{"product_id":"9781912475025","title":"Immortality: Live Forever or Die Trying","description":"\u003cp\u003eMan’s futile, sometimes pathetic, attempts at tricking death are as old as anything. Some will claim that this is the reason man invented Gods – the idea that everything would be transient, fleeting, and constantly deteriorating seems to have been too unbearable. And so today, like in the past but with better resources, some people commit their efforts not to the betterment of our species’ lifespan, but to doing away with lifespans altogether.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book tells the fascinating story of the reach for immortality through the ages, from tribal elixirs to Panacea, and from present-day cryonics to science fiction virtual immortality. Guy Weress, with impressive clarity and a wealth of both historical knowledge and contemporary research, sheds light on:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eImmortality cults\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eThe famous story of Henrietta Lacks and her undying genes\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eThe philosophical questions surrounding death\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eDivine and mythical immortality\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003ePresent-day immortality and transhumanism gurus like Aubrey deGrey and Ray Kurzweil\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eHow much does immortality cost?\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eThe social downsides of immortality\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eSilicon Valley and virtual immortality\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom an evolutionary perspective, immortality is a non-issue: having children solves it; from a philosophical perspective, many argue that biological infinity would strip life off its meaning. And from a sustainability perspective, immortality, at least for large numbers of people, is simply impractical. And yet, it’s precisely going against perceived wisdoms and what appears to be insurmountable that has spurred human innovation and advancement. This book is a brilliant look at every question, and answer, surrounding this age-old obsession.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Urtext Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47062097494256,"sku":"9781912475025","price":9.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781912475025_p0.jpg?v=1763631588","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781912475025","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}