The Longevity Plan

April 17, 2017
In 2012, John Day, a Johns Hopkins– and Stanford-educated cardiologist fluent in Mandarin, went to the remote village of Bapan (commonly known as Longevity Village) in Guangxi Province, China, where people commonly live to 100 and beyond. In this first-person narrative cowritten with Jane Day and LaPlante, John Day distills the residents’ wisdom into seven easily implemented lessons: (1) eat good food, (2) master your mind-set, (3) build your place, (4) be in motion, (5) find your rhythm, (6) make the most of your environment, and (7) proceed with purpose. Regarding lesson one, he notes that eating is a virtue, not a vice, and so one should consume plentiful garden vegetables, roots and tubers, wild fruits, nuts, seeds, and legumes; moderate amounts of grains; little meat or fish; and no dairy or processed or refined foods. For lesson three, Day’s injunctions are don’t go it alone, make peace at home and honor your family, don’t gossip, support community efforts, and make a spiritual connection. Finally, for lesson seven, Day observes that “people who feel they have reason to live are more likely to survive and thrive.” While not the first book to highlight the healthy habits of long-lived folks, this new offering is highly readable, thoughtful, and inspiring.

June 1, 2017
A career physician touts the prescription for a long, healthy life span.Utah-based cardiologist Day was a distinguished but overworked physician who believed that his daily jogging would keep him healthy, but his diet lacked proper nutrition. Increased episodes of chronic pain, lethargy, and sleeplessness proved to be warning signals to make changes. Recalling his history working with Chinese immigrants in Manhattan during his teens, Day sought out a solution by visiting the rural "Longevity Village" of Bapan in southwest China, where community, social support, mindful consumption, and centered peace of mind create long-standing wellness. After becoming fluent in Mandarin, the author and his wife began traveling there in 2012 to visit one of the village's elder statesmen, 114-year-old Boxin, and ask him about "the secret to a long and healthy life." Day chronicles their time spent in the bucolic settlement commingling with Boxin and the wise elders of Bapan, absorbing knowledge on the customs the physician hoped would translate to his Western medical practice. Despite a rather discrediting detail in Bapan's centenarians (they possess no birth certificates to substantiate their advanced ages), Day shares the lessons of its citizens in seven chapters describing practical advice for incrementally creating radical personal transformations in health and well-being. Unsurprisingly, eating well tops the list, and the author promotes organic, fresh food over processed; he also includes a simple boiled-seeds-and-greens recipe for Boxin's cherished "longevity soup." Other key aspects of the plan are mindfulness in mood, breathing patterns, and disconnection as well as physical motion and aligning oneself with the positive aspects of community. Finding a rhythmic sleep balance and developing a purpose in life round out what Day has discovered to be the ultimate guide "toward happier, healthier futures." In outlining these health models, the author proves there's great value in conscientious, streamlined living and that it's achievable by everyday people by employing improved lifestyle choices. Practical, applicable health guidance validated by a remarkable collective of revered Chinese elders.

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May 1, 2017

Day was a stressed-out, three-doughnuts-and-five-medications-a-day, premier cardiologist and heart surgeon when he found out about a small village in southern China with an uncommon number of healthy centenarians. Intrigued, he decided to visit the community to find out the secret of their long lives. The result is this engagingly written book filled with simple yet profound advice on how to live not only long but well. Gleaned from the often dramatic life stories of the Chinese villagers and supported by scientific studies, seven basic principles are outlined to help readers make positive lifestyle changes. Day, along with coauthors Jane Day and Matthew LaPlante, admits that none of the suggestions (eat better, move more, be positive) are particularly new. Yet the fundamental messages coming from individuals who are still active at well over 100 years old, provide a fresh perspective and plenty of inspiration for implementing better habits. VERDICT A universally appealing book for those interested in good health and life extension through natural living and a positive attitude.--Janet Tapper, Univ. of Western States Lib., Portland, OR

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