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

Why do we age? Can the biological processes that drive aging be slowed—or even reversed? Nobel Prize–winning biologist Venki Ramakrishnan examines one of science's oldest and most profound questions, drawing on the latest discoveries in genetics, cell biology, and medicine to explain why living organisms grow old and eventually die.
Surveying the rapidly evolving science of longevity, Ramakrishnan explores the promise and limitations of anti-aging research, from stem cells and gene editing to senolytic drugs, caloric restriction, and efforts to extend the human lifespan. He distinguishes scientific breakthroughs from exaggerated claims, offering a clear-eyed assessment of what modern biology can realistically achieve.
Both authoritative and accessible, Why We Die is an illuminating account of the biology of aging, the ethical questions raised by longer lives, and humanity's enduring pursuit of immortality.