About the Author

A.J. Jacobs is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Know-It-All, The Year of Living Biblically, and The Guinea Pig Diaries. He is the editor at large of Esquire magazine, a contributor to NPR, and has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Entertainment Weekly. Visit him at AJJacobs.com

Reviews

"Why go to the gym when you can sit and read a funny book about it instead?""--USA Today"

"Can one man go from a 'python that ate a goat' physique to perfect specimen? From Roman soldier workouts to Areca palm plants, from the sublime to the absurd, A.J. has tried it all. I laughed my ass off the wholeway and learned a ton ... including about my ass."--Timothy Ferriss, author of "The 4-Hour Workweek"

"His pursuit of perky pecs is sure to enlighten, but read it at your own risk: Side effects may include involuntary fits of laughter." --"Spirit" (Southwest Airlines Magazine)

"Jacobs' light touch camouflages the impressive amount of research that goes into each chapter. He reads books and medical reports, interviews experts and scientists as well as enthusiasts on the fringe, then tries everything himself. He brings a skeptic's eye to each point of view, but he remains respectful of even the wackiest ideas... Yes, the results are funny, but this is, at heart, a serious book, with an underlying poignancy: As Jacobs works to get healthier, his beloved grandfather begins his slow decline, reminding us that no matter how healthy we are, it's all going to end the same way."--Laurie Hertzl, "The Minneapolis Star Tribune"

"Who wouldn't want to be fitter, happier, more productive? In this riotous, madcap book, A.J. Jacobs sets himself an ambitious goal: to become the person we all wish we could be. It's vintage A.J. Do your future self a favor and read this book." --Joshua Foer, author of "Moonwalking with Einstein"

"You'll exercise your abdominals laughing over his adventures."--"Entertainment Weekly"

"While Jacobs's attempts at health enlightenment can be hilarious, visits with his grandfather, famed labor lawyer Theodore Kheel, provide the most revealing glimpse into the secrets of aging well."--"More"

"You'll burn calories laughing out loud."--"Shape"

"Can one man go from a 'python that ate agoat' physique to perfect specimen? From Roman soldier workouts to Areca palm plants, fromthe sublime to the absurd, AJ has tried it all. I laughed my ass off the wholeway and learned a ton ... including about my ass."--Timothy Ferriss, author of "The 4-Hour Workweek"

"A.J. Jacobs is very, very bad for your health. He will keep you up reading til 2 a.m., disturbing your circadian rhythms, making you sleep through breakfast and overeat at lunch. He is delicious. He's habit-forming. He will give you infectious titters and terminal glee. Don't let that stop you. Indulge."--Mary Roach, author of "Bonk "and "Packing for Mars"

"We can become healthier by learning from AJ's discomfort in this very funny book. He moves us from theory to practice by dragging his body through all the longevity practices."--Dr. Mehmet Oz, host, "The Dr. Oz Show"

"I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book, and once again, the brilliant A.J. Jacobs had me laughing out loud--and also deciding to change the way I live. "Drop Dead Healthy" is a rare mixture of the hilarious, the absurd, and the scientifically sound. Who knew it could be so entertaining to read about broccoli puree and shoeless jogging?"--Gretchen Rubin, author of "The Happiness Project"

Jacobs (editor at large, Esquire; The Year of Living Biblically) returns with another delightful look at self-improvement. His newest quest? A two-year project to be as healthy as possible. To do this, he consults with health experts in various fields and restructures his daily life and habits around recent health and wellness trends, incorporating new behaviors with each chapter. For example, in "The Quest To Avoid a Sedentary Life," readers are introduced to Jacobs's new treadmill desk. Reading this book is like having a conversation with a friend about his or her latest health kick, albeit one who has thoroughly researched the trends and has health experts on speed dial. -VERDICT Not to be read as a how-to manual, Jacobs's account of his journey is engrossing and will have readers chuckling at the measures he takes in pursuit of perfect health. Readers with health and fitness interests will eagerly devour this book; it may also provide inspiration for those attempting to make healthier lifestyle choices. [See Prepub Alert, 10/28/11.]-Rachael Dreyer, Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.