The Longevity Plan: Seven Life-Transforming Lessons from Ancient China Paperback – July 24, 2018

At age 50 I was a certified, card-carrying carboholic. A typical lunch consisted of a bag of chips, a pack of snack crackers and either a bag of cookies or a candy bar…eaten at my desk while I watched the fitness freaks work up a sweat in the noonday sun. Needless to say, I was a type 2 diabetic by the time I reached age 55. When the doctor gave me the bad news, he said the goal of treatment was to “…make the diabetes train go slower and slower and slower…until it crashed at the end.” I didn’t like the sound of that crash.Dr. Day’s “The Longevity Plan” will tell you how to fix the tracks and add rails to the end of the line. The book tells the delightful story of the lifestyle of the centenarians of the little, remote village of Bapan, China. In the book, he walks us through seven lessons from Bapan, and gives suggestions on how to apply them to a modern western society. Each lesson is backed up with findings from scientific studies. The book is not just another diet and exercise book, although there are chapters on both topics. The book is much broader in scope, covering lifestyle issues like living in community, finding rhythm in your life, adapting to your environment and finding purpose in changing circumstances.My wife thinks I’m pretty radical about diet and exercise these days, but I tell her that Dr. Day’s zeal exceeds mine. I don’t think I’ll ever master salads for breakfast. I think I’ll keep eating the parts of the chicken found at my local grocery. (I’m not up to an offal mess yet.) And I don’t think I could handle 14 hours a day in motion.However, while some sections of the book can be intimidating, it also provides encouragement and challenge. Don’t like the Bapan diet? Find one you like and stick to it. (My own favorite is the Glycemic Index Limbo Diet. How low can you go!) Can’t be in motion 14 hours? Start by parking your car further from the office and walk up the stairs rather than take the elevator.The book left me wishing for more. Since I’d like to see the good doctor remain gainfully employed, here a couple of suggestions for the sequels.I’d love to see more details on the scientific studies associated with each of the lessons. Things like the number of subjects in the study, the length of the study, and any caveats associated with interpreting the results. What kind of epigenetic changes are associated with the lesson? What impact on cellular health or telomere length?Another sequel would be to compare the lifestyle of Bapan to other centenarian hotbeds like Acciaroli, Italy and Ikaria, Greece. Is it just lifestyle, or are there elements in the microenvironment (magnesium or manganese or calcium in the water or soil? Is it their nightly brew of Goat’s Rue tea? Or is it perhaps an undiscovered “Methuselah Gene”, the result of natural selection in these villages?) Contrasted with the centenarians of Okinawa and Loma Linda, CA, it would make for a fascinating read.At 70, I’m only at the beginning of my centenarian journey. However, the book encouraged me enough to think that I might just live long enough to attend the wedding of my youngest grandchild’s oldest child. I’d have to live to at least 105 to be there!

The Longevity Plan is disarmingly simple, yet exquisitely profound. While a cardiac patient at IHC for 4 days in late June 2017, Dr. Day became my cardiologist. When he first came to my room, we spoke at length whereby he described the essence of his new book about to come off the press on July 4. At age 76 while still in the peak of good health (I thought), hadn't spent a night in a hospital since age 5 (tonsillectomy), drug free except for an occasional antibiotic, my guardian angels apparently decided an intervention was necessary and arranged for me to become a patient of Dr. Day. After 4 days, I was released June 26...escaping with my life and little or no permanent damage. The Longevity Plan, along with Dr. Day's personal assurance, has given me great hope of a full recovery and rebuilding of my heart tissue, such that I can live a long and physically active life, totally drug free. Already I have resumed playing tennis an hour and one half every day. Never have I read a book that has so dramatically changed my life and given me the hope, the pure knowledge and the very simple path to better health than I had before. The book is very easy to read and understand, yet based on the mountain of footnotes and references, is no doubt the culmination of many thousands of hours of research and studies performed by Dr. Day and his many colleagues. Thank you Dr. Day for your contribution to the better health of mankind and especially mine.

I really enjoyed this book. After reading so many longevity/self help books you’ll find a common theme. This book did a great job explaining points of longevity while giving useful examples. I liked that the author themself was once living poorly but then implemented what he learned into his life and practice. It was nice to see the everyday application that he put into his patient care as a heart doctor. I’ve implemented some of the practices from this book and can notice a difference. Overall, it doesn’t give too many unrealistic things to implement and provides practical insight towards longevity regardless of geographical location. Very interesting and insightful book.

Pretty good. Good reasons for a plant based diet.

Well written and definitely makes you re-think the concept of living long AND living well. I have already made changes in my daily patterns to ensure that I am on the move more and eating more fresh food at each meal. I even cleaned out my pantry and tossed all foods that are overly processed (except my girl scout cookies). I've tried all kinds of new ways to use vegetables such as cooking with cauliflower rice - which is shockingly delicious! Of course, it's summertime so it's easier to get a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and easier to walk everywhere so lets see if I can keep the new habits going when the cold temperatures hit. Most importantly, the read was easy, compelling, and included enjoyable stories throughout. I really appreciate that the book changed my attitude about food and lifestyle choices without being preachy. I'm surprising myself at how often I find that I'm referencing some tidbit from the book in daily conversations.

Still reading the book. It is easy pleasant reading. I find the nutritional facts to the point but the suggestions not practical for most people. For instance, my guess is that most people will not be able to grow all their own produce. Some of the other suggestions are doable, and if followed would be very beneficial. The part I like is the philosophy of life of the villagers, those life enhancing beliefs and behaviors are what I think are of most benefit to us all!!! There is a lot we can all learn from these remarkable people. I highly recommend the book to the novices and the highly educated in all areas, be it nutrition, psychology. medicine etc.I am ordering four book for friends I will be visiting soon!

I felt It was more about his travel and experience.

Brilliant book, beautifully written. Unlike other books of a similar nature, this one gives real life examples of what it means to live well and healthily. Silimar to the "Blue Zone" books this is not just some abstract ideas on how to improve your health but shows that in some cultures it is possible to live a full and healthy life into old age. Cannot reccommend highly enough. Will take pride of place on my book shelf!

Still working my through this book - fascinating but you require focus to absorb the messages