From the day her daughter was born, science journalist Marta Zaraska (Washington Post, The Atlantic) fretted about her family’s health. She fasted, considered adopting the keto diet, and ran a half-marathon. She bought goji berries and chia seeds and ate organic food. But then her research brought her to a new way of understanding, one that shattered her old beliefs about aging and longevity.

In Growing Young, Zaraska makes the case for health’s social factors: a supportive network of family and friends, volunteering, and developing a sense of purpose. In uncovering the science behind these factors, she catches wild mice in central England, arranges flowers with Japanese octogenarians, and visits a Polish hugging centre.

Bio adapted from Growing Young book jacket. Photo of Marta Zaraska from Facebook.