Dare to Be 100

According to Dr. Walter M. Bortz, M.D., a clinical associate professor at Stanford's medical school and the author of the bestselling Dare to be 100, living to age 100 is our "natural destiny," our "birthright," and anything less is an "abortion." Strong language? Why, yes it is, though once the good doctor moves beyond the introductory flaming rhetoric, he begins to make a bit more sense. Bortz, a former chair of the American Geriatrics Society, claims that our organs--barring genetic blueprint errors--were made to last at least a hundred years, and there's no reason why--assuming we don't smoke, drink, eat too much red meat, sit on our butts in front of the TV, and so on--we shouldn't be centenarians. Of course, some of us will be struck by "lightning conditions" (by which Bortz means things like getting up close and personal with a Mack truck). Still, a good attitude and smart lifestyle choices will start you in the right direction. And what are those smart lifestyle choices? Well, there's 100 steps and--surprise! surprise!--they're found in Bortz's book (he shares one step on the video, Step 19: "It's possible.") This infommercial aspect is really a shame, because Bortz is actually an eloquent, humorous and savvy guy. (I loved his justification for becoming a beachcomber when he nears the end of his days--good weather; incontinence is not an issue with a washbasin the size of the ocean; and doddering beachcombers mutter to themselves all the time.) I also liked his mini-recipe for the good life at the end of the tape: walk a mile a day, read a book a day, and make love every day and you'll stay limber, sharp, and...ready to procreate at the drop of a pair of knickers, I guess. Regretfully, not recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)