Suzanne Toren delivers this discussion of the science of telomeres, the protective endings of chromosomes, and the relationship between telomere length and long-term health. Toren carefully lays out the science of telomeres, getting the pacing just right to give listeners time to absorb the information without becoming overwhelmed. She also brings enthusiasm to her performance, encouraging listeners to stick with difficult information about the negative impacts short telomeres appear to have on health and emphasizing hope as she recounts the ways science has demonstrated that people can promote telomere length. Listeners interested in living long, healthy lives will find solid, practical information delivered in an unintimidating way. A.F. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

"Blackburn and Epel demonstrate that how we live each day has a profound effect not just on our health and well-being, but how we age, as well. It's a manual for how to live younger and longer."—Arianna Huffington

"A classic. One of the most exciting health books to emerge in the last decade. It explains how we can slow the way we age at a fundamental level."—Eric Kandel, Nobel laureate and author of In Search of Memory

"THE TELOMERE EFFECT explains the often-invisible things that affect all of our lives, helping us make better choices individually and socially for greater health and longevity. It will change the way we think of aging and disease."—David Kessler, MD, JD, former FDA commissioner and New York Times bestselling author of The End of Overeating

"A revolutionary set of findings-with a wealth of science-based suggestions-that can transform the way we live our lives, shaping the very health of our cells by how we use our minds."—Daniel J. Siegel, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Brainstorm

"This book is revolutionary, transforming the way our world thinks about health and living well, disease, and death. It reveals a stunning picture of healthy aging-it's not simply about individuals, it's about how we are connected to each other, today and through future generations. It is hard to overstate this book's importance."—Dean Ornish, MD, founder and president, Preventive Medicine Research Institute, and New York Times bestselling author of The Spectrum

"Grounded in cutting-edge science, this is the best book on how to have long-term health that I have read in a very long time. Written with clarity, verve, and heart, it is chock-full of practical suggestions based on fascinating research on our own DNA. Tremendous."
—Rick Hanson, PhD, author of Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom

"An extraordinary, illuminating synthesis of biological and psychosocial factors that enhance healthful longevity by their effects on telomeres. These new advances in knowledge enable people to attain longer, healthier lives."—Albert Bandura, professor emeritus, Stanford University, United States National Medal of Science awardee

"THE TELOMERE EFFECT gives us, in high relief and with exactly the practical level of detail we need, the long and the short of a new science revealing that how we live our lives, both inwardly and outwardly, individually and collectively, impinges significantly on our health, our well-being, and even our longevity. Mindfulness is a key ingredient, and importantly, issues of poverty and social justice are shown to clearly come into play as well. This book is an invaluable, rigorously authentic, and at its core, exceedingly compassionate and wise contribution to our understanding of health and well-being."—Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Full Catastrophe Living

"From basic science to practical life style advice, THE TELOMERE EFFECT is an extraordinary compendium of wisdom from a remarkable collaboration between a molecular biologist and a health psychologist. It is the supreme user-friendly guide to scientific research on telomeres and why knowing about them is important for your everyday life. This book is a must read for anyone who wishes to live with optimal health."—Richard J. Davidson, New York Times bestselling author of The Emotional Life of Your Brain and co-author of Altered Traits

04/15/2017
Telomeres are the caps at the end of each strand of DNA that protect our chromosomes and their genetic materials and allow for the division and renewal of cells. Over time, all telomeres weaken, but some people have prematurely deteriorating telomeres, which inhibit cell renewal and lead to early aging and health issues. Blackburn (biology and physiology) and Epel (psychiatry, both Univ. of California, San Francisco) argue that one can change the decaying of our telomeres by changing our diet, exercise, environment, and mental habits. The audiobook includes PDF files with supplemental materials to help listeners determine if they may be at risk of premature aging. Reader Suzanne Toren clearly and carefully presents this complicated material. VERDICT Part scientific study, part self-help book, this work will interest listeners concerned about wellness and aging. A cutting-edge addition to any library's health and science section.—Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ. Parkersburg Lib.

09/01/2016
Blackburn won a Nobel Prize with two colleagues for their discovery of telomeres, nucleotide sequences that keep the end of each chromosome from deteriorating or fusing with another chromosome. Here she clarifies the lifestyle habits that protect telomeres so that we can live longer and better. With a 200,000-copy first printing.

Suzanne Toren delivers this discussion of the science of telomeres, the protective endings of chromosomes, and the relationship between telomere length and long-term health. Toren carefully lays out the science of telomeres, getting the pacing just right to give listeners time to absorb the information without becoming overwhelmed. She also brings enthusiasm to her performance, encouraging listeners to stick with difficult information about the negative impacts short telomeres appear to have on health and emphasizing hope as she recounts the ways science has demonstrated that people can promote telomere length. Listeners interested in living long, healthy lives will find solid, practical information delivered in an unintimidating way. A.F. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine