Immortality:: How Science Is Extending Your Life Span--and Changing The World

By Ben Bova

Book Overview

That arresting statement sounds as if it might come from a science fiction story. But it is astonishing, exciting fact-as explained by Dr. Ben Bova. In his distinguished career, Dr. Bova has predicted... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380975181
• ISBN13: 9780380975181
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: William Morrow
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.8" x 1.0" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

A most important and valuable book

How long would you like to live? 80 years? 100 years? 200 years? How about forever? You know, you just might. Ben Bova has succeeded in gathering the most recent developments in medical science and technology together with the most credible extrapolations of current trends to write a terrific and much-needed book. He has studied the many diverse and often arcane fields of scientific investigation and somehow created a highly readable yet convincing depiction of where life extension research may lead us. He makes acceptable what used to seem unbelievable. Immortality is not a long book and does not come across as scholarly or academic. It is clearly intended for the popular reader. And yet, I believe it is one of the most important and valuable books to be written within the last 20 years. If it is widely read and discussed, it will go a long way toward persuading the public that they'd better pay attention and begin preparing for the amazing ways in which our world is about to change. NOTE: Ben Bova is not a medical doctor, but rather a Ph.D. of the liberal arts. The use of "Dr." before his name was probably his publisher's idea, intended to give the author more legitimacy on this topic. I find it disingenuous and needless. Ben Bova is a successful, respected writer of speculative fiction, and is probably as well qualified to write this book as any medical doctor.

THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN--THE QUESTION IS WHEN!

Dr. Ben Bova did a marvelous job writing this book, in an entertaining & logical manner, he explains that not only the how and details of this inevitable event of human existence, he also, explains to the reader the opposition such discoveries will run into, truly fascinating, and for those of you who still find it hard to believe after you have read it (which you won't, but if you do), check out the following company: GERON!--they are gonna be the Microsoft of Human Genetic enhancing drugs........"May you live in interesting times"--Chinese proverb--that is an understatement...............

Wonderful read. I finished knowing that I will live forever

Ben Bova has, in his book Immortality, accomplished wonderful things. He has managed to make science fun. That is a great accomplishment in and of itself and I recommend the book for this reason. More importantly, though, he has managed to outline the case for immortality. I read this with a critical eye. I am a scientist (a neurophysiologist). But I am now convinced that he is right: Death will someday disappear. As a scientist, it is my vocation to read scientific articles. I read scientific books, as well. They cover the science, all right, but rarely do they provide the big picture about a subject, rarely do they entertain and enthrall. I want the author to explore the possibilities of our existence. I want to be entertained. Few authors accomplish this. But Bova's Immortality fits the bill. I was enthralled. I was informed. My eyes did open upon the future. And what I saw excites me!

Thoroughly researched and written with clarity.

Bova has done a thoroughly convincing job of discussing current breakthroughs in research into cellular aging, human growth hormone studies, regeneration and more. His writing, as ever, is clear, precise and accessible. He is optimistic, but his research supports the optimism. The discussion of the implications of longevity on religion and politics is useful, as well.

"Immortality" offers ... timeless ... insights.

Ben Bova's latest work deals with the progress of science as it seeks to decipher the codes that bind all living organisms. The work details, in an extremely readable fashion, how scientists are making progress in molecular biology and how that progress will open the mysteries of life's very machineries. Dr Bova starts with the beginnings of medicine and reveals scientific progress as a fascinating journey of exploration and endless discovery, complete with blind alleys and false starts. He shows how scientists are "pushing the envelope" of research into extending active human life for centuries; and someday, millennia. He also points out the fact that these same scientists may not be entirely aware of the ultimate outcome of their work, or its implications. Dr Bova devotes part of his book to the meaning of long life, or virtual immortality, to the American and global societies. He addresses the concerns and objections to this progress, on several fronts; the sociological and the religious, for example. He demonstrates how Humanity has balked at such changes as the medical research will bring, and how Humanity is ill-equiped to deal with the potentials involved here. Like any talented professor, he offers no pat solutions, but gives the students the tools with which to reason. Most striking about the book, "Immortality", is the time frames discussed. Bova speaks of great progress made in perhaps less than a decade. He suspects that within fifty years science will have learned how to stop, and perhaps reverse, the process we call age. His opening words set the stage for all that will follow. "The first immortals are already living among us. You may be one of them". The insights are, for lack of a better word, ...timeless.Alan McBride Science Reporter Florida's Radio Network