← The Peter Attia Drive

#248 ‒ OUTLIVE book: A behind-the-scenes look into the writing of this book, motivation, main themes, and more

Mar 28, 2023 1h 41m 27 insights
<p><a href="https://peterattiamd.com/outlive/?utm_source=podcast-feed&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=230328-pod-outlivepodcast&amp;utm_content=230328-pod-outlivepodcast-podfeed"> Order OUTLIVE</a></p> <p><a href="https://peterattiamd.com/outlivepodcast/?utm_source=podcast-feed&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=230328-pod-outlivepodcast&amp;utm_content=230328-pod-outlivepodcast-podfeed"> View the Show Notes Page for This Episode</a></p> <p><a href="https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/?utm_source=podcast-feed&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=230328-pod-outlivepodcast&amp;utm_content=230328-pod-outlivepodcast-podfeed"> Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content</a></p> <p><a href="https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/?utm_source=podcast-feed&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=230328-pod-outlivepodcast&amp;utm_content=230328-pod-outlivepodcast-podfeed"> Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter</a></p> <p>After more than six years of research, planning, and writing, Peter's book, Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, is officially available as of March 28th. In this episode, Peter sits down with co-author Bill Gifford to provide a behind-the-scenes look into the writing process, including the motivation for making it happen, how the book evolved over the course of the writing process, and why certain topics were chosen (and omitted). Additionally, they discuss how the book is structured and touch on a few of the book's main themes to give potential readers an idea of what they can expect.</p> <p><strong>We discuss:</strong></p> <ul type="disc"> <li>The meaning of the book's title and subtitle [3:00];</li> <li>Finding the right art for the book cover [9:00];</li> <li>Who is Bill Gifford, and how did he get involved in the book? [16:15];</li> <li>How Peter's writing evolved over the six years it took to write this book [25:00];</li> <li>The structure of the book and what people can expect to learn [29:00];</li> <li>How the writing of the book and the podcast interviews have shaped Peter's thinking and approach to translating science [32:45];</li> <li>Making the book stand the test of time despite the constant evolution of science and medicine [36:00];</li> <li>Objective, strategy, and tactics [39:30];</li> <li>Exciting possible progressions in science and medicine over the next decade [42:15];</li> <li>What is holding back "medicine 3.0" from being the norm? [46:00];</li> <li>How the book compares to the podcast in terms of technicality and readability for the layman [49:00];</li> <li>Motivation to write the book and insights into challenges around the writing process [57:15];</li> <li>Peter's decision to be the reader for the audiobook [1:10:30];</li> <li>The many painstaking last-minute changes and edits that brought the book together and made it better [1:19:00];</li> <li>Peter and Bill's favorite parts of the book [1:27:30];</li> <li>The incredible team of people supporting the book [1:31:30]; and</li> <li>More.</li> </ul> <p>Connect With Peter on <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterAttiaMD">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/peterattiamd/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/peterattiamd/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8kGsMa0LygSX9nkBcBH1Sg">YouTube</a></p>
Actionable Insights

1. Dementia Prevention Protocols

To reduce dementia risk, prioritize exercise, lipid management, adequate sleep, and diabetes prevention, as these factors unambiguously reduce risk.

2. Prioritize Exercise Over Nutrition

For longevity, emphasize exercise more than nutrition, as exercise offers significant upside and prevents downside, while nutrition’s main impact is correcting negatives.

3. Cancer Prevention & Early Detection

The key strategies for cancer are prevention and early detection, as catching cancer while it is smaller and localized dramatically improves treatment outcomes.

4. Tailor Medical Screenings Individually

Evaluate your personal risk-reward trade-off and cost-benefit analysis for medical screenings, as a personalized approach is crucial, not blanket recommendations.

5. Define Your Objective Clearly

Always clearly define your objective before acting, as a lack of clarity can lead to unfocused efforts and hinder progress towards your goals.

6. Understand Strategy vs. Tactics

Differentiate between strategy (the overarching plan) and tactics (specific actions), remembering that tactics without a clear strategy are ineffective.

7. Be Flexible with Tactics

Recognize that tactics are highly malleable and will change; anchor your approach to a timeless strategy rather than rigid, evolving tactics.

8. Be Open to Changing Your Mind

Remain non-dogmatic and open to altering your views based on new information or interpretations of existing data, fostering continuous learning and adaptation.

9. Parenting Hack: Quiet Kids

To encourage quieter behavior from children, parents can try being quieter themselves, as kids often mirror the volume of their environment.

10. Voice Care: Avoid Whispering

If experiencing voice issues, avoid whispering, as it teaches incorrect movements; instead, either remain silent or speak normally at the lowest possible volume.

11. Don’t Settle for “Good Enough”

For important projects, resist settling for “good enough” if you believe it can be exceptional, even if it requires more effort or time.

12. Ruthless Editing for Clarity

When writing or creating, be prepared to cut 90% of your content, focusing only on essential details to ensure clarity and impact for the audience.

13. Improve Thinking Through Writing

Engage in relentless writing, streamlining, and getting to the point, as this process forces reconsideration and refinement of thoughts, thereby improving cognitive clarity.

14. Streamline Communication

Practice streamlining your communication to get to the point sooner, which enhances clarity and effectiveness in conveying information.

15. Embrace “Shitty First Drafts”

Allow yourself to produce a “shitty first draft” to freely express all ideas without judgment, as this initial step is vital before refinement.

16. Read Aloud for Editing

When editing, read your work out loud to identify unnecessary interruptions, awkward phrasing, and areas that don’t flow well for the reader.

17. Use Deadlines for Productivity

Leverage deadlines to ensure projects are completed, as they provide the necessary impetus to finish tasks that might otherwise linger.

18. Reading for Presence and Engagement

When reading aloud, especially for an audience, read slower and strive to be fully present with each word to make the delivery more engaging and less monotonous.

19. Meet Audience Expectations

For content creators, especially those with a loyal audience, strive to meet expectations, such as an author reading their own audiobook, to show gratitude and respect.

20. Author Reads Technical Audiobooks

Authors of technical books should read their own audiobooks to ensure accuracy and correct pronunciation of specialized terms, preventing misinterpretations.

21. Consider Legacy in Content Creation

When creating content, consider its potential long-term value and legacy, imagining how future generations might appreciate hearing your unique voice or perspective.

22. Use Multimedia to Clarify

Employ multimedia, such as videos, to explain complex topics that are difficult to convey through text alone, preventing the audience from being overwhelmed by jargon.

23. Independent Scientific Fact-Checking

For scientific publications, engage an independent person for fact-checking, as relying solely on the publisher or internal team may overlook errors.

24. Seek Expert Technical Review

For technical content, seek review from at least one (and often more) technical expert in the specific field to ensure accuracy and depth.

25. Encourage Feedback for Corrections

Actively encourage feedback from readers or listeners to identify mistakes or areas for improvement, especially in technical works, for future editions.

26. Consider Emotional Health

Recognize the importance of emotional health as a relevant component of overall well-being and longevity, even if it’s not the primary focus.

27. Subscribe to Podcast Membership

To access more in-depth, exclusive content and enhance your knowledge, consider subscribing to the podcast’s membership program.