Whenever I read a new title by A. J. Jacobs, several thoughts come to mind. Firstly, he seems to have found the perfect job –writing columns for Esquire magazine, then collecting them into very humorous, quite informative, usually best-selling books. Second, he seems unable to commit to a single course of action for very long (actually, his job provides a good excuse for this squirrel-like attention span). Thirdly, his wife Julie is to be commended for putting up with this man and his goofy lifestyle.
This latest volume chronicles Jacobs’ two-year program to become the healthiest middle-aged man in the world—“maximal health from head to toe”. The decision was precipitated by a hospital stay with a nasty bout of pneumonia, and Julie’s (“I don’t want to be a widow at 45”) encouragement.
So, month by month, organ by organ, starting with the stomach, A.J. tackles his body. His strategy is to consult the experts in each field (sleep, nutrition, dermatology, exercise, etc.), read the latest and hopefully best advice on the topic of the month, buy the recommended gadgets and protective devices, join health clubs and fitness groups, and record the improvements made.
After listing more than 100 different diets, the author decides to skip the Taco Bell Drive-Thru Diet, but tries most of the others. What better place to start than with chocolate, wine, and coffee? Studies show that all, thank goodness, are good for you. Especially chocolate, is the message from my body. But of course, man (and woman) cannot subsist solely on what appeals to our easily deluded taste buds, however delicious. Few of us really crave kale and quinoa, but we would be in better shape if we ate more of these kinds of food, and not so much of the empty carbs we stuff into our mouths. Grab a carrot instead of a hot dog, shouts one FDA employee.
Next, after the stomach, the heart takes center stage. It will surprise no one that exercise, along with the right diet (see above), is key to heart health. Jacobs rigs a treadmill desk contraption so he can walk while he types his articles. And yes, he logs the miles, which accumulate to almost 1,250 miles. A later chapter describes training for a triathlon, which A.J. completes, thanks to all of the improvements he has made in his life. Plans to run another are derailed by a massive sewage spill into the Hudson River. Avoiding toxins and pollution is, of course, the subject of one of the chapters!
So, I learned not to take any part of the body for granted, and that there are experts on each of them, not always agreeing with one another, and that keeping healthy is hard work. But since laughter is healing and good for you, reading this book will definitely improve both body and mind.
By Carole Ann Clark: December 18, 2025 – Great Falls, Mt
Author: Karen Anderson
Karen is the Editor-in-Chief overseeing all news operations at Foxys Publishing Co. She also loves photography and spending time with her dogs.
