From one of the world’s foremost physicians and researchers, a monumental work that radically redefines our conventional conceptions of health and illness to offer new methods for living a long, healthy life.
Can we live robustly until our last breath? Do we have to suffer from debilitating conditions and sickness? Is it possible to add more vibrant years to our lives? In The End of Illness, David B. Agus, MD, one of the world’s leading cancer doctors, researchers, and technology innovators, tackles these fundamental questions, challenging long-held wisdoms and dismantling misperceptions about what “health” means. Dr. Agus argues for a way of honoring our bodies as complex, whole systems. This outlook informs how we can avoid all illnesses—not just cancer—and empowers us to take charge of our individual health in personal, customized ways we could not have imagined before.
This indispensable book is filled with practical but impossible-to-ignore suggestions, including: how taking multivitamins and supplements could significantly increase our risk for diseases such as cancer over time; why sitting down most of the day, despite a strenuous morning workout, can be as bad as or worse than smoking; how three inexpensive medications can substantially change the course of our health for the better; and the single most important thing we can do today to preserve our health and happiness that costs absolutely nothing.
The End of Illness is a bold call for all of us to become our own personal health advocates, and is a seminal work that promises to fundamentally change how we live.
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"Really enjoyed the book. After reading Transcend by Kurzweil some of the points in End of Illness felt less fleshed out and more elementary, so I'd recommend Transcend overall. This book's strength is the idea that the body is a complex, interrelated system and that the diseases that confront us today are a malfunction of that system and will not have a magic bullet line polio or antibiotics. We need to control our health through the interventions we know work (I.e. diet, exercise, sleep, routines, stress, etc.) while we wait for the next generation medical technologies coming in 10-30 years which will change everything. I also appreciate his argument to "do nothing" and put less trust in supplements and focus more on good food. I think that's a smarter path forward for younger people like me (if I was middle aged I might consider supplementation more seriously) is little to no supplementation."
— Steve (4 out of 5 stars)
“Agus has given us a remarkable peek into our health—and the impact will be profound. I’ve made it my mission in life to live strong and help others to do the same. The End of Illness is one more empowering piece to the puzzle of knowing how to do just that. This book will prevent illness, revolutionize treatments, and lengthen people’s lives. A tour de force in its delivery and message.”
— Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France winner and founder and chairman, Livestrong“Agus is one of America’s great doctors and medical researchers, a man dedicated to improving the health of as many people as he can. Written in a style and format that will truly engage readers, The End of Illness presents a dramatic new way of thinking about our health—a way that could lead to greatly improving the quality of life for millions, starting right now.”
— Al Gore, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize“In this brilliant book, David Agus introduces a whole new way of looking at illness and health. Taking a cue from physics, he views the body as a complex system and helps us see how everything from cancer to nutrition fits into one whole picture. The result is both a useful guide on how to stay healthy and a fascinating analysis of the latest in medical science.”
— Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs“As physician, research scientist, and friendly guide, Dr. David Agus takes his readers on a fascinating tour of ideas and facts about health and illness. They will find many of those ideas to be unconventional and thought-provoking and many of the facts to be both striking and surprising. Read this book and you will very likely change at least some of your views on health and illness.”
— Murray Gell-Mann, PhD, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics; distinguished fellow and cofounder of the Santa Fe Institute" Poorly written, and a bit repetitive. It was sometimes unclear whether he was pushing his startup or giving health advice. The sections on vitamins and supplements (and why you probably shouldn't take them), and inflammation were informative, useful, but not worth the rest of the book. "
— Lucas, 2/12/2014" A little light on the science end of things, and maybe a little too much info on the doc's own companies (and name dropping like whoa) that made it read a little bit like an advertisement. Still, some good stuff in here. Systems biology is the future of medicine (Ok, I did like the fact that he dropped Murray Gell-Mann's name). I'm also glad to know I'm justified in never remembering to take my vitamins and never wearing heels. "
— Megan, 2/7/2014" He makes some good points but in the process of writing enough words to fill a book he makes some suppositions that may in the future prove to be bogus. "
— Richard, 2/6/2014" I had high hopes for this book. I saw the author interviewed on the Daily Show and it sounded interesting. Parts of the book were in fact interesting and I was close to giving it 3 stars but other parts were not holding my interest enough to want to finish reading the book. I got almost halfway through it and didn't get much information that I could use so I figured I'd cut my losses. "
— Jane, 2/4/2014" One of the most powerful books I've read in a long time. Serious science mixed with how to and public policy. I've recommended it to many people, including the dental hygienist who saw me today. She asked what specific steps I was going to take now that I've read it. One, the copy I read was from the library -- I've just ordered a copy to have on the shelf. Two, my husband and I plan to have the genetic testing done to see what areas we are at most risk for. Three, reducing inflammation. And fourth, focus less on reading Michael Pollan's books and more on executing what I've already read. Health care reform starts with each individual, and prevention is key. "
— Melinda, 1/27/2014" I found this book very interesting and informative. There are a few things I'll be adding to our health regime, and will definitely be getting up from my desk and walking around more during the day! "
— Sunny, 1/20/2014" Pretty interesting book that tells about advances in DNA and cancer research and therapies to help stay healthy. "
— Valerie, 12/22/2013" Looks at health from a system perspective with a focus on prevention. Very well written and filled with common sense strategies to be pro-active about your health. "
— Candice, 12/21/2013" This book had some really interesting information about some health science that may be on the horizon. Some of it was pretty common sense, and some of it was WAY out there, and I felt that the author spent a bit too much effort promoting his own companies. "
— Pam, 11/9/2013" Good information here including some out-of-the-mainstream thinking, such as the thought that many supplements either do nothing to affect your health or actually are harmful. An interesting look into the possible future of health practice. Recommended. "
— Richard, 11/8/2013" I saw this author on the Daily Show and was impressed. He's a cancer specialist who writes about a practical approach to staying healthy. Instead of focusing on the cure, he talks about the prevention. He makes some brilliant points which have impacted me to make some changes. Really valuable book! "
— Barbara, 10/20/2013" Very interesting. He challenges many modern medical assumptions. While I don't agree with everything Agus says, he makes me think. Definitely recommended. "
— Doreva, 7/8/2013" The title promises more than the book delivers but there's some interesting ideas here including how taking vitamins might be detrimental to one's long-term health. "
— Debra, 2/15/2013" He makes our current cancer treatments seem archaic. I hope his biotech firm is successful. Not a "how to" guide to the end of illness. "
— MJ, 1/18/2013" Interesting book, the structure was somewhat scattered. I learned some things but overall the book didn't hold together. "
— Simon, 10/12/2012" the last third of the book is the most useful, since it concentrates on what people can do now about their own health, rather than waiting for technology to catch up. "
— Jeffrey, 9/23/2012" I liked it better before I heard his Dad is Maury Povich and he got fired at a hospital. "
— Jeanne, 6/24/2012" A very interesting approach to health care. Prevention over treatment and approaching the body holistically. At the beginning I was suspicious because he owns a medical diagnostic center, but he addresses that and proceeds to make his point well. "
— Denise, 3/15/2012David B. Agus, MD, is the author of several books, including The End of Illness, A Short Guide to a Long Life, and The Lucky Years. He is a professor of medicine and engineering at the University of Southern California, the founding director and CEO of the Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, and a contributor to CBS News.
Holter Graham, winner of three of AudioFile magazine’s Best Voice of the Year awards, is a stage, television, and screen actor. He has recorded numerous audiobooks and earned multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards. As an actor, his film credits include Fly Away Home, Maximum Overdrive, Hairspray, and The Diversion, a short film which he acted in and produced. On television, he has appeared in Army Wives, Damages, As the World Turns, Rescue Me, Law & Order, and New York Undercover. He received a BA degree from Skidmore College and an MFA from Vermont College.