I thought it was funny that they mentioned and made fun of the idea of how a “polypill” can eliminate diseases and increase longevity, but found out that pharmaceutical companies are actually working on this all-curing pill. I like that they acknowledge that there are so many other individual factors that go into longevity, such as personality, genetic, and environmental factors.
I liked that they mentioned how the human body is in a constant state of change and development, and having a balance in all aspects can be difficult to manage and to know at a single point in time. High stress is a problem, but so is excessive boredom. The chapter also emphasized how not only the physical is important, but the social connections one has largely influences social health and sense of belonging. This is emphasized in religious communities and marriages (for men).
I found it interesting that the type of humor used is affected in longevity. The book mentioned Paul, who is cheerful, sociable, masculine, and well liked, and Jess, who had a tough childhood but eventually became a highly-successful Hollywood comedy writer.Paul had a selfish and sardonic type of humor, while Jess used humor in a warmhearted, meaningful way. Paul lived a short lived life, while Jess lived a stable, creative long life. I knew that humor was used to attract certain friends and gather people with similar humor together, but I did not know the longevity effects that humor took place.
In the Epilogue, I liked how they realistically recognized the wrong ideas about health, particularly the one about how people will know how to be healthier, but will not automatically make these health behavior changes. I deeply respect Dr. Terman’s enamor for data and was not influenced by social norms at the time (ie. including women in the data). Dr. Terman presented many facts, and did not simply use his data to further their political views, as some scientists did.
Overall, they found that conscientious, goal-oriented citizens who are well-integrated into their communities are likely to lead healthy, long lives. This book has helped me redefined some preconceptions of longevity and learn other surprising findings that altered my way of thinking for the long term.
It is funny to think about that the author mentioned that the idea of “a polypill”. The idea that a person could take it and would reduce illness and increase longevity, then discovering that pharmacological companies are trying to develop this idea. I feel that the author mentioned social connects multiple times through out the book to stress the importance of social interactions, like you said, it is not only physical that is important to health, but being connected with people is important to health. I agree that they emphasized this in the religion chapter. They talked about how women are more sociable than men and in that study it was shown that the women where likely to live longer than the men. I would also agree that the book has changed my thinking about longevity and the possible factors or contributors of having a healthy long life.