Book Review: ‘Outlive’

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Updated 26 May 2024
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Book Review: ‘Outlive’

In “Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity,” Dr. Peter Attia (with Bill Gifford), a renowned physician and longevity expert, flips the script on aging.

He argues for a proactive approach that involves taking control of one’s health to prevent chronic diseases before they happen.

Attia ditches the one-size-fits-all mentality and instead focuses on four key pillars: diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management. He dives into the science behind each, explaining how they impact cellular health and ultimately, lifespan.

“Outlive” does not promise you a fad diet or a magic pill. Attia emphasizes personalized strategies and encourages tracking key health markers like blood sugar and blood pressure to understand the body's unique needs.

But it is not all biohacking. Attia acknowledges the mind-body connection, highlighting the importance of sleep and good relationships for a long, fulfilling life.

Moreover, the book explores the intricate science behind longevity and delves into the various factors that contribute to living a longer, healthier life.

The book provides readers with actionable strategies to optimize their healthspan, allowing them to not only extend their years but also improve their quality of life as they age.

Like an owner’s manual for health, “Outlive” empowers the reader to take charge, optimize their health, and not just live longer, but live a life that feels truly alive.


What We Are Reading Today: LatinoLand by Marie Arana

Updated 17 August 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: LatinoLand by Marie Arana

“LatinoLand,” by Marie Arana, explores the diverse politics and historical roots of Hispanic Americans.

It is a compelling and insightful exploration into the diverse tapestry of Latino culture in the US. 

Arana, with her profound understanding and personal connection to the Latino experience, crafts a narrative that is both illuminative and deeply resonant, according to a review on goodreads.com

The book is not just a mere compilation of statistics and historical facts; it’s a vibrant journey through the lives, struggles, and triumphs of the Latino community.

Arana draws on her own experience as the daughter of an American mother and Peruvian father who came to the US at age nine, straddling two worlds, as many Latinos do. 

She delves into the socio-political challenges facing Latino Americans, from immigration policies to economic disparities, without losing sight of the individual stories that illuminate these issues. 

Arana’s work shines in its celebration of the cultural contributions of Latino Americans to the fabric of American society

The book “unabashedly celebrates Latino resilience and character and shows us why we must understand the fastest-growing minority in America.”


What We Are Reading Today: ‘How to Make a Home’

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Updated 15 August 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘How to Make a Home’

  • Roman authors saw infinite practical and symbolic value in houses, and they have much to say about them

Authors: Vitruvius and Guests

The idea that our homes can communicate professional as well as personal identities may seem as new as the work-from-home revolution. But it was second nature to the ancient Romans, for whom the home was in many ways the center of public and private life.

Roman authors saw infinite practical and symbolic value in houses, and they have much to say about them. “How to Make a Home” presents some of the best Roman writings on houses—from buying and selling to designing and decorating.

Edited and elegantly translated by Marden Fitzpatrick Nichols, “How to Make a Home” gathers selections by Cicero, Vitruvius, Seneca, and others, with the original Latin or Greek on facing pages.

These writings reveal the pleasures and pitfalls of the Roman practice of making one’s home a cornerstone of self-expression. While the ideal home enshrined Roman virtues and could make a career.

 


What We Are Reading Today: The Road That Made America by James Dodson

Updated 14 August 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: The Road That Made America by James Dodson

James Dodson’s “The Road That Made America” is a lively, epic account of  the 800-mile-mile long Great Wagon Road that 18th-century American settlers forged from Philadelphia to Georgia.
In time, the Great Wagon Road became America’s first technology highway as people and ideas that traveled down the road shaped the character of the fledgling nation and helped define who we are today.


What We Are Reading Today: Of Time and Turtles by Sy Montgomery

Updated 13 August 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: Of Time and Turtles by Sy Montgomery

Sy Montgomery’s “Of Time and Turtles” tells of  her curiosity to the wonder and wisdom of our long-lived cohabitants, turtles‚  and through their stories of hope and rescue.

Elegantly blending science, memoir, philosophy, and drawing on cultures from across the globe, this compassionate portrait of injured turtles and their determined rescuers invites us all to slow down and slip into turtle time.


What We Are Reading Today: Strata

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Updated 12 August 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: Strata

  • Strata allows us to observe how the planet has responded to past periods of environmental upheaval, and shows how Earth’s ancient narratives could hold lessons for our present and future

Author: Laura Poppick

Laura Poppick’s “Strata” decodes the epic stories of our planet’s 4.54-billion-year history that are written in strata — ages-old remnants of ancient seafloors, desert dunes, and riverbeds striping landscapes around the world. 

Strata allows us to observe how the planet has responded to past periods of environmental upheaval, and shows how Earth’s ancient narratives could hold lessons for our present and future.