Emotional Longevity: What Really Determines How Long You Live

By Norman B. Anderson and P. Elizabeth Anderson

Book Overview

Why do optimists have lower blood pressure and heightened immunity? Why have studies found asthmatics breathe easier after writing down traumatic events? And how is it that good relationships are a buffer against everything from heart disease to the common cold, and religious observance so often goes hand in hand with longevity? In his cutting-edge and compelling Emotional Longevity, one of America's most prominent behavioral science leaders bridges the two poles of recent scientific research-biological and behavioral science-to formulate a new paradigm of what it means to be healthy. It is far more than genetics, diet, or exercise. Far more than the mere absence of disease. More multifaceted even than the now-established mind/body link. Emotional Longevitymaps out the life-long web of scientifically proven connections between biology and social environment, biology and beliefs, biology and emotions. Dr. Norman Anderson illustrates the crucial links between the existential and the physical in dozens of lives, from his own and his family's to those of figures such as Maya Angelou, Wally "Famous" Amos, and Linda Ellerbee. And he shows readers how to orchestrate this interplay in themselves-the key to surviving illnesses, disasters, or traumas, living life to the fullest, and aging successfully.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670031852
• ISBN13: 9780670031856
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: Viking Books
• Length: 332 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

A book that will make you sit up and take notice

An eye-opening look at the synergy between emotions and longevity. In the deluge of "let's just be happy" rather superficial books, this one is a refreshing departure from that norm. Written by a leader in his field, Dr. Anderson does not negate the biological determinants affecting longevity. But drawing on his work as the CEO of the American Psychological Association as well as numerous studies, he paints a compelling picture of the actual links between emotions, beliefs and one's social environment and their effect on one's health and subsequent death. He also cites the many studies that show how these same factors influence our vulnerability to everything from the common cold to heart disease. The book is written in an understandable style and features vignettes of prominent people, such as Maya Angelou, Terry Fox and Linda Ellerbee to add a more personal touch to his scientific presentations and findings. This is a book that will give you a most compelling reason to try and change your life and your way of living. It can indeed be a matter of life or death or at the very least a significant factor in the quality of your life.

An argument for a balanced life

What one should take from this book is that health means balance is all areas of one's life. We are social animals and obviously our emotional well-being influences our longevity. A great book!

Insightful and contemplative "must read"

Emotional Longevity explores the dimensions of health and well being in a unique and refreshing way. Though based on research, it offers a refreshing (and understandable) perspective differentiating it from other books of this genre. It clearly defines and illustrates how each of the elements affecting longevity play out in our lives and in the lives of our children. It juxtaposes science with vignettes, making it not only informative but compelling as well. It is an insightful and contemplative "must read."

Good adjunctively or solo

... When I picked this book up, I thought for sure that there was nothing else to be learned, but I was completely wrong. For once, this book is backed by scientific research and the results are shown for experiments such as positive and negative outlooks, overcoming illness, likelihood to die early, the list goes on and on. 'Emotional Longevity' does not indicate the length of an emotion, but rather teaches us to view things in a light that will produce a much higher quality of life, and will ultimately lead to a much healthier, longer, and more fulfilling, realistic lifestyle. I know it sounds cliche, but it's true. And it's different from all the others to boot.Highly recommended from a person who highly needs good books like this. :) (Who doesn't?)

Absolutely the best book on health available today

If you care about living long and well, this is the book for you. When I saw it at my local bookstore it literally jumped off the shelf. You can't always judge a book by its cover, but in this case the contents lived up to the promise on the jacket, "What Really Determines How Long You Live." There are many things that I could say about this exceptional book. The most important is that at a time when we are deluged by the latest hype on health and happiness, this book, by one of the premier researchers in the country, gives us the real facts about holistic health.I've been working in this field for 38 years and consider myself one of the experts, but I learned new things in every chapter. At a time when Gender Medicine is emerging as a new field of health, this book gives us the facts to help us understand why men continue to live sicker and die sooner. It doesn't have to be that way. We can all improve how long and how joyfully we live. If you buy one book this year on Mind/Body/Spirit, make it Emotional Longevity. You'll be glad you did.