Discourses on a Sober and Temperate Life - Wherein is demonstrated, by his own Example, the Method - of Preserving Health to Extreme Old Age Paperback – July 6, 2010

Luigi Cornaro (1465-1566) belonged to a very prominent Venetian family. Basically a hellraiser during his first 35 years, he became sick and many doctors said he would die. One suggested he become more abstemious - eating and drinking less. He took this advice with stunning vigor, almost obsessively, and lived to be 102, dying very peacefully in his rocking chair.But, that is not the real secret to his long life. This book, despite Kindle's formatting and typos, is both charming and informative. It consists of three "pamphlets" covering pretty much the same ground but with different emphases. It is not just about HOW to live long, but WHY. A close reading reveals several factors that went into his longevity BESIDES the caloric restriction regimen. Here are some of the factors:1. He really examined what he ate, and only kept those foods which agreed with him. This of course eliminated problems from any food allergies. Also, food in those days was natural and devoid of modern chemicals. On the other hand, his diet did not seem too nutritious. He bucked the "accepted wisdom" of his day by proposing that as you get older you should eat less, not more. Something we know today.2. He followed a life of regularity and routine. He emphasizes the importance of a "regular" life with organization and adequate sleep.3. He persisted in vigorous exercise from walking to riding as part of his daily routine.4. Up until his death he was healthy with all his faculties. He constantly used his abilities to build his own agricultural estates and to benefit his beloved Venice. In other words, he was civic minded and eager to benefit society all of his life. This gave him a mission, or a purpose, for living a long and healthy time.5. He was an amazingly positive person. He maintained old family and religious values and appears to have been constantly "sweet" in disposition and possessed of many friends whom he valued. As he points out, as you get older your tolerance for adversity actually increases. He had lost a lot of his estate in middle age, yet took a positive and creative approach to building up what was left, so that in the end it was more than he once had. He also points out that when you are older it is easier to instill healthy habits into your life.He is quick to point out that these principles aren't his alone, but go back centuries, even to Galen, the Roman physician and the Desert Fathers of early Christianity.Most readers think his system is just about caloric restriction. From the above, and from carefully reading his work, you see that this is just a piece of the system, although a cornerstone. Another benefit of his method is that he generally avoided physicians (who were more lethal then than now) which probably added a lot to his life.The price is right. So, if you want to live longer, and to find a reason to do so, get this book.

An elated, albeit egocentric, account of a temperate and sober life. Cornaro does well in explaining the virtues and values of temperance and sobriety in daily life; in fact, he does so convincingly and enthusiastically. The weakness of his treatise lies in its composition- twenty unnecessary pages of self-congratulatory prose and excessive pontification.

Uses really old English but the principles of the book could easily be understood. I expected more information on what foods to eat.

Got this on the kindle and is a fairly quick read. Is basically about the age old adage that moderation is key to longevity. A good fresh look from the author on an old, proven ideal.

Such a great book, I just love IT!!

I find this to be completely accurate as I get older.

Luigi has a valuable message to impart.It's just that he goes over and over the same thing.Well worth reading though.

fantastic read

Great book. Really intresting. As a society we overeat and can improve our health by eating less!