A Short Guide to a Long Life #BookReview #NewYearBooks
Book: A Short Guide to a Long Life by David B. Agus, MD
Genre: Health
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: 2014
Pages: 190
Source: Library
Quickly read advice for health and longevity
Summary: This small book is designed to be quick and easy to read. The pieces are only a few pages long to provide an overview of each topic and the basics of what to do about it. Although Dr. Agus admits to being opinionated, the advice is backed up by research studies and reflects the guidelines most generally recommended by the medical community.
The material is presented in three Parts. The longest is Part 1, What to Do. This includes advice like “Grow a Garden,” “Be Positive,” and “S-T-R-E-T-C-H.” Part 2, What to Avoid, suggests staying away from dangerous sports, stilettos, and supplements. The third part is very short and compiles the information from earlier in the book to age-appropriate lists — what to do in your 20s is slightly different from what you want to think about in terms of health in your 50s.
Thoughts: I got a kick out of the historical note at the beginning that demonstrated how the advice given by Greek physician, Hippocrates, remains some of the best advice today, including these gems:
- Walking is man’s best medicine.
- If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.
- To do nothing is also a good remedy.
I’m following much of the advice in A Short Guide to a Long Life, but it was motivating to keep doing what I am doing and up my game in a few arenas — particularly keeping track of data. Everything from how many steps I’m taking today to “when was the last time I had a tetanus shot?”
The Weekend Cooking crowd will like his emphasis on eating real food, seasonal and local when possible. Dr. Agus reminded me that frozen produce can be as healthful as fresh, especially in the winter:
Unless you can buy truly fresh produce that’s in season and has been delivered recently from a nearby farm, head on over to your grocer’s freezer section and opt for frozen fruits and vegetables, often labeled as “fresh flash-frozen.” Fruits and vegetables chosen for freezing tend to be plucked or picked at their peak ripeness, a time when–as a general rule–they are packed with the most nutrients. p. 28
This could be a time-saver for me, too. Does anyone have advice about how to work with frozen vegetables — especially for stir-frying and roasting?
Appeal: A Short Guide to a Long Life is a great quick overview — a chance to check if you’re doing all that you want to be doing for your health right now. The tone is light, with an invitation to take what you want and leave the rest.
Challenges: This book fits in with a number of my challenges:
- Book 2 of 4 for The New Year’s Resolution Reading Challenge.
- Book 2 of 15 for The Healthy Lifestyle Books Reading Challenge.
- Book 2 of 16 for the 2015 Nonfiction Reading Challenge.
I’ll also link this review with today’s Weekend Cooking posts at Beth Fish Reads.
Reviews: Diane of Bibliophile by the Sea listened to the audio version of A Short Guide to a Long Life and liked it, for the most part. Part 3 would be annoying in audio — I just skipped to the 50s section in the print book rather than read all of the repetitive lists for each decade.
Have you read this book? What did you think?
I have read about using frozen veggies before. I do keep a stash of them in the freezer for use in soups and for quick steaming as is. I try to buy vegetables in season (except salad greens) — no asparagus and raspberries in January, for example.
I don’t know about use of frozen veggies in stir-fries. My guess is that you make sure not to overcook. We eat a lot of cooking greens and I generally prefer them (kale, broccoli rabe, Swiss chard) fresh, but I use frozen chopped spinach in a variety of dishes.
I like the sounds of this book. Frozen vegetables for stirfry I think need to be used all together in their own pan in case they give off too much water. Then fresh vegs like mushrooms or leeks can be added.
I will always choose fresh over frozen. I have read the argument for frozen but we are so fortunate in Southern California to have great produce all year tha I cannot bring myself to buy frozen. He is right about walking. I believe in the use it or lose it philosophy. Our body was meant to be on the move and exercised.
This sounds interesting. I’ll have to look for this one as many points you made I agree with – especially the exercise and the leaving alone. I’m not sure I’m giving up stilettos though! I had heard that if you can’t buy fresh in season buy frozen and try to remember that. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve just started buying frozen vegetables, started with peas. I tend to use the cauliflower, broccoli, spinach or kale if I am mixing into something like quiche or au gratin or chicken divan. Will also be curious about anyone who stir fries them.
No tips from me, because we only ever use frozen corn for frozen veggies. Your tip about sometimes frozen is more nutritious than fresh makes sense to me rationally, but the texture of frozen veggies just isn’t as good, is it? Here in New England, it must be true that the fresh stuff isn’t actually all that fresh. I’ll stick with my “fresh” veggies and a daily multi-vitamin until spring arrives!
I love the sound of this one. Such common sense, yet frequently ignored advice. I’m particularly interested in the section on what to do in each decade of your life.
And – I’m a big fan of frozen food – particularly peas! I serve frozen veggies to my kids a lot.
Thanks for sharing!
Happy New Year Joy! To add my 2 cents worth to the frozen debate – I think frozen baby peas are better than fresh but otherwise prefer fresh. Cheers
Have never tried stir frying frozen veggies either. You’ve made me curious about the book, though.
I love how enduring the advice from Hippocrates is centuries later! I use a lot of frozen vegetables because I am often cooking for one and frozen is easier in small batches.
Well, I have a garden and I walk. And I have very elderly parents — so I could end up having a very long life. I am going to go on supplements — Vitamin D at the suggestion of my doc. My D levels are low — as are those of most people. I’m going to give it a try.
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This sounds like exactly the kind of book I would enjoy, Joy! Thanks so much for sharing! My grandfather was a traditional Chinese herbalist, my father is an alternative health practitioner, and I graduated as a Master Herbalist in 2012. It’s in the blood! LOL!
Thanks for sharing about the Healthy Lifestyle Books reading challenge too! I didn’t know there was one, but I’m definitely interested!
This looks like a great book! I love that it’s a short, easy read. I need more of those in my life. I always end up with books that take me forever to read, and often I just quit. I’ll have to check my library for this one. Thanks for the recommendation!