Jellyfish Age Backwards Audiobook By Nicklas Brendborg cover art

Jellyfish Age Backwards

Nature's Secrets to Longevity

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Jellyfish Age Backwards

By: Nicklas Brendborg
Narrated by: Joe Leat
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About this listen

This eye-opening book offers a "clear and captivating" (Dr. Kris Verburgh) scientific deep dive into how plants and animals have already unlocked the secrets to immortality–and the lessons they hold for us all.

Recent advances in medicine and technology have expanded our understanding of aging across the animal kingdom, and our own timeless quest for the fountain of youth. Yet, despite modern humans living longer today than ever before, the public’s understanding of what is possible is limited to our species—until now. In this spunky, effervescent debut, the key to immortality is revealed to be a superpower within reach. With mind-bending stories from the natural world and our own, Jellyfish Age Backwards reveals lifespans we cannot imagine and physiological gifts that feel closer to magic than reality:

  • There is a Greenland shark that was 286 years old when the Titanic sank, and is currently 390, making it older than the United States. Scientists predict it will live for another 100 years.
  • Trees and lobsters don’t “age” in the way we know it. They simply get bigger and bigger.
  • There are forms of radiation that have been known to actually increase the lifespans of certain species, from tortoises to naked mole-rats.
  • There's a species of jellyfish, the size of a fingernail, that can age forwards, then, when threatened, age backwards and begin the process all over again.

Mixing cutting-edge research and stories from habitats all around the world, molecular biologist Nicklas Brendborg explores extended life cycles in all its varieties. Along the way, we meet a man who fasted for over a year; a woman who edited her own DNA; redwoods that survive thousands of years; and in the soil of Easter Island, the key to eternal youth. Jellyfish Age Backwards is a love letter to the immense power of nature, and what the immortal lives of many of earth's animals and plants can teach us about the secrets to longevity.

©2023 Nicklas Brendborg (P)2023 Little, Brown & Company
Biological Sciences Biology Ecology Metaphysics Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Philosophy Science Inspiring Longevity

Critic reviews

Shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize

A New York Times Editor's Choice Pick

A Sunday Times (UK) Best Book of the Year

Fascinating Science • Comprehensive Information • Excellent Narration • Engaging Storytelling • Accessible Explanations
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I found this book to be both interesting and fun. The author is very gifted at describing incredible scientific facts.

Very Engaging

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this book covered a lot of material in an easy to understand but scientific manor. well spoken

learned a lot

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How entertaining! So much to know expertly presented in a light hearted often funny way. Worth the listen

Terrific book

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lots of the stories and data I knew and had heard mentioned in other books but this book is filled with interesting information about aging and medical history and the journey of medical and scientific discovery

easy to listen to, liked the narrator voice, awesome informative and entertaining book

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He touched on so many areas of humankind and how aging is inevitable but there are so many factors that can affect aging. Our diet, exercise, social structure, and even our genetics.
It’s truly worth listening (or reading) to this book. And the narrator is great!

Loved the Theme

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The author is from Denmark and he is very articulate. The presentation is superb. The science is cutting edge. You will learn things that you can use!

Great book on aging

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this is a good book to review strategies for longevity. Outlive is much more comprehensive, but this is worthwhile

Nice summary book

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The author draws together a lot of useful as well as interesting information among all living creatures that point to potential understanding of aging in humans. I will be recommending this to others as well as re-reading myself.

Great Read to Repeat

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I don’t often write reviews, although I listen to tons of audiobooks, but this book was awesome. Very interesting & the narrator was great. I highly recommend it.

Great book! Very informative

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Great compilation on anti - aging stories. Easy to listen to as well. I’d recommend. Narrative was good as well

Loved It

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