The End of Illness

By: David B. Agus

Narrated by: Holter Graham

Can we live robustly until our last breath? Do we have to suffer from debilitating conditions and sickness? Is it possible to add more vibrant years to our lives? In The End of Illness, David B. Agus, MD, one of the world’s leading cancer doctors, researchers, and technology innovators, tackles these fundamental questions, challenging long-held wisdoms and dismantling misperceptions about what “health” means. With a blend of storytelling, landmark research, and provocative ideas on health, Dr. Agus presents an eye-opening picture of the human body and all of the ways it works - and fails - showing us how a new perspective on our individual health will allow each of us to achieve that often elusive but now reachable goal of a long, vigorous life.

When Dr. Agus decided to pursue a career in oncology, many of his mentors questioned his choice. Why, they asked, would a promising young doctor want to enter a field known for its inescapably grim outcomes? But it was precisely the lack of progress that inspired Dr. Agus to join the war on cancer. He moved away from the modern methods of the medical establishment, which aim to reduce our afflictions to a single point. Instead, as he does in this book, Dr. Agus argues for the adoption of a systemic view - a way of honoring our bodies as complex, whole systems. This outlook informs how we can avoid all illnesses - not just cancer. Dr. Agus empowers us to take charge of our individual health in personal, customized ways we could not have imagined before.

This indispensable book is not only a manifesto - a call for revising the way we think about health - it’s also filled with practical but impossible-to-ignore suggestions, including:

©2012 Dr. David B. Agus. All rights reserved (P)2012 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“In this brilliant book, David Agus introduces a whole new way of looking at illness and health. Taking a cue from physics, he views the body as a complex system and helps us see how everything from cancer to nutrition fits into one whole picture. The result is both a useful guide on how to stay healthy and a fascinating analysis of the latest in medical science.” (Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs)

“Dr. David Agus has given us a remarkable peek into our health - and the impact will be profound. I’ve made it my mission in life to live strong and help others do the same. The End of Illness is one more empowering piece to the puzzle of knowing how to do just that. This book will prevent illness, revolutionize treatments, and lengthen people's lives. A tour de force in its delivery and message.” (Lance Armstrong, 7-time Tour de France winner and Founder and Chairman, LIVESTRONG)

"David Agus is one of America’s great doctors and medical researchers, a man dedicated to improving the health of as many people as he can. Written in a style and format that will truly engage readers, The End of Illness presents a dramatic, new way of thinking about our own health - a way that could lead to greatly improving the quality of life for millions, starting right now.” (Al Gore, 45th Vice President of the United States, Nobel Laureate in Peace, 2007)

Brilliant and motivational!

Would you listen to The End of Illness again? Why?

Yes... I wanted to think and evaluate more Dr Agus' inspiration and the progress medical science is making through the convergence of computer science, biology, traditional medicine and todays work in proteins going far beyond DNA. Makes me want to strike a better balance with my choices for food, raising doubts about my enormous vitamin and supplement intake... let nature take it's course... let you body heal itself at it it's own pace.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dr. Agus speaks from experience and is passionate about his message!

What does Holter Graham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Holter Graham was an excellent choice for this book... kind of like Will Patton with Faulkner's "Light in August" and those books Will did for James Lee Burk. The other narrators that read Burk's books left them flat and lifeless.I was amazed to hear Burk say he never met Will; only talked to him on the phone. I'd love to see an interview between both of them. Holter narrated with a tempo and inflection that make Dr Agus' book come alive for me and I think he did a much better job than the author whom I have great respect for. I have seen him do podcasts and they were full of high energy. I had to ask my self when he closed out the book what happened? It was a real downspeed shifingt lacking the enthusiam for the great book he had just written.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It took three days... because I wanted to stop and think about what he was encouraging us to do to be healthier and enrich our lives. However, I tried to find books like Good Night and others he referred to but could not... they (not all) should be available on Amazon. Perhaps making it easy for the reader to order right then for follow up would be something you shoud look at at least providing a like because I got the Kindle version as well. I'd like to see both the narrator and write discuss their intention and dreams of how this great should be narrated.

Any additional comments?

This is a masterful work and deserves a much higher rating than 3.7... it was one of the best Audible Books I have been fotunate to listen to and I have purchased over 200 mostly in the past year. When I'm working out, driving in my car or truck or just rounding up cows on my ranch on horse back I have one of your books going... my close friends call me an electic cowboy... I just am in awe of the thinking and working of these fine authors and the great work they have done... Wish you could do more interviews like the one by James Lee Burk on Faukner... finally I get him! Thank you!!! John Murphy

Maybe

Would you consider the audio edition of The End of Illness to be better than the print version?

You can definitely listen to this book their is a lot of value, it may also help in forcing you to ignore the technical until later.

If you’ve listened to books by David B. Agus before, how does this one compare?

First one.

Any additional comments?

I think the subject was interesting, but David, has a grandiose view of his perspective. So in that vain their is some odd hype, so be careful about being sucked in, and remember this is just his perspective.
People are different, on many levels. If you want to understand how different they can be this book is a good one for that.

A lot of detail

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Perhaps this book was written for other medical professionals, who would appreciate the boring details of various studies. While I appreciate the author's knowledge, and am very interested in the topic itself, I feel the explanations and set-ups to his points are too tedious. I got through 3/4 of the book and just couldn't go on.

"One size fits all" DOES NOT apply in medicine.

Would you consider the audio edition of The End of Illness to be better than the print version?

Did not read the print version. Loved the audio version.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The End of Illness?

There are many. What resonates is the fact that what works for some, does not always work for you.

What does Holter Graham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A real understanding of the material. With all the medical terminology, would have been a hard read.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A world called YOU.

Any additional comments?

A real eye opener. Listened to this to and from work. Many times I wished I had a longer drive. Fascinating listen!!

Nothing extraordinary

The author claims to offer new and revolutionary advice that would change the way we think about medicine. I found that most of the book was a repeat of what I already knew about keeping healthy, although the author does have some different views about vitamins and supplements. While I don't agree with everything the author says, I do think his vision of a new health care system with shared information and computer simulations for treatments is an intriguing and more practical way of dealing with health on the global scale.

The "techie" medicine needs!

This book is filled with practical information that us lay-folk never think about.

The primary argument is that medicine is finally able to take advantage of the technological advances in used in other fields. Incidentally, Dr. Agus' company happens to be on the leading edge. The innovations he speaks of are necessary and possible in the near future. He tells a story of how using physics, engineering, and patient collected data can customize medicine and help us avoid illnesses.

He believes that a change from a diagnostics based medical system to a prevention based system is reliant on several components, a few are listed below.

- The body must be viewed and treated as a system.
- The relationship between doctors and patients must be a partnership.
- Patients must be proactive in their healthcare and monitor their overall wellbeing.

Overall, the book is brilliant, engaging, and pertinent to anyone who uses our healthcare system. If you're like synopsis of medical studies, innovations in the use of technology, and practical ways to take control of your health all in plain english, then this book is for you. If you're still in doubt then check out his TED Talk "David Agus: A new strategy in the war on cancer".

Things some may not like:
There are some plugs for his company. He is for the use of statins and prescription pills. He is against the use of OTC vitamins. He thoroughly explains why he for and against these things.

If you want to hear a different side to the argument check out "Never Be Fat Again: The 6-Week Cellular Solution to Permanently Break the Fat Cycle"

Great story, but...

Would you listen to The End of Illness again? Why?

Yes, it is fun.

What about Holter Graham’s performance did you like?

His way of speaking is really good and understandable.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

His future perspective itself is reasonable and passionate.

Any additional comments?

The end of illness is a little bit overstated, but author's mind is powerful and impressive!
However, I am not entirely satisfied with its content. One is he overly emphasized the importance, for instance, of vitamineD. All in all, he speaks within his research field.
Again, the end of..is catchy name, but it is just that.

Fascinating

What made the experience of listening to The End of Illness the most enjoyable?

Very well written, information very accessible to lay person, was sorry to have it end.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I am developing a new approach to my health and relationship with my medical practitioners.
Definitely recommend this book!

Disrupting the myths

The author oozes confidence through each sentences. The book has tons of references and data. Very well presented.

A life changing listening that is highly motivating. The content will be my dinner table discussion for months if not years.

I am following many of the insights—especially the “do nothing” solution and treating the body as a system that needs predictability

A time for everything. Timing of sleep more important than the duration

Time to sleep now!

Fantastic

I would highly recommend to anyone really interested in their personal healthcare. I really liked the case studies cited in this book.