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{{Short description|1982 book by Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Editing Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach
'''''Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach''''' was a 1982 bestselling book (ISBN 0-446-51229-X) by [[Durk Pearson]] and [[Sandy Shaw]] that popularized the [[life extension]] and [[smart drug]] movements.<ref>See ''Rapture: How Biotech Became the New Religion'', by Brian S. Alexander, New York: Basic Books, 2003, ISBN 0738207616, pp. 5–6.</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Katherine |last=Bishop |publisher=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |title=FDA fears smart drugs could pose stupid risks |date=1992-06-11 |accessdate=2007-03-01 |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:SPIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB04A057A2FC5B9&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 }}</ref>▼
| image = Life Extension - A Practical Scientific Approach cover.jpg
| caption =
The book increased public awareness of [[Radical (chemistry)|free radical]]s, how they cause aging, and how [[antioxidant]]s partially prevent the damage free radicals do.<ref>{{cite news| first=Dennis |last=Fiely |title='Biochemical bad boys' - Possible causes of disease, free radicals, may have met their match |publisher=Columbus Dispatch |date=1993-09-16 |accessdate=2007-03-01 |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:CLDB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10E0DA583AA751E0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815}} </ref> In the book, the authors describe six causes of aging and recommend ways to slow down five of those. Also presented are several chapters containing methods to improve health and the quality of life in general, from enhancing sex, to improving athletic performance, to improving mental abilities, and how to quit smoking and drinking.▼
| author = [[Durk Pearson]],<br>[[Sandy Shaw (writer)|Sandy Shaw]]
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = USA
| language = English
| series =
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| subject = [[longevity]]
| genre =
| publisher = [[Warner Books]]
| publisher2 =
| pub_date = {{start date and age|1982}}
| published =
| media_type =
| pages = 858
| awards =
| isbn = 0-446-51229-X
| isbn_note =
| oclc =
| dewey =
| congress =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by = The Life Extension Companion
}}
▲'''''Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach'''''
▲The
One notable feature of the book is several full-page pictures of its male and female authors, Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw, striking bodybuilding poses and showing off some impressive muscles for "sedentary research scientists," which they claimed was due to the "growth hormone releasers" they took daily.
== Criticism ==
Prominent aging researchers expressed mostly negative opinions of the book.
[[Leonard Hayflick]] deemed it "a glib, superficial overview of the field,“ adding that he "would be very unhappy to learn that there were substantial numbers of people depending on its contents for guidance.”<ref name="jackovich">{{cite web |author1=Karen G. Jackovich |title=Two Fitness Faddists Have a No. 1 Best-Seller, but Are They Stretching Life Spans or Truth? |url=https://people.com/archive/two-fitness-faddists-have-a-no-1-best-seller-but-are-they-stretching-life-spans-or-truth-vol-18-no-14/ |website=people.com |accessdate=8 September 2019 |date=October 4, 1982}}</ref> But at the same time, [[Denham Harman]], to whom the book was dedicated and whose [[free radical theory of aging]] was favored by Pearson and Shaw, opined, "I think basically the book is sound," and added "It’s nice to see a book on aging on the best-seller lists."<ref name="jackovich" />
[[Roy Walford]] wrote, "[[gerontology]] has always been the happy hunting ground for faddists, charlatans, pseudoscientific fringe characters, and just misinformed enthusiasts with 'ready cures' for aging. ... Pearson and Shaw are among this long list of enthusiasts. ... Most of the Pearson/Shaw book relies on this lower-order category of evidence, and upon the testimonial posturing of Pearson and Shaw themselves."<ref name=Walford>{{cite book|last=Walford|first=Roy|title=Beyond the 120 Year Diet: How to Double Your Vital Years|year=2000|publisher=Four Walls Eight Windows|___location=New York, NY|isbn= 9781568581576|pages=[https://archive.org/details/beyond120yeardie00walf/page/21 21]–23|url=https://archive.org/details/beyond120yeardie00walf|url-access=registration}}</ref> (At one time Walford was a partner in a company, Gerontix, selling supplements to combat aging and improve health.)
== References ==
<references />
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{{Life extension}}
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