Why We Die: The New Science of Ageing and the Quest for Immortality

A major exploration of the science of why and how we age and die – from a Nobel Prize-winning biologist and former president of the Royal Society.'Utterly fascinating. Clear, enthralling and packed with insights.' BILL BRYSON'A thrilling ride through the science of ageing and death. A must read.' STEPHEN FRYWe are living through a revolution in biology. Giant strides are being made in our understanding of why we age and die, and why some species live longer than others. Immortality, once a faint hope, has never been more within our grasp.Here, Nobel Prize-winning biologist Venki Ramakrishnan transforms our understanding of why we die – and whether we can do anything about it. Examining recent scientific breakthroughs, he shows how cutting edge efforts to extend lifespan by altering our natural biology raise profound questions. Although we might not like it, does death serve a necessary biological purpose? What are the social and ethical costs of attempting to live forever? And how can we increase our chances of living long, healthy and fulfilled lives? As science advances, we have much to gain. But might we also have much to lose?Why We Die is a narrative of uncommon insight and beauty from one of our leading public intellectuals.