Synopses & Reviews
A
New York Times bestseller in hardcover, a chronicle of A.J. Jacob’s 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.
The task was massive. First, he had to tackle a complicated web of diet and exercise advice, most of 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 long-suffering wife.
Drop Dead Healthy bursts with hilarity and warmth, overturning myths about what makes good health and allowing you to reflect on your own health, body, and eventual mortality.
Review
"A.J. Jacobs is very, very bad for your health. He will keep you up reading til 2 a.m., disturbing your circadian rhythms, making you sleep through breakfast and overeat at lunch. He is delicious. He's habit-forming. He will give you infectious titters and terminal glee. Don't let that stop you. Indulge." Mary Roach, author of Bonk and Packing for Mars
Review
“We can become healthier by learning from AJ's discomfort in this very funny book. He moves us from theory to practice by dragging his body through all the longevity practices.” Dr. Mehmet Oz, host, "The Dr. Oz Show"
Review
“I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book, and once again, the brilliant A.J. Jacobs had me laughing out loud — and also deciding to change the way I live. Drop Dead Healthy is a rare mixture of the hilarious, the absurd, and the scientifically sound. Who knew it could be so entertaining to read about broccoli puree and shoeless jogging?” Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project
Review
"Can one man go from a 'python that ate a goat' physique to perfect specimen? From Roman soldier workouts to Areca palm plants, from the sublime to the absurd, A.J. has tried it all. I laughed my ass off the whole way and learned a ton...including about my ass." Timothy Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek
Review
"Who wouldn't want to be fitter, happier, more productive? In this riotous, madcap book, A.J. Jacobs sets himself an ambitious goal: to become the person we all wish we could be. It's vintage A.J. Do your future self a favor and read this book." Joshua Foer, author of Moonwalking with Einstein
Review
"You'll burn calories laughing out loud." Shape
Review
“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
Review
"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." Laurie Hertzl, The Minneapolis Star Tribune
Review
"You'll exercise your abdominals laughing over his adventures." Entertainment Weekly
Review
“Why go to the gym when you can sit and read a funny book about it instead?” USA Today
Synopsis
A New York Times bestseller in hardcover, a chronicle of A.J. Jacob's mission to radically improve every element of his body and mind--from his brain to his fingertips to his abs.
From the bestselling author of The Year of Living Biblically and The Know-It-All comes the truly hilarious story of one person's quest to become the healthiest man in the world.
Hospitalized with a freak case of tropical pneumonia and ashamed of a middle-aged body best described as "a python that swallowed a goat," A.J. Jacobs felt compelled to change his ways and get healthy. To accomplish this epic task, he consulted an army of experts and subjected himself to dozens of different workouts, diets, and devices--from Finger Fitness to Strollercize sessions, veganism to extreme chewing.
The story of his transformation is not only brilliantly entertaining, but it just may be the healthiest book ever written. It will make you laugh until your sides split and endorphins flood your bloodstream. It will move you emotionally and get you moving physically in surprising ways. It will serve you up today's best health advice. And it will give you occasion to reflect on the body's many mysteries and the ultimate pursuit of health: a well-lived life.
Synopsis
From the bestselling author of
The Year of Living Biblically and
The Know-It-All comes the truly hilarious story of one persons quest to become the healthiest man in the world.
Hospitalized with a freak case of tropical pneumonia and ashamed of a middle-aged body best described as “a python that swallowed a goat,” A.J. Jacobs felt compelled to change his ways and get healthy. To accomplish this epic task, he consulted an army of experts and subjected himself to dozens of different workouts, diets, and devices — from Finger Fitness to Strollercize sessions, veganism to extreme chewing.
The story of his transformation is not only brilliantly entertaining, but it just may be the healthiest book ever written. It will make you laugh until your sides split and endorphins flood your bloodstream. It will move you emotionally and get you moving physically in surprising ways. It will serve you up today's best health advice. And it will give you occasion to reflect on the body's many mysteries and the ultimate pursuit of health: a well-lived life.
About the Author
A.J. Jacobs is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Know-It-All, The Year of Living Biblically, and The Guinea Pig Diaries. He is the editor at large of Esquire magazine, a contributor to NPR, and has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Entertainment Weekly. He lives in New York City with his wife and kids. Visit him at AJJacobs.com.