Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity

Why it's worth it

Outlive is a working physician's framework for the four diseases that kill most people, plus the exercise, sleep and nutrition protocols to push them off. It's long and it's dense, but it's the only book here that covers the whole board in one volume.

It covers the whole board, and nothing else here does. Attia organizes the book around what he calls the Four Horsemen: heart disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disease and metabolic dysfunction. Those four account for most deaths that aren't accidents. From there he works through exercise, nutrition, sleep and emotional health as the levers you actually have. You get one coherent map instead of five partial ones.

The advice comes with numbers attached. Attia doesn't tell you to exercise more. He gives Zone 2 targets of three to four hours a week at a pace where you can still hold a conversation, VO2 max goals that shift by decade, and grip strength benchmarks tied to ten-year mortality risk. You can write those on a sticky note and check yourself against them.

From our review of 5 health and longevity books, by Genevieve Dubois, Home & Living Expert

What we like

• +It covers the whole board, and nothing else here does
• +The advice comes with numbers attached
• +He's a practicing clinician, not a commentator
• +The last section is about emotional health, and you won't see it coming

What to know

• –It's long, and the opening is slow
• –Parts of the plan need a doctor
• –It isn't written for plant-based readers