Alexandria, VA – Review: Longevity For The Lazy
Publisher: Coco Glendale Lifestyles
Author: Richard Malish MD, FACR, FACC, Col (ret.)
Reviewed by: Ralph Peluso, Literary Editor
Zebra Rating: 5 Stripes
There is an old phrase, “Never judge a book by its cover,” credited to George Eliot. Fitting, because her real name was Mary Ann Evans, a prominent 19th-century English novelist known for works such as Middlemarch and Silas Marner. Longevity for the Lazy, by Richard Malish, sounds light and humorous but tackles a very serious subject, primordial prevention. This refers to strategies for deterring the emergence of risk factors for diseases and promoting overall health and well-being. This approach minimizes the development of unhealthy behaviors or environmental influences that lead to disease and helps form the foundation for good long-term health and future reduced healthcare burdens.
Malish wanted to write Longevity for the Lazy as he began his career in cardiology. He stated in a recent interview, “I was a cardiology fellow at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I didn’t have the time to write the book until I retired from the Army in 2024. The book’s ideas have been circulating in my mind for decades. The book represents my argument in a debate I would often have with patients regarding the necessity of prevention and medications. I never had enough time to express my views and wished that I could refer patients to an easy read like Longevity for the Lazy so that they could quickly and (relatively) painlessly learn what I knew to be true. Longevity for the Lazy is an argument for the prevention of the common causes of death through the early adoption of our current medical medication and technology. It argues for what’s now known as primordial prevention.”
The author’s work, while dealing with a complex issue, is attractive to a broad reader base for good reason. It is very readable, engaging, and fun. Malish simplifies academic bluster with a graphic novel or lifestyle magazine format that includes info-graphics, illustrations, text boxes, conceptual drawings, and some comic strip-type features thrown in. He breaks down complex issues into digestible bites. Malish stated, “I wanted it to be short, consumable, and entertaining.” The author effectively uses quotes from Sun Tzu to Alexander the Great to augment his points.
Longevity for the Lazy is different. The central hypothesis is that humans lack the motivation to adopt major life changes to achieve optimal health and longevity. Other books on this subject assume people fundamentally lack proper knowledge about healthy habits. Malish’s position is that humans know the basics but lack motivation for good diet and exercise, and evolution is the culprit for this laziness.
Richard and his wife, Kate, and daughter, Norah, have lived in Alexandria for more than six years. Kate is a pharmacist in Del Ray. Norah is a talented singer, dancer, and gymnast. And takes delight in performing. Having lived all over the country, the Malish family gladly calls Del Ray their permanent home. During his Army career, Richard helped drive innovative efforts to bring value-based care to beneficiaries. He’s published dozens of articles on healthcare policy and implementation. He continues to support the Department of Defense as a contractor for the Defense Intelligence Agency. He serves as the chief medical director for the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office. His ambition is to create public health policies on a larger scale.
Longevity for the Lazy takes on a complicated subject in a light and engaging manner. It is a refreshingly informative read for humans with a bit of initiative to remain healthy beyond the century mark. 5 Zebra Stripes
