The book of immortality : the science, belief, and magic behind 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 León 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. A "wonderful" ( Harper's ), "engrossing" ( Parade ) exploration of the most universal of human obsessions: immortality—from an author who is "part Mary Roach, part Joe Strummer of The Clash" ( The Wall Street Journal ). 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 León 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 film—weaves 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, 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 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.

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 León 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' 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 Journalist Adam Leith Gollner weaves together religion, science, and mythology in an exploration of the most universal of human obsessions: immortality. Raised without religion, 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. Combining immersive reporting, rigorous research, and lyrical prose, he charts the rise of longevity science from its alchemical beginnings to modern-day genetic interventions, and delves into the symbolic representation of eternal life and its connection to water. Interlaced throughout is a meditation on the nature of belief, showing how every story we tell about immortality is a story about the meaning of death.--From publisher description. Read more... Abstract: Journalist Adam Leith Gollner weaves together religion, science, and mythology in an exploration of the most universal of human obsessions: immortality. Raised without religion, 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. Combining immersive reporting, rigorous research, and lyrical prose, he charts the rise of longevity science from its alchemical beginnings to modern-day genetic interventions, and delves into the symbolic representation of eternal life and its connection to water. Interlaced throughout is a meditation on the nature of belief, showing how every story we tell about immortality is a story about the meaning of death.--From publisher description Journalist Adam Leith Gollner Weaves Together Religion, Science, And Mythology In An Exploration Of The Most Universal Of Human Obsessions: Immortality. Raised Without Religion, 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. Combining Immersive Reporting, Rigorous Research, And Lyrical Prose, He Charts The Rise Of Longevity Science From Its Alchemical Beginnings To Modern-day Genetic Interventions, And Delves Into The Symbolic Representation Of Eternal Life And Its Connection To Water. Interlaced Throughout Is A Meditation On The Nature Of Belief, Showing How Every Story We Tell About Immortality Is A Story About The Meaning Of Death.--from Publisher Description. On Finitude And Infinity -- The Nature Of Immortality -- Belief. We Bereave, We Believe ; Journey Into Remoteness ; The Valley Of Astonishment ; Lessons Of The Teachings ; To Sea And Hear ; Beneath The Gaze Of Eternity ; Technical Interlude : Writ In Water ; The Magical Fountain ; Letters Upon Letters : Dividing The Invisible ; Almost Real ; Let's Run Into The Waves And Spring Back To Life -- Magic. Mystifier ; Escapology ; The Sorcerer's Lair ; Sleights Of Mind ; Technical Interlude : Magick, Eros, Symbolism ; Transmuting Magic Into Science -- Science. Mercurial Times ; Preservation's Particulars : Longevity And Longing ; Biological Calculus ; It Was The Future ; Refrigerator Heaven ; Secret Santa Barbara ; The Harvard Symposium -- If _____ Is Possible -- Springs Eternal. Adam Leith Gollner. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 382-388) And Index. Prologue: On finitude and infinity Introduction: The nature of immortality Belief : We bereave, we believe ; Journey into remoteness ; The valley of astonishment ; Lessons of the teachings ; To sea and hear ; Beneath the gaze of eternity ; Technical interlude: writ in water ; The magical fountain ; Letters upon letters : dividing the invisible ; Almost real ; Let's run into the waves and spring back to life Magic : Mystifier ; Escapology ; The sorcerer's lair ; Sleights of mind ; Technical interlude: magick, Eros, symbolism ; Transmuting magic into science Science : Mercurial times ; Preservation's particulars: longevity and longing ; Biological calculus ; It was the future ; Refrigerator heaven ; Secret Santa Barbara ; The Harvard Symposium If _____ is possible Epilogue: Springs eternal. Content: Prologue: On finitude and infinity -- Introduction: The nature of immortality -- Belief : We bereave, we believe Journey into remoteness The valley of astonishment Lessons of the teachings To sea and hear Beneath the gaze of eternity Technical interlude: writ in water The magical fountain Letters upon letters : dividing the invisible Almost real Let's run into the waves and spring back to life -- Magic : Mystifier Escapology The sorcerer's lair Sleights of mind Technical interlude: magick, Eros, symbolism Transmuting magic into science -- Science : Mercurial times Preservation's particulars: longevity and longing Biological calculus It was the future Refrigerator heaven Secret Santa Barbara The Harvard Symposium -- If _____ is possible -- Epilogue: Springs eternal. An exploration of one of the most universal human obsessions charts the rise of longevity science from its alchemical beginnings to modern-day genetic interventions and enters the world of those whose lives are shaped by a belief in immortality