Growing Young

How Friendship, Optimism, and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100

By: Marta Zaraska

Narrated by: Athena Karkanis

National best seller

A smart, research-driven case for why optimism, kindness, and strong social networks will help us live to 100.

From the day her daughter was born, science journalist Marta Zaraska fretted about what she and her family were eating. She fasted, considered adopting the keto diet, and ran a half-marathon. She bought goji berries and chia seeds and ate organic food.

But then her research brought her to read countless scientific papers and to interview dozens of experts in various fields of study, including molecular biochemistry, epidemiology, and neuroscience. What Marta discovered shattered her long-held beliefs about aging and longevity. A strong support network of family and friends, she learned, lowers mortality risk by about 45 percent, while exercise only lowers it by about 23 percent. Volunteering your free time lowers it by 22 percent or so, while certain health fads like turmeric haven't been shown to help at all. These revelations led Marta Zaraska to a simple conclusion: In addition to healthy nutrition and physical activity, deepening friendships, practicing empathy, and contemplating your purpose in life can improve your lifespan.

Through 11 chapters that take her around the world, from catching wild mice in the woods of Central England to flower arranging with octogenarians in Japan, from laboratories to "hugging centres", Marta embarks on an absorbing, entertaining, and insightful journey to determine the habits that will have the greatest impact on our longevity.

Deeply researched and expertly reported, Growing Young will dramatically change the way you seek a longer, happier life.

©2020 Marta Zaraska (P)2020 Penguin Random House Canada

Critic reviews

"An unusually intriguing and useful read about how our psychology affects our longevity. If you care about the length and quality of your life but can't stomach yet another diet or workout routine, this book is for you." (Adam Grant, New York Times best-selling author of Originals and Give and Take and host of the TED podcast WorkLife)

"Finally, a lifestyle book that transcends diet and exercise as solutions for living longer. This well-researched book shows us the subtle power of community and connection as tools for a quest to live to 100." (Dan Buettner, National Geographic fellow and New York Times best-selling author of The Blue Zones)

"The more we learn about the human body, the more we realize how powerful the connection between happiness and health is. Research-based, practical, and insightful, Growing Young makes this relationship come to life. A must-read." (Shawn Achor, New York Times best-selling author of Big Potential and The Happiness Advantage)

Like listening to advice from a trusted friend

I will listen to this book again . The reading was pleasant. The pass was never too fast or boring. The info was invaluable. Well researched and insightful

Will be gifting this book & it’s important message to all of my family & friends!

This book resonated with my values! I have often felt that I don’t belong in the US culture because I prefer “ Collectivism “ and think in terms of us instead of me. Reading about the Japanese seniors and their attitudes of having a purpose in life for the collective good was inspirational and gave me hope that is not lost in this greedy world .