“Within this book I intend not only to defend the idea of living to 100, but also to propose the active strategies that will make it happen. As someone wise once noted, “If you are going to get old, you might as well get as old as you can get.” The title of this book is an acronym for the steps you need to take to reach 100: D for diet, A for attitude, R for Renewal (rest, recreation, retirement, resilience), E for exercise. Three of these components—D, R, and E—are the biological compass points for aiming for 100, but A—attitude—is the most important. Within attitude lie all the planning and decision making that facilitate the biological steps. It is possible to reach 100 by chance, but it’s not likely.”
~ Walter M. Bortz II, M.D. from Dare to Be 100
Walter M. Bortz II, M.D. is a Professor at the Stanford University Medical School and is one of the world’s leading experts on the science of longevity.
He also embodies what he teaches—having completed 30 marathons over the course of his life while still running ten miles per week as an 80-year old whose writing his fifth book.
John Robbins references Dr. Bortz and Dare to Be 100 a number of times in Healthy at 100 (see Notes) so I figured I should check it out. I’m glad I did. With a scientifically-grounded, no-nonsense style, Bortz gives us all the tools we need to dare to be 100. :)
The book is packed with Big Ideas (literally 100 of them on how we can rock it), so let’s check out some of my favorites, shall we? :)
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