The Longevity Plan

April 17, 2017
In 2012, John Day, a Johns Hopkins– and Stanford-educated cardiologist fluent in Mandarin, went to the remote village of Bapan (commonly known as Longevity Village) in Guangxi Province, China, where people commonly live to 100 and beyond. In this first-person narrative cowritten with Jane Day and LaPlante, John Day distills the residents’ wisdom into seven easily implemented lessons: (1) eat good food, (2) master your mind-set, (3) build your place, (4) be in motion, (5) find your rhythm, (6) make the most of your environment, and (7) proceed with purpose. Regarding lesson one, he notes that eating is a virtue, not a vice, and so one should consume plentiful garden vegetables, roots and tubers, wild fruits, nuts, seeds, and legumes; moderate amounts of grains; little meat or fish; and no dairy or processed or refined foods. For lesson three, Day’s injunctions are don’t go it alone, make peace at home and honor your family, don’t gossip, support community efforts, and make a spiritual connection. Finally, for lesson seven, Day observes that “people who feel they have reason to live are more likely to survive and thrive.” While not the first book to highlight the healthy habits of long-lived folks, this new offering is highly readable, thoughtful, and inspiring.