The Longevity Bible: 8 Essential Strategies for Keeping Your Mind Sharp and Your Body Young
By Gary Small, M.D.
Reviewed by Jennifer Thompson

People today are living longer and longer, but what's the point of living into your 80's, 90's and beyond if your mind and body aren't keeping up?  Dr. Small's book The Longevity Bible is designed to give readers a program to follow that is supposed to maximize the quality of our longevity.Dr. Small is the director of the UCLA Center on Aging.  He contends that there are eight essentials when it comes to improving and maximizing the quality of one's aging experience.  These eight essentials are:

• Sharpen Your Mind
• Keep a Positive Outlook
• Cultivate Healthy and Intimate Relationships
• Promote Stress-Free Living
• Master Your Environment
• Body Fitness - Shape Up to Stay Young
• The Longevity Diet
• Modern Medicine for Feeling and Looking Younger

There really isn't anything revolutionary in his advice, but having it all brought together in one book can be helpful, especially for someone who needs to make changes in many of the areas on which Dr. Small focuses.  While I liked much of his advice and suggestions, I was put off by the inclusion of plastic surgery in his chapter on looking and feeling younger.  It felt quite out of place given the rest of the book's emphasis on diet, exercise, stress reduction, and so forth.

Overall, the idea that we do have control to some extent over the quality of our later years is comforting.  Dr. Small lays out a plan to help people live healthier lives so that they can remain active, vital and strong as they age.  The Longevity Bible is a holistic approach to aging in that it addresses body, mind and spirit and gives readers ways to improve all facets of their being.  The plan also seems to be based on solid scientific research and follows good common sense.