ISBN: 9781921966736

The Longevity List

USD $17.99 Tax Included

Myth busting the top ways to live a long and healthy life

Every day we’re bombarded by often-contradictory advice on what to do to keep ourselves healthy. How can we separate fact from fad? Written by a medical clinician, this is the ultimate myth-busting guide to what will really help us live a long and healthy life.

Along the way you’ll discover stacks of intriguing, entertaining and often very funny facts. It’s the one-stop checklist to living a life that might just see you reach your 100th birthday and beyond!

SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 229 x 152  mm / 9 x 6 Inches | Black & White | 352 Pages |

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Merlin Thomas MBChB, PhD, FRACP is Professor of Medicine at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Professor Thomas is both a physician and a research scientist. His research primarily focuses on diabetes and its complications, and finding practical means for their control, but he has a broader interest in all aspects of preventive medicine and ageing. He has published over 300 articles in many of the world’s leading medical journals, as well as several books including Understanding Type 2 Diabetes and Fast Living, Slow Ageing. He is internationally recognized as a speaker, opinion-leader, teacher and medical storyteller.

Red wine is good for us. Alcohol is bad for us. Cut out sugar. Eat less fat. Eat more fat. Every day we’re bombarded by often-contradictory advice on what to do to keep ourselves healthy. How can we separate fact from fad? Written by a medical clinician, this is the ultimate myth-busting guide to what will really help us live a long and healthy life. Professor Thomas looks at each item on the ‘longevity list’ in turn, analysing why it’s come to be considered a health priority, and giving his scientifically backed verdict on how much attention we really need to pay to it. You’ll learn everything from why taking statins to lower LDL cholesterol might not be a good idea for everyone with higher than desirable levels, to whether there’s a connection between donating blood regularly and living a longer life. Along the way you’ll discover stacks of intriguing, entertaining and often very funny facts. Why do people get drunk more quickly on champagne? Is caffeine really a performance-enhancing drug? Can chocolate improve your sex life? This is the one-stop checklist to living a life that might just see you reach your 100th birthday and beyond!

Yours Magazine, November 2017
“explores how to live better for longer”. – Click here to view the double page feature.


Travel Writers Radio, November 2017
Click here and here to listen to the two part interview of Merlin debunking the most common health myths.


Talking Lifestyle, October 2017
Interviewed by Ed Philips, “an amazing book” – Click here to view. 


Woman’s Day Magazine, October 2017
“Five Health Myths challenged” – Click here to view.


Business Day (Stuff), October 2017
Australian professor of medicine Merlin Thomas has just published The Longevity List, a book designed to show people how to live a long and healthy life. His conclusion is superfood fads are “mostly a marketing ploy” and “those who take vitamins and other nutritional supplements often end up with worse health outcomes than those who do not”.Read the full feature here.


Life & Style (Stuff), October 2017
Thomas says when people feel connected and in a relationship it creates a magical chemistry. “How do you put that in a pill or in a diet? But it really matters.” Elsewhere in the book, Thomas deconstructs popular thoughts and understandings around health. Read the full feature here.


Taste Magazine, October 2017
Featured a 2 page extract in the October issue – Click here to view.


Nourish Magazine, October 2017
Featured a 5 page extract in the October issue – Click here to view.


Today Show, September 2017

Longevity List as featured on Today Show

Merlin joined Karl, Lisa and Richard on the Today Show to talk about his new book The Longevity ListClick here to watch the segement!


Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Canberra Times, plus online via Good Food , September 2017

Featured an extensive interview with the author, Prof Merlin Thomas

“The Longevity List, a new book that explains how the right choices – including what we eat – can boost our odds of living longer.” – Click here to read.


ABC The Night Life, September 2017
“What does it take to live a long and healthy life? Professor Merlin Thomas, author of The Longevity List, is our guest tonight to sort out the fact from the fiction when it comes to the things that really make a difference.” – Click here to listen


ABC Sydney, September 2017
“debunks the myths around living a long healthy life” – Click here to listen


ABC Central Coast Breakfast, September 2017
“it is great to be able to communicate science in a friendly, interesting way, this book busts a lot of myths but is also is a rollicking good read” – Click here to listen


SA Weekend, September 2017
“Should I cut down on alcohol? An Aussie professor’s new book on living longer separates fact from fairy tale” – Click here to read in full. 


2UE Talking Lifestyle, September 2017
“the magic formula to living longer” – Click here to listen


ABC Brisbane, September 2017
Click here to listen


ABC Darwin, September 2017
Click here to listen


Radio NZ, September 2017
Professor Merlin Thomas joined Radio NZ Nine, talking with Kathryn Ryan about his latest book The Longevity List. Listen in here.


FiveAA Evenings, September 2017
“a real gem” – Click here to listen


Active Retirees, August 2017
“The Longevity List is a new book that explores the common wisdom many of us adhere to in the hopes of improving our health, and whether or not adages like ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ have any basis in fact.” – Click here to view.

Click here to download Chapter 2 of The Longevity List or view below.

The West End Magazine, November 2017
“Just like the content, the chapters are filled with good humour, including titles such as ‘Do I Really Have to: Get off the Couch? Find Love? Lose the Waist?’ … The Longevity List is set to bring good cheer while informing readers with fact-based opinions”


Daily Mail, November 2017
‘Cut back on chocolate. Cut down on caffeine. Cut out the booze. These are the first things many of us do to lose weight and feel better. But is it really necessary for a long and healthy life? Decide for yourself after reading the fascinating science behind our little vices, as revealed in a new book by Merlin Thomas, a leading professor of medicine.’
Click here to view.


Blue Wolf Reviews, October 2017
“Professor Merlin Thomas takes a number of the wonderful myths and realities of the longevity quest and places them firmly under the spotlight of common sense, exploding many, concurring on some and laughing at others, but all the while delivering a good dose of reality on how we choose to live, exercise and eat.” – Click here to view.


Saga Magazine, October 2017
“There is so much contradictory information about increasing lifespan. Red wine is good for you. Don’t drink alcohol. Cut out fats. Eat good fats. This engaging book provides the facts about the effectiveness of lifestyle trends such as quitting sugar, reducing booze and eating more veg, and pinpoints what really makes a difference to long-term health. It also demystifies concerns such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Sensible stuff.”


Australian Nurisng and Midwife Journal, September 2017
The Longevity List takes a light-hearted and entertaining approach looking at the evidence of the wealth of health information we are bombarded with. A physician and research scientist, Thomas aims to sort the medical fact from health industry myths – and provides his scientifically backed verdict.”

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Understanding Type 2 Diabetes

USD $24.99 Tax Included

Fewer Highs, Fewer Lows, Better Health

In this essential resource for any diabetes sufferer, Professor Merlin Thomas from the world-renowned Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute offers clear, effective guidance on how to manage all aspects of the disease.

The book examines what diabetes is and how it comes about. It describes the many practical changes you can make to your diet, while also looking at physical activity and the different ways exercise can be used to maintain and improve your health.

The book also explores the medical aspects of diabetes care, including the best ways to achieve control of your waistline, blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and how to avoid major complications. Individual chapters look at the effects of diabetes on the heart, vision, feet, kidneys, bladder, mind, mood, sleep and sex — all critically important areas for sufferers wanting to maintain optimum health.

SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 198 x 129 mm / 7 ¾ x 5 Inches | 336 Pages |