Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|1982 book by Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw}}

{{POV|date=December 2007}}

{{Infobox book

| name = Editing Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach

| image = Life Extension - A Practical Scientific Approach cover.jpg

| caption =

| author = [[Durk Pearson]],<br>[[Sandy Shaw (writer)|Sandy Shaw]]

| illustrator =

| cover_artist =

| country = USA

| language = English

| series =

| release_number =

| 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''''' is a 1982 book ({{ISBN|0-446-51229-X}}) by [[Durk Pearson]] and [[Sandy Shaw (writer)|Sandy Shaw]] that popularized the [[life extension]] and [[Nootropic|smart drug]] movements.<ref>See ''Rapture: How Biotech Became the New Religion'', by Brian S. Alexander, New York: Basic Books, 2003, {{ISBN|0-7382-0761-6}}, pp. 5&ndash;6.</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Katherine |last=Bishop |publisher=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] newspaper|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>

'''''LifeThe Extension:authors promotes Athe Practicaltheory Scientificthat Approach''''' was a 1982 bestselling book[[Radical (ISBN 0-446-51229-Xchemistry)|free by [[Durk Pearsonradical]]s andare [[Sandya Shaw]]primary thatcause popularizedof theaging [[lifeand extension]] andrecommended [[smart drugantioxidant]] movements.<ref>Seesupplements ''Rapture:to How Biotech Becameprevent the Newdamage Religion'',they bysupposedly Brian Sdo. Alexander, New York: Basic Books, 2003, ISBN 0738207616, pp. 5&ndash;6.</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=KatherineDennis |last=BishopFiely |publishertitle=[[Seattle'Biochemical bad boys' Post-Intelligencer]] newspaper|title=FDAPossible fearscauses smartof drugsdisease, couldfree poseradicals, stupidmay have met their match |publisher=Columbus risksDispatch |date=19921993-0609-1116 |accessdate=2007-03-01 |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:SPIBCLDB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB04A057A2FC5B910E0DA583AA751E0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 }}</ref> The book makes a broad range of claims about ways to thwart aging and improve health and appearance.

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.

The book discussed [[Radical (chemistry)|free radical]]s and the idea that they cause aging, and how [[antioxidant]]s were said to partially prevent the damage they 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> The book suggests causes of aging and ways to slow them, with material on improving health and various aspects of the quality of life.

== Criticism ==

Prominent aging researchers expressed mostly negative opinions of the book.

In the 1992 [[documentary]] ''Never say die: The pursuit of eternal youth'', Antony Thomas interviewed Pearson and Shaw, and criticised the anti-aging movement as misguided.<ref>{{cite news| title=The often gruesome search for perpetual youth |first=Virginia |last=Mann |publisher=The Record newspaper|date=1992-08-17 |accessdate=2007-03-01 |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BRCB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB2778DA83E3DCC&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 }}</ref> <!--As of 2007, a number of the specific recommendations of the book have been discredited.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}-->

[[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}}

[[Category:LifeBooks about life extension]]

[[Category:1982Dieting books]]

[[Category:1982 non-fiction books]]

{{science-book-stub}}