books
mortal coil a short history of living longer
p an obsession with perpetual youth may seem a particularly modern phenomenon but it is a goal that western scientists and philosophers have aspired to and worked towards for the last four hundred years . p mortal coil explores the medical scientific and philosophical theories behind the quest for the prolongation of human life . it was a conundrum that intrigued sir francis bacon and underpinned the scientific revolution ; ideas of ultimate perfectibility indefinite progress and worldly rather than heavenly immortality fed directly into the spirit of the enlightenment and even further into the nineteenth and twentieth centuries . in todays world of genetic research cryonics and nanotechnology we still seek the same elusive philosophers stone . p from adam and eve to human cloning and designer babies from seventeenth century lifestyle guides to science fiction haycocks gripping story introduces an array of fascinating individuals rene descartes benjamin franklin jonathan swift charles darwin and sigmund freud as well as a score of unknown figures . full of extraordinary stories and valuable insights this is a curious witty and captivating exploration into our unceasing desire to live forever .
paperback yale university press 2009 isbn13 9780300158250 isbn10 0300158254
abridged n isbn 13 9780300158250 number in series 1 number of pages 308 publisher yale university press release date 62135769600000