I just finished listening to Peter Attia’s Outlive. I now understand the hype.
Despite starting the book with high expectations (given said hype), I finished it with a feeling that I’ve stumbled on an experience that is likely to be life changing.
The effect a book has on a person is a very personal thing. Some folks love books that explain the “why” while others prefer books that go straight into the “what” and the “how.” Some love books that indulge a curiosity while others love a book that is applicable. Then again, most books only have great impact when they reach us at the right time.
My barometer for impact is whether the book inspires a change in how I think or how I spend my time. And Outlive is likely going to go down as a book that did both.
I was explaining why this is the case to a friend recently. I think it is the sheer force of logic in the book. There’s very little that is hand wavy. For instance, his case for medicine 3.0 is logical. The combination of scientific method and randomized control trials have made it possible for us to live longer. But, living longer does not equate to a high quality of life. That requires us to take control of our health.
The logic here is simple. He asks an innocent question – what would you like to be able to when you are a centenarian? Would you like to be able to walk unassisted? What about climbing stairs? And what about picking up a child?
Every one of these can be quantified in terms of the fitness levels required when you’re 90. And assuming normal muscle and strength degeneration, you can work backward into the level of fitness you need to have at this time.
The book ends with a powerful end note about Dr. Attia’s own struggles with depression. All in all, it manages to be insightful, powerful, and inspiring.
While I’m still thinking through all the changes I need to make, I’ve been making a few changes already. The biggest area is around freeing up time.
We’re working parents with two young kids who choose to not have any help at home. So, there isn’t much free time lying around. My first significant cut has been watching football/soccer and, perhaps more importantly, abstaining from catching up on news. This may not seem like much – but it is a big long-standing habit change for me. Timing matters – Manchester United’s sad start to the season has made it easier too.
The second is using the free time from a change like the one above to exercise longer every morning and evolve the mix of exercises. I’m still working through the changes here.
The third is around my diet. My ~2.5 years of intermittent fasting is coming to an end. Dr. Attia has made a compelling case for a protein shake and fruit breakfast. So that’s a big change too.
And, finally, I do intend to get to a collection of tests Dr. Attia recommends to get a sense of my risk factors.
I’ll plan to write a post about each of these changes in the coming days.
I saw a review for the book on Amazon that said – “This is a user manual for the body that should be given free at birth.” That may be the best description I’ve come across.
It is a user manual I intend to use.
