- eat wild fish
- eat omega 3 fats
- no oils except olive oil
- eat probiotic foods (fermented foods)
- zinc
- bone broth
- no medications including birth control and aspirin
- no additives (esp carrogenean and gums like xanthum)
- eat MCT oil (and coconut oil)
- food timing
- coenzyme Q10
- grass fed beef and butter
- avocado and almonds
- sardines
- no processed food
- avoid environmental toxins
- no alcohol or Tylenol
- eat green vegetables
- drink water
- not too many raw kale/cruciferous if female
- keto diet (carbs bad protein good)
- animal protein
- BCAA and protein powder if you’re vegan
- fasting, exercise, cold water plunges
- organic & heirloom

If you have inflammation then no common allergens

The best thing he says you can do is not eat sugar and flour and exercise. Wow, that’s new information:

[Zora · Rating 2 out of 5]

Half believable, half nonsense that supports the 300 billion dollar, largely falsely advertised supplement industry. (taking a bunch of pills is, clearly, not at all like eating naturally and as nature intended. It's quite the opposite.)

He begins by explaining that of course we can live much longer because in the bible, it said people lived 900 years! (and that the world was created in six days, and that men are superior to women, and that Jonah survived in the guts of a whale, apparently building some sort of workable condo there). So if that's the quality of his evidence, there you go.

Sure, get up with the sun, sleep eight hours, eat real food--and if you can hunt for your meat, great, and if you can afford grass-fed meat, not great but better. Grow your own veg if you have time--you'll be getting more nutrients and know what's sprayed on them and if anyone crapped on them or not. Laugh, have plenty of orgasms, and not only might you live longer, life will feel better than if you're a sugar addict, drunk, and so lonely there's no one to laugh with. But accepting mortality with a modicum of grace will also help you live a better life, imo. Denial and fighting the inevitable creates more misery, from what I've seen in life.

You can't live 900 years. And has anyone but me ever asked "why is it rich white men who are into this idea?" You're so special that you and your saggy old scrotum should have 200 or 900 years? Dude, no you're not. Get over yourself. Maybe some terrifying and dangerous technologies will be invented so that spoiled rich men and despots can do this... but that isn't going to be good news. That'll be dystopic.

[Karli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Doctor Mark Hyman. I enjoy listening to his podcast especially. But when you put all of his suggestions into one book, it is super overwhelming and incredibly cost prohibitive for the average person. If I was to do all of the testing that he suggests, plus hyperbaric chamber, infrared, light, cold plunge, and so many more things, plus all of the supplements and buying organic food every day, I don’t understand who has the money for this. I just wrote down the ingredients for an amazing smoothie he suggested and if I bought all of those different supplements to go into this smoothie, it would be well over $30 a day. I wish I had the money to try all
Of this but I just have to pick and choose a couple things to try.

[Danielle Enga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big fan of this book and Dr. Mark Hyman! I love his holistic approach to health and wellness. He writes about how aging is a disease and can be slowed or even reversed and while everyone may not want to live to 120, it’s very informative on how to reverse your biological age and live a healthier life for the years you are alive! I would definitely recommend this book to other health & nutrition nerds like me 🤓

[Natalie Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and Little Brown Spark for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book contained good information and new therapies that are on the horizon. The author lays out basic information about good health, things that make our body age and what lifestyle practices are good and bad. He then has a plan that the reader can follow at the end of the book along with other recommendations for specific injuries or ailments. I have spent alot of time looking into healthy practices and follow the work of Drs. T. Colin Campbell, John McDougall, Caldwell Esselstyn, Dean Ornish, and Alan Goldhammer. Based on these doctors there is some information that seems questionable regarding diabetes and the need for animal protein along with several things he recommends in which in owns the company providing the product (must have a subscription to get the lower price). Also, many of the treatments seem over the top or most likely high priced which many could not afford. Yet, he doesn't push anything and specifically says it's up to the reader to make decisions based on what feels right and what they can afford.

[Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Enjoyed this as an intro to the newest in anti-aging strategies although at times it felt like an advertisement for Hyman’s other products. It did pull together a few other books I read including Lifespan by David Sinclair, The Circadian Code by Satchin Panda, and The Telomere Effect by Elizabeth Blackborn. I also feel like Hyman’s supplement recommendations are a little over the top and aren’t exactly linked to any solid research. Not saying they are right or wrong…just not necessarily well supported. Finally, some of what he recommends may be great for those select few that have adequate access and the financial resources, but not necessarily useful for the average person.

[Michael J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better non-fiction books on science and medicine that I have read. This provides an update on recent research on longevity and is chock full of information written in a style that explains it so non-scientists and non-doctors can understand. There's just so much here that I feel I'll need to read this multiple times in order to fully understand and benefit from the findings. I have a library copy that I have to return today, and I just purchased a hardcover edition for family reference.
Dr. Hyman explains the science and study of longevity and offers a guide to "reversing disease, easing pain, and living younger longer." This is believable and relatable and I'm going to follow his advice and see how long I can get up every morning in a physically and mentally healthy state.

[Aisling · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly thorough approach to health and an easy to read, well laid out format. Readers are taught how food is so pivotal to longevity but also quality of life in those upper years.

The author presents the science and the solutions. There are quizzes, websites for further information, and inspiring stories.

This was a perfect book to read at the begining of a new year to motivate me to make a few changes. The author says this book was a labor of love born out of his overcoming chronic pain and disease by changing his diet and exercise. It is a book worth keeping. Five stars in the health category. Everyone should read this.

[Noreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read several of Dr. Hyman’s books, and they’re always well researched and cited. It was interesting to read about new treatments, although many are not readily available. Good, healthy advice. But doing everything would get pricey. The goal is better quality of life for as long as possible.

[Valerie Ott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have drank the Mark Hyman Kool-aid. I eat up his theories. I subscribe to his concepts. I can’t get enough.

[Nirja Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I was not the intended audience for this book, which is geared more towards the aging population, I highly benefited from it. I have always looked up to Dr.Hyman's health advice on social media, so I figured I would read some of his books. I love how his approach to aging is not to see it as something negative, but more so to put more emphasis on how the aging population can have a better quality of life. He mentions multiple times that a healthy, aging population would be better for our society than one that is suffering from diseases and lower independence in daily tasks. Immortality is obviously not the goal here, but more so making sure every moment you have alive is spent in a healthy and optimal condition because who would want to live through pain. I read this book to help the elderly people around me suffer less, and also for myself to gain habits I can start doing at a young age, so I can be of more service to others and society and be able to live a life where I can be pain-free, independent, and able to achieve all sorts of things when I get older. All the information in the book is absolutely amazing, but the reason I gave it 3 stars was because it is soooo repetitive, which made the book SO long for no reason. Everything in the book can be summed up in maybe even 1 chapter, but instead it is 20 something chapters. However, overall, I really appreciate the information in the book and will be using it for myself & loved ones! Definitely recommend & if you don't have time to read a long book, you can find this info on his website too :)

[Scott Tennant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know Mark Hyman personally, but I like the way he comes across in his books, podcasts and interviews. He seems genuinely interested in sharing ways in which people can live long, healthy lives through diet, exercise, stress management, having purpose, social connections, etc. He also seems interested in making money. I don't begrudge anyone the opportunity to make a buck, but he very often touts expensive supplements or tools that he himself developed and/or in which he presumably has a financial interest.

And that's the problem...maybe not with Dr. Hyman's approach to health specifically, but with longevity science in general these days. To take full advantage of it, you have to have money and be willing to spend it. From expensive medical tests to organic foods, it ain't easy living long, at least right now. Maybe the things we need to extend our healthy lives will be more affordable in years to come, but for now, many readers will be forced to pick and choose what they can and can't pull off.

All of that said, coming from my layman's perspective, at least, this appears to be a solid, science-backed collection of ways we can be, as the book's title suggests, "young forever." It does lack specifics sometimes -- and maybe it's better if we have to put in some effort on our own to develop specific exercise routines and shopping lists that work for us -- but overall, it's a compelling, practical read. I'm going through it a second time and changing up some of my own routines as a result.

At least the changes I can afford...

[Ann-Marie DeStefano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve listened to Dr. Hyman on a number of podcasts and decided to give his new book a try. The initial chapters contained a lot of information I was already familiar with but were a good review, if a little repetitive at times. I enjoyed the quizzes and found them to be informative and helpful. He offers a lot of advice about tons of testing, which is exhaustive and a bit overwhelming. I think the bottom line is this book gives you as much or as little as you’re willing to take from it. If you want to go down the rabbit hole of biohacks, devices, testing etc he tells you how. Otherwise you can draw some really good advice about lifestyle, exercise and food changes which we can all benefit from. One great piece I took from it - his protein powder recommendations - I’m ordering two of his clean suggestions.

[Katy Colwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting listen. I definitely want to live to 100, but I wanna stay fit, healthy, and pain free, too! Some of the things mentioned in the book were a bit too much for me to try to undertake… Like taking all sorts of crazy supplements, among some other “interesting” ideas.

But here are my takeaways…

Stay active and move a lot.
Add strength training to my exercise regime.
Keep doing yoga, especially hot yoga.
Hot saunas and cold plunges are good for your body.
Have a colorful diet, lots of fruits and veggies.
Eliminate sugar from my diet. (That’s gonna be hard.)
Don’t eat too much flour. (Hard as well.)
Practice intermittent fasting. (Maybe when I retire)
Try to destress.
Get lots of sleep.
Meditate.
Focus on the positive.
Keep your mind active.

If you want ideas or motivation for healthy longevity, this could be a good read for you.

[erin iocco · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you need a guide for exactly what to do to be healthy into your 80s and beyond, this book is it. I’ve struggled with a variety of “minor”, annoying, health issues for years now and all my research over the past 12 months has lead me back to these key factors that are laid out beautifully in the first half of the book. It’s like a combination of all other books I’ve read, plus the science behind the why. A real manual for longevity.

The second half of the book is a bit daunting and out there, but the first half is life changing. This book teaches you how to prevent the decline of health as we age. What could be more important to our health?

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Health and Longevity. Comprehensive and easy to read book, although, as in any health prescriptive books the suggestions must be implemented to actually change your life and health. The author is well known in the health and longevity space but this is the first I've read anything by him. I don't ride on the same "live until I'm 120 years old" train, but I do want to live vitally, vibrantly, with joy and energy and good health, so there is much to take away from this content. I took lots of notes, will implement some of what I've learned and maybe come back to the book over time, or look for more content from this author in the future. It's certainly worth the read, especially when you add this book to many other books on this topic, such as "Good Stress" by Jeff Krasno.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say that I agree with most of what he says. We need to be eating a Whole Foods plant-based diet for our health and well-being as well as the health of the planet and to reduce the suffering of animals. I think that the current situation is such that so many people are sick that a lot of what he’s proposing is untenable for the majority of the population in terms of access and cost. I also think that talking about climate crisis and advising people to eat animals is contradictory. We can be healthy and strong and kind. We do not need to eat animals anymore.

[Ann]

***** The first part of the book is promising and there are definitely interesting tidbits.
**** The accompanying pdf is good.
*** Quite a lot of science blah, blah, blah that might be better read instead of listened to.
** It’s hard to know the caliber of the research sited.
* The repetition. The repetition. The repetition.