We Live Too Short and Die Too Long

We Live Too Short and Die Too Long. Old age is the ultimate epidemic--there are now three million people in the United States over 85--and Bortz estimates that the potential life expectancy is 120 years. Although this sounds like tabloid sensationalism, Bortz's assertions are amply substantiated by the latest research and his own impressive credentials as a practicing physician and past president of the American Geriatric Society. Merely achieving a maximum lifespan is not the goal of this book, however; it is that old age can be good and its goodness depends on individual commitment to cultivating a healthy lifestyle. There is nothing revolutionary in this approach--sensible diet and continued physical and mental activity are prescribed--but the lively, authoritative style and references to scientific and literary sources make this a readable, informative addition to popular geriatrics collections. (Karen McNally Bensing, Benjamin Rose Inst. Lib., Cleveland. Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.)

We Live Too Short and Die Too Long: How to Achieve and Enjoy Your Natural 100-Year-Plus Life Span, by Dr. Walter Bortz II