The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like the World's Healthiest People
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Bestselling author Buettner (The Blue Zones) is back with a well-organized game plan for a long and well-lived life. Taking what he's learned from over a decade of studying the so-called Blue Zones-five hot spots across the globe where people enjoy optimal health and vitality well into their 80s, 90s, and as centenarians-Buettner and his colleagues tested whether Blue Zones could be willfully created, targeting communities in California, Iowa, and Minnesota. The results, as reported here, are both impressive and persuasive. Buettner neatly distills the enriching lifestyles, environments, and diets found in each area into small changes anyone can adopt. He also offers intriguing glimpses into other projects in progress and shares more than 80 pages of life-extending recipes designed to be cooked in the average American kitchen. This is a thoughtfully presented and well-written guide from which anyone-no matter where he or she is in the journey to better health-can benefit. Agent: Laurie Liss, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

In this worthy successor to his 2009 best seller, The Blue Zones, journalist and health activist Buettner teases out the habits and practices of the people he deems the world's healthiest. The author noted, in his decadelong study of the people of the "blue zones" of Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, CA, that a near-perfect diet was achieved in large part because each of the environments encouraged healthy eating. Acknowledging that food may be the ideal starting point for anyone seeking to emulate the health and well-being of long-lived peoples in the blue zones, Buettner stresses the corollary importance of social networks, daily rituals, physical environment, and sense of purpose. He believes that Americans can create the same healthy environments and achieve long-lasting changes that are sure to have a far greater impact than the willpower or discipline upon which they typically rely. He describes the ways in which readers can build their own blue zones and includes 75 recipes based on the "superfoods of longevity." Buettner emphasizes that this is not a deprivation diet; people in the blue zones eat for enjoyment. VERDICT Readers seeking a healthier lifestyle will appreciate this warm and encouraging book.-Linda F. Petty, Wimberley, TX © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In this worthy successor to his 2009 best seller, The Blue Zones, journalist and health activist Buettner teases out the habits and practices of the people he deems the world's healthiest. The author noted, in his decadelong study of the people of the "blue zones" of Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, CA, that a near-perfect diet was achieved in large part because each of the environments encouraged healthy eating. Acknowledging that food may be the ideal starting point for anyone seeking to emulate the health and well-being of long-lived peoples in the blue zones, Buettner stresses the corollary importance of social networks, daily rituals, physical environment, and sense of purpose. He believes that Americans can create the same healthy environments and achieve long-lasting changes that are sure to have a far greater impact than the willpower or discipline upon which they typically rely. He describes the ways in which readers can build their own blue zones and includes 75 recipes based on the "superfoods of longevity." Buettner emphasizes that this is not a deprivation diet; people in the blue zones eat for enjoyment. VERDICT Readers seeking a healthier lifestyle will appreciate this warm and encouraging book.—Linda F. Petty, Wimberley, TX

Bestselling author Buettner (The Blue Zones) is back with a well-organized game plan for a long and well-lived life. Taking what he's learned from over a decade of studying the so-called Blue Zones—five hot spots across the globe where people enjoy optimal health and vitality well into their 80s, 90s, and as centenarians—Buettner and his colleagues tested whether Blue Zones could be willfully created, targeting communities in California, Iowa, and Minnesota. The results, as reported here, are both impressive and persuasive. Buettner neatly distills the enriching lifestyles, environments, and diets found in each area into small changes anyone can adopt. He also offers intriguing glimpses into other projects in progress and shares more than 80 pages of life-extending recipes designed to be cooked in the average American kitchen. This is a thoughtfully presented and well-written guide from which anyone—no matter where he or she is in the journey to better health—can benefit. Agent: Laurie Liss, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Apr.)