A Beginner's Guide to Immortality

August 17, 2015
For readers with dreams of evading death, Birmingham offers five possible tactics that would-be immortals have used from prehistory to the present (not that any of them have been successful, exactly). From the search for miracle elixirs to examples of long-lived human and animals, Birmingham offers a wide-ranging look at the myths (vampires, the isle of Tír na nÓg), scientific efforts (cryogenics, the uploading of human brains to robot bodies), and religious traditions surrounding the extension of life, as well as what might await in the afterlife. Holinaty’s cartoon vignettes dot the pages of each color-coded chapter, their playfulness helping underscore the fact that, no matter how much lycopene you ingest or what bargains you make with Zeus, immortality is, for now, still out of reach. Ages 8–12.

August 1, 2015
A matter-of-fact chronicle of the long search for the elixir of life, the philosopher's stone, the fountain of youth, and other means of exceeding our allotted spans. As Birmingham (Tastes Like Music: 17 Quirks of the Brain and Body, 2014) observes, the search has occupied us at least since Gilgamesh found and then lost a certain magical plant. Moving from medieval alchemical concoctions to current research involving telomeres and the FoxO gene, she intersperses myths and folk beliefs, cautionary stories such as the legend of Tithonus (who was granted immortality but not eternal youth), and side looks at Dracula, Harry Potter, Tuck Everlasting, and other modern exemplars. She also catalogs places both real (the so-called Blue Zones) and fictional where death is delayed or banished, looks at promising new longevity techniques from cryogenics to uploading our minds into cloned or artificial bodies, and then closes with an array of afterlifes promised by major world religions. The big question-why we would want to live forever-she saves for a reflective finale. Holinaty's fanciful monochrome illustrations add breezy notes, if not much information, to the narrative's finely balanced mix of fact and generality. A tasty distillation of history, religion, chemistry, biology, technology, and pop culture. (bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 10-13)

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September 1, 2015

Gr 4-7-The quest for everlasting life has long fascinated humankind, and in this entertaining introduction to immortality, Birmingham takes readers on a lively tour of the many ways people have sought to cheat death throughout history. The author infuses the narrative with examples from world mythology and folklore, popular culture, and science, from The Epic of Gilgamesh to modern-day avatars programmed with a person's memories, feelings, and thoughts. Exploring topics such as the legendary philosopher's stone, cryonics, telomeres in our DNA, and cloning, the book effectively maintains a matter-of-fact tone throughout while simultaneously mixing in eye-opening and engaging facts. Colorful illustrations add an air of quirkiness and complement the text. The focus is squarely upon the how of immortality, with no discussion about humankind's reason for seeking out eternal life. VERDICT A visually striking, thought-provoking look at a topic that will encourage further investigation.-Audrey Sumser, Kent State University at Tuscarawas, New Philadelphia, OH

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2015
Grades 3-6 Rare is the topic that combines mythology, science, history, and modern-day marvels, but as author Birmingham proves, immortality is the issue that can do just that. Although this is a short book, there's a little bit of something for everyone. Birmingham offers up immortality options from the laughably preposterous (like alchemy) to the mysterious (blue zones, or regional populations with an unusually high life expectancy) to the increasingly plausible (cloning). In a humorous tone, reminiscent of Georgia Bragg's How They Croaked (2011), the chapters cover a broad range of topics on the subject of living forever, such as the fountain of youth, vampires, uploading human brains into robots, and several versions of the afterlife, while the sidebars and fact boxes elaborate even further. Holinaty's illustrations, scattered throughout the pages, are cartoonish and playful, complementing the humor found in the text. This fun, enjoyable read manages to inform and entertaina combination perhaps as rare as the fountain of youthand will be a welcome addition to both school and public libraries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)