Adam Leith Gollner - The Book of Immortality : The Science, Belief, and Magic Behind Living Forever read online MOBI, DOC, PDF
9781439109427 English 1439109427 The author of the critically acclaimed The Fruit Hunters (soon to be a documentary)weaves together religion, science, and mythology in a rich and fascinating exploration of the most universal of human obsessions: immortality . From vampires to the billion-dollar anti-aging industry, our culture is perennially fascinated with the concept of eternal life. Now, Adam Gollner delves into a strange array of contemporary and historical characters and cults, religions and myths, and businesses all devoted to some form of immortality. Beginning at a futuristic costume party (the theme being the year 2068) thrown by a group of immortalists in California, his journey takes him to David Copperfield's archipelago in the Bahamas, where Copperfield claims to have found the fountain of youth. Along the way Gollner visits St. Augustine, Florida, where Ponce de Leon died searching for said fountain; Harvard University, where he attends an anti-aging symposium; the Esalen Institute in California where he meets a medium, a priest, a rabbi, a magician, and a whole host of quirky characters who embody our obsession with escaping death. An incredible thinker with "the talents of an investigative journalist, poet, travel writer, and humorist grafted onto one unusual specimen" (Mary Roach, The New York Times Book Review) , Adam Gollner has written a provocative, rollicking, and revelatory examination of our age-old notion of living forever., The author of the critically acclaimed The Fruit Huntersoon to be a documentary weaves together religion, science, and mythology in a rich and fascinating exploration of the most universal of human obsessions: immortality . From vampires to the billion-dollar anti-aging industry, our culture is perennially fascinated with the concept of eternal life. Now, Adam Gollner delves into a strange array of contemporary and historical characters and cults, religions and myths, and businesses all devoted to some form of immortality. Beginning at a futuristic costume party (the theme being the year 2068) thrown by a group of immortalists in California, his journey takes him to David Copperfield's archipelago in the Bahamas, where Copperfield claims to have found the fountain of youth. Along the way Gollner visits St. Augustine, Florida, where Ponce de Leon died searching for said fountain; Harvard University, where he attends an anti-aging symposium; the Esalen Institute in California where he meets a medium, a priest, a rabbi, a magician, and a whole host of quirky characters who embody our obsession with escaping death. An incredible thinker with "the talents of an investigative journalist, poet, travel writer, and humorist grafted onto one unusual specimen" (Mary Roach, The New York Times Book Review), Adam Gollner has written a provocative, rollicking, and revelatory examination of our age-old notion of living forever., The author of the critically acclaimed The Fruit Huntersweaves together religion, science, and mythology in a rich and fascinating exploration of the most universal of human obsessions: immortality . From vampires to the billion-dollar anti-aging industry, our culture is perennially fascinated with the concept of eternal life. Now, Adam Gollner delves into a strange array of contemporary and historical characters and cults, religions and myths, and businesses all devoted to some form of immortality. Beginning at a futuristic costume party (the theme being the year 2068) thrown by a group of immortalists in California, his journey takes him to David Copperfield's archipelago in the Bahamas, where Copperfield claims to have found the fountain of youth. Along the way Gollner visits St. Augustine, Florida, where Ponce de Leon died searching for said fountain; Harvard University, where he attends an anti-aging symposium; the Esalen Institute in California where he meets a medium, a priest, a rabbi, a magician, and a whole host of quirky characters who embody our obsession with escaping death. An incredible thinker with "the talents of an investigative journalist, poet, travel writer, and humorist grafted onto one unusual specimen" (Mary Roach, The New York Times Book Review), Adam Goller has written a provocative, rollicking, and revelatory examination of our age-old notion of living forever., What have we not done to live forever? Adam Leith Gollner, the critically acclaimed author of "The Fruit Hunters," weaves together religion, science, and mythology in a gripping exploration of the most universal of human obsessions: immortality. Raised without religion, Adam Leith Gollner was struck by mankind s tireless efforts to cheat aging and death. In a narrative that pivots between profundity and hilarity, he brings us into the world of those whose lives are shaped by a belief in immortality. From a Jesuit priest on his deathbed to antiaging researchers at Harvard, Gollner sorting truth from absurdity canvasses religion and science for insight, along with an array of cults, myths, and fringe figures. He journeys to David Copperfield s archipelago in the Bahamas, where the magician claims to have found a liquid that reverses genes. He explores a cryonics facility, attends a costume party set in the year 2068 with a group of radical life-extensionists, and soaks in the transformative mineral waters at the Esalen Institute. Looking to history, Gollner visits St. Augustine, Florida, where Ponce de Leon is thought to have sought the Fountain of Youth. Combining immersive reporting, rigorous research, and lyrical prose, Gollner charts the rise of longevity science from its alchemical beginnings to modern-day genetic interventions. He delves into the symbolic representation of eternal life and its connection to water. Interlaced throughout is a compelling meditation on the nature of belief, showing how every story we tell about immortality is a story about the meaning of death. Part journalist, part detective, part scientist. ("New York Post)." Adam Leith Gollner has written a rollicking and revelatory examination of our age-old notion of living forever., What have we not done to live forever? The critically acclaimed author of The Fruit Hunters now an award-winning documentary filmweaves together religion, science, and mythology in a gripping exploration of the most universal of human obsessions: immortality. Raised an atheist, Adam Leith Gollner was struck by mankind's tireless efforts to cheat aging and death. In a narrative that pivots between profundity and hilarity, he brings us into the world of those whose lives are shaped by a belief in immortality. From a Jesuit priest on his deathbed to anti-aging researchers at Harvard, Gollnersorting truth from absurditycanvasses religion and science for insight, along with an array of cults, myths, and fringe figures. He journeys to David Copperfield's archipelago in the Bahamas, where the magician claims to have found "a liquid that reverses genes." He attends a costume party set in the year 2068 with a group of radical life-extensionists, explores a cryonics facility, and soaks in the transformative mineral waters at the Esalen Institute. Looking to history, Gollner visits St. Augustine, Florida, where Ponce de Leon is thought to have sought the fountain of youth. Combining immersive reporting, rigorous research, and lyrical prose, Gollner charts the rise of longevity science from its alchemical beginnings to modern-day genetic interventions. He explores the symbolic representation of eternal life and its connection to water. Interlaced throughout is a compelling meditation on the nature of belief. An incredible thinker with "the talents of an investigative journalist, poet, travel writer, and humorist grafted onto one unusual specimen" (Mary Roach, The New York Times Book Review ), Adam Leith Gollner has written a rollicking and revelatory examination of our age-old notion of living forever.
9781439109427 English 1439109427 The author of the critically acclaimed The Fruit Hunters (soon to be a documentary)weaves together religion, science, and mythology in a rich and fascinating exploration of the most universal of human obsessions: immortality . From vampires to the billion-dollar anti-aging industry, our culture is perennially fascinated with the concept of eternal life. Now, Adam Gollner delves into a strange array of contemporary and historical characters and cults, religions and myths, and businesses all devoted to some form of immortality. Beginning at a futuristic costume party (the theme being the year 2068) thrown by a group of immortalists in California, his journey takes him to David Copperfield's archipelago in the Bahamas, where Copperfield claims to have found the fountain of youth. Along the way Gollner visits St. Augustine, Florida, where Ponce de Leon died searching for said fountain; Harvard University, where he attends an anti-aging symposium; the Esalen Institute in California where he meets a medium, a priest, a rabbi, a magician, and a whole host of quirky characters who embody our obsession with escaping death. An incredible thinker with "the talents of an investigative journalist, poet, travel writer, and humorist grafted onto one unusual specimen" (Mary Roach, The New York Times Book Review) , Adam Gollner has written a provocative, rollicking, and revelatory examination of our age-old notion of living forever., The author of the critically acclaimed The Fruit Huntersoon to be a documentary weaves together religion, science, and mythology in a rich and fascinating exploration of the most universal of human obsessions: immortality . From vampires to the billion-dollar anti-aging industry, our culture is perennially fascinated with the concept of eternal life. Now, Adam Gollner delves into a strange array of contemporary and historical characters and cults, religions and myths, and businesses all devoted to some form of immortality. Beginning at a futuristic costume party (the theme being the year 2068) thrown by a group of immortalists in California, his journey takes him to David Copperfield's archipelago in the Bahamas, where Copperfield claims to have found the fountain of youth. Along the way Gollner visits St. Augustine, Florida, where Ponce de Leon died searching for said fountain; Harvard University, where he attends an anti-aging symposium; the Esalen Institute in California where he meets a medium, a priest, a rabbi, a magician, and a whole host of quirky characters who embody our obsession with escaping death. An incredible thinker with "the talents of an investigative journalist, poet, travel writer, and humorist grafted onto one unusual specimen" (Mary Roach, The New York Times Book Review), Adam Gollner has written a provocative, rollicking, and revelatory examination of our age-old notion of living forever., The author of the critically acclaimed The Fruit Huntersweaves together religion, science, and mythology in a rich and fascinating exploration of the most universal of human obsessions: immortality . From vampires to the billion-dollar anti-aging industry, our culture is perennially fascinated with the concept of eternal life. Now, Adam Gollner delves into a strange array of contemporary and historical characters and cults, religions and myths, and businesses all devoted to some form of immortality. Beginning at a futuristic costume party (the theme being the year 2068) thrown by a group of immortalists in California, his journey takes him to David Copperfield's archipelago in the Bahamas, where Copperfield claims to have found the fountain of youth. Along the way Gollner visits St. Augustine, Florida, where Ponce de Leon died searching for said fountain; Harvard University, where he attends an anti-aging symposium; the Esalen Institute in California where he meets a medium, a priest, a rabbi, a magician, and a whole host of quirky characters who embody our obsession with escaping death. An incredible thinker with "the talents of an investigative journalist, poet, travel writer, and humorist grafted onto one unusual specimen" (Mary Roach, The New York Times Book Review), Adam Goller has written a provocative, rollicking, and revelatory examination of our age-old notion of living forever., What have we not done to live forever? Adam Leith Gollner, the critically acclaimed author of "The Fruit Hunters," weaves together religion, science, and mythology in a gripping exploration of the most universal of human obsessions: immortality. Raised without religion, Adam Leith Gollner was struck by mankind s tireless efforts to cheat aging and death. In a narrative that pivots between profundity and hilarity, he brings us into the world of those whose lives are shaped by a belief in immortality. From a Jesuit priest on his deathbed to antiaging researchers at Harvard, Gollner sorting truth from absurdity canvasses religion and science for insight, along with an array of cults, myths, and fringe figures. He journeys to David Copperfield s archipelago in the Bahamas, where the magician claims to have found a liquid that reverses genes. He explores a cryonics facility, attends a costume party set in the year 2068 with a group of radical life-extensionists, and soaks in the transformative mineral waters at the Esalen Institute. Looking to history, Gollner visits St. Augustine, Florida, where Ponce de Leon is thought to have sought the Fountain of Youth. Combining immersive reporting, rigorous research, and lyrical prose, Gollner charts the rise of longevity science from its alchemical beginnings to modern-day genetic interventions. He delves into the symbolic representation of eternal life and its connection to water. Interlaced throughout is a compelling meditation on the nature of belief, showing how every story we tell about immortality is a story about the meaning of death. Part journalist, part detective, part scientist. ("New York Post)." Adam Leith Gollner has written a rollicking and revelatory examination of our age-old notion of living forever., What have we not done to live forever? The critically acclaimed author of The Fruit Hunters now an award-winning documentary filmweaves together religion, science, and mythology in a gripping exploration of the most universal of human obsessions: immortality. Raised an atheist, Adam Leith Gollner was struck by mankind's tireless efforts to cheat aging and death. In a narrative that pivots between profundity and hilarity, he brings us into the world of those whose lives are shaped by a belief in immortality. From a Jesuit priest on his deathbed to anti-aging researchers at Harvard, Gollnersorting truth from absurditycanvasses religion and science for insight, along with an array of cults, myths, and fringe figures. He journeys to David Copperfield's archipelago in the Bahamas, where the magician claims to have found "a liquid that reverses genes." He attends a costume party set in the year 2068 with a group of radical life-extensionists, explores a cryonics facility, and soaks in the transformative mineral waters at the Esalen Institute. Looking to history, Gollner visits St. Augustine, Florida, where Ponce de Leon is thought to have sought the fountain of youth. Combining immersive reporting, rigorous research, and lyrical prose, Gollner charts the rise of longevity science from its alchemical beginnings to modern-day genetic interventions. He explores the symbolic representation of eternal life and its connection to water. Interlaced throughout is a compelling meditation on the nature of belief. An incredible thinker with "the talents of an investigative journalist, poet, travel writer, and humorist grafted onto one unusual specimen" (Mary Roach, The New York Times Book Review ), Adam Leith Gollner has written a rollicking and revelatory examination of our age-old notion of living forever.