"The question of how and why organisms age has teased scientists for centuries. There are myriad competing theories, from the idea that aging is a simple wear and tear process, like the rusting of a car, to the belief that aging and death are genetically programmed and controlled. In fact, there is no clearly defined limit to life, and no single, predictable program playing itself out: different things are happening within and between tissues, and...

"Without downplaying the real challenges we face as we age, Dr. Sands offers a wealth of case studies, interviews, and scientific findings to rewrite the common cultural beliefs that put us at odds with our own bodies"--