The Next Big Idea Club Presents — "Immortality: A User's Guide"

The Next Big Idea

Next Big Idea Club

Science, Social Sciences, Education, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 2 May 2023

⏱️ 9 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What if you could live forever? Okay, maybe not forever, but for a long, long time — like to 150. First of all, is that even possible? And second, what would that mean for your family, your career, the planet? These are the vexing questions acclaimed science writer Steven Johnson answers in his new audiobook, "Immortality: A User's Guide." Here's the elevator pitch: we may be on the cusp of a revolution in the science of aging, and we are not prepared for the consequences. Steven's project is the first in a series we're calling Next Big Idea Originals. These are short (i.e., as long as a movie) audiobooks written by the best authors we know and enhanced with archival footage, scintillating interviews, beautiful sound design, and original music. If you want to hear "Immortality: A User's Guide" in its entirety, you can download The Next Big Idea app, or you can purchase the audiobook directly from us (and play it in your favorite podcast app) by visiting nextbigideaclub.supportingcast.fm

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey folks, I hope your week is off to a good start.
0:06.7	Our certainly is here at the next Big Idea Club because today we're launching something
0:11.3	pretty exciting, something we've been working on for many months, next big idea originals.
0:17.9	This is a series of short form audiobooks from your favorite authors.
0:23.0	Our ambition with these originals is to combine the best elements of great podcasts and
0:28.1	great books.
0:29.6	What do we like about podcasts you may wonder?
0:32.4	The energy of a spontaneous, dynamic conversation, intriguing archival footage and beautiful
0:37.9	sound design, and a short format we can enjoy in one or two sessions.
0:42.8	The best books on the other hand, deliver thoughtful storytelling and build a clear argument
0:48.0	in a way that leaves us with something concrete.
0:51.9	We like to think that our first next big idea original delivers on all of the above.
0:56.7	It's called Immortality, a User's Guide, and it's hosted by a Claim Science Writer, Stephen
1:02.2	Johnson.
1:03.7	You may have heard of Stephen's last book, Extra Life, a short history of living longer.
1:08.4	It was also turned into a PBS BBC television show.
1:11.6	It was about the doubling of the human lifespan in the last century.
1:16.1	Now Stephen wants to know, can we do it again?
1:19.6	Can we all live to be 150?
1:22.6	Stephen talks with the scientists who are at the forefront of a revolution in the science
1:26.5	of aging.
1:28.0	We may not be able to cure death, but it's looking more likely that new tools will allow
	...

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