Play Audiobook Sample
Drop Dead Healthy: One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.00) - 5,198 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
New York Times bestselling author and king of “immersion journalism” A.J. Jacobs tackles his most challenging experiment yet: a yearlong mission to radically improve every element of his body and mind—from his brain to his fingertips to his abs.
Having lifted his spirit in The Year of Living Biblically and sharpened his mind in The Know-It-All, A.J. Jacobs had one feat left in the self-improvement trinity: to become the healthiest man in the world. He doesn’t just want to lose a couple of pounds, or finish a triathlon, or lower his cholesterol.
First, he had to tackle a complicated web of diet and exercise advice, most which is nonsensical, unproven, and contradictory. Second, he had to consult a team of medical advisers. And finally, he had to subject himself, over the course of two years, to a grueling regimen of exercises, a range of diets and nutritional plans, and a brutal array of techniques and practices to improve everything from his hearing to his sleep—all the while testing the patience of his wife.
This latest work bursts with hilarity and warmth, all the while testing our culture’s assumptions and obsessions with what makes good health and allowing the listener to reflect on his or her own health, body, and eventual mortality.
Download and start listening now!
"Another great book by A.J. Jacobs. He mad me laugh, chuckle, nod my head in agreement and even go "hmmm" over some of things he learned. Maybe it's the fact that I read this while participating in a fast that allowed me to be more sympathetic to his ups and downs and ...balancing act of not losing weight. Or it could just be I was glad to read about someone suffering with me. Some of the things he learned I will try to incorporate in my own life. Less meat, more vegetables. Switching up my workout routine and exercising the undermined aspects of my body...guess who's going back to Big Brain Academy. A book I l would recommend to anyone who is curious about health without all of the reading an enjoys humor and heart."
— Erika (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“Why go to the gym when you can sit and read a funny book about it instead?”
— USA Today -
“Jacobs’ light touch camouflages the impressive amount of research that goes into each chapter. He reads books and medical reports, interviews experts and scientists as well as enthusiasts on the fringe, then tries everything himself. He brings a skeptic’s eye to each point of view, but he remains respectful of even the wackiest ideas…Yes, the results are funny, but this is, at heart, a serious book, with an underlying poignancy: As Jacobs works to get healthier, his beloved grandfather begins his slow decline, reminding us that no matter how healthy we are, it’s all going to end the same way.”
— Minneapolis Star Tribune -
“While Jacobs’s attempts at health enlightenment can be hilarious, visits with his grandfather, famed labor lawyer Theodore Kheel, provide the most revealing glimpse into the secrets of aging well.”
— More -
“You’ll burn calories laughing out loud.”
— Shape -
“Jacobs returns with another delightful look at self-improvement…Jacobs’s account of his journey is engrossing and will have readers chuckling at the measures he takes in pursuit of perfect health.”
— Library Journal -
“Jacobs achieves an instant intimacy with the reader, making his family life as much a part of the narrative as his many meetings with medical theorists and health gurus. He’s a clever humorist who successfully takes his readers on a round trip from reality to absurdity, dispensing solid, valuable health information along with fascinating oddities.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Bright, funny and even useful…Drop Dead Healthy is a one-book sampling of conventional wisdom on health and fitness.”
— New York Times
Awards
-
Selected for the April 2012 Indie Next List
-
A New York Times bestseller
-
A Publishers Weekly bestseller
Drop Dead Healthy Listener Reviews
-
" Entertaining, as always, with its share of cocktail-party facts. I agree that the immersive broad-sweep format suits health research less than reading encyclopedias, but even so Jacobs saw payoff in his own numbers. Basically, not being so obsessive and hating working out, I'm doomed. No treadmill desk for me. "
— Christina, 2/14/2014 -
" I love A.J. Jacobs' books. They give you a perfect mix of information and humour. Not quite as funny as The Year of Living Biblically but still good for more than a few chuckles. I also learned a bunch about the health industry. My favourite trivia fact: Nike's "Just Do It!" slogan is inspired by Gary Gilmore's plea to have the state put him to death! Good to know! Thanks A.J.! "
— Debbie, 2/11/2014 -
" Although I enjoyed this book it wasn't nearly as funny as his previous books. "
— Nicole, 2/4/2014 -
" Fun! Easy to read with some great advice mixed in. "
— Mark, 1/27/2014 -
" I thoroughly enjoyed this fun look at many of things we are told to do for our health. I was happy to see somethings debunked and loved the final decisions Jacobs makes in continuing to try to live a healthier lifestyle. Refreshing as he was in The Know-I-All. "
— Alice, 1/23/2014 -
" This man is funny! Since I thoroughly enjoyed the Year of Living Biblically I thought it would be fun to give this one a try. I just love the way he throws himself into these projects, trying to look into every aspect of his subject, and then keeping his reader amused while handing out multitudes of facts. (Caveat: I am very glad not to be married to him. His wife must a a candidate for canonization by the time he finishes one of these projects.) If you are at all interested in eating well, exercising right, and living a healthy lifestyle - without taking yourself too seriously - read this one. "
— Lynn, 1/17/2014 -
" Another good book by AJ Jacobs. It wasn't my favorite but I still thought it was good.. although I have to say the Sofia Vergara anecdote just felt petty to me. Otherwise, I laughed, I learned a bit and I'm still thinking about it after it's over so that's a good sign. :) "
— Ari, 1/14/2014 -
" I love AJ Jacobs and this book was no exception. I can't say I learned a whole lot of new information that I'll use but I sure enjoyed going on the ride with him. "
— Katherine, 1/4/2014 -
" Really good. Interesting, funny, easy to read, very enjoyable. "
— Elizabeth, 12/24/2013 -
" Everything I have read by A.J. Jacobs is so smart and funny. Fun summer reads you can take a chapter at a time. "
— Julie, 12/20/2013 -
" I like this guy. His books are funny. This one was enjoyable too. I sometimes feel sorry for his wife with all the crazy stuff he does :) "
— Carrie, 12/16/2013 -
" This book is awsome! I'd recommend to anyone who has a sense of humor and is interested in their health! "
— Pat, 12/15/2013 -
" I love A.J. Jacobs. The perfect book for healthy new year's resolutions and some good laughs. There is a lot of good advice buried in here and some fads I've been curious about are investigated. A very good read. "
— Janis, 12/5/2013 -
" engaging. silly, now & then. I suspect this book is more fun the more you're a regular jacobs reader. "
— Rich, 11/24/2013 -
" I wasn't wild about this book. The author is just too self-centered. "
— Cynthia, 11/2/2013 -
" Jacobs writes with humor and humility, and there are some interesting health take-aways in Drop Dead Healthy. I just didn't feel like I learned enough practical information (that I didn't already know) to justify 400 pages. "
— Shannon, 8/7/2013 -
" Not quite as enjoyable for me as The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible but still a fun, interesting read. "
— Laurie, 6/14/2013 -
" If you can overlook the unnecessary jabs to conservatives, the book was enjoyable. A.J. Jacobs is a funny writer and his insane look at health issues brings some sanity to the subject. "
— Janice, 6/14/2013 -
" I loved this book! It was extremely informative and humorous. "
— Sydney, 3/25/2013 -
" Funny, informative, interesting. Great if you're mildly interested in the topic or if you're looking for ideas on how to improve your health. Most of the tips are not really usable, but it's interesting to know what's out there and then choose what suits you. "
— Amr, 3/7/2013 -
" Worth reading, barely. Particularly if you are confused and exasperated by the whole health industry. Or even if you just feel overchallenged by the road to good health "
— Linda, 2/10/2013 -
" Not my favorite of AJ's books. It was a little too unfocused but overall an enjoyable read nonetheless. "
— Liz, 1/20/2013 -
" Funny and informative but not a credible source of information on health. It's more like someone's diary as they explore different aspects of health. "
— Michelle, 11/30/2012 -
" Simply delightful. Informative and totally entertaining. Many good belly laughs. "
— Karolyne, 9/27/2012 -
" interesting read with a good amount of humor. "
— Ashlei, 7/5/2012
About A. J. Jacobs
A. J. Jacobs is the editor of What It Feels Like and the author of numerous books, including the New York Times bestsellers The Year of Living Biblically and Drop Dead Healthy. He is the senior editor of Esquire and has written for the New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, New York magazine, New York Observer, and other publications.