Healthy at 100

One of the best book I've we've read in a long time.

Dennis claims this has book has changed his life.

First before I explain, 
just take a look at some of these quotes and you will get an idea of why I love this book so much:
(Many of these quotes are referring to the 4 cultures in the world who have the longest living and healthiest people.)

* "Children raised with pets are...more likely to be kind to other children, and more likely to have healthy self-esteem once they reach their teens."

* "...the strongest predictor of which men would get cancer decades later turned out not to be smoking or obesity, but rather the lack of a close relationship with their fathers fifty years before." 

* "One of the hallmarks of the societies that exemplify healthy aging is that children are loved, held, and cared for constantly. They are rarely if ever scolded or shamed, and the idea of striking a child is completely foreign." 

*  In a heart disease study it was found that men who used the first-person pronouns the most often had the highest risk of heart trouble...It seems that the less you open your heart to others, the more your heart suffers...Listen with regard when others talk. Give of your time and energy to others; let others have their way; do things for reasons other than furthering your own needs."

*  In an intensive study of 7,000 men and women in Alameda, Ca it was discovered that people who were disconnected from others were roughly three times more likely to die during the 9 year study than people with strong social ties. The kind of social ties didn't appear to matter. What mattered was being involved in some social network, whether is was family, friends, church, volunteer groups, or marriage.

*  In Vilacbamba and Hunza (2 of the cultures who have many living healthy past 100) generosity and sharing are the highest values. Nothing is more important than how people treat each other."

*  In the 4 healthiest cultures, "Instead of going shopping, they go visit one another. They have need of few belongings, for they belong to each other."

*  Elders....closer to death...they understand what makes life worth living. They know there is little point in having low cholesterol and rock hard abs if you don't love your life."

The author's father (Irv Robbins) and his uncle (Burt Baskin) founded and owned Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream. When Uncle Burt died of a heart attack at age 51, the author, John Robbins, rethought the idea of taking over the family business. He started questioning it all, and while his Dad may have achieved the American Dream of monetary success, John  felt more of a calling to make the world a healthier place.  

The first part of the book had a wealth of info on how we should eat. 
The second part basically told us how to live and love. 


I've read many books on this subject in the past 30 years or so. It's not like I found any earth shaking news to me in this book, but it was so well written, inspiring, very thought provoking and quite enjoyable to read.


Den read it after listening to me say repeatedly, "This is so good!" Usually on this subject he would rather I just tell him about it. But with this book, he could hardly put it down and took it just about everywhere he went until it was finished. He said the book has given him a more positive approach to growing old.  
Yay Dennis!!