“An illuminating exploration of the rich and varied history—and myriad health benefits—of fasting . . . Mr. Hendricks, a freelance reporter, is a deft stylist . . . and he excels at describing the experience of going without food . . .”
The Wall Street Journal

“[A] thought-provoking survey . . . The author weaves a fascinating personal narrative . . . with a comprehensive history of the practice, from prehistoric humans who fasted from necessity up to modern-day clinics that use it. While enthusiastic, Hendricks is careful not to oversell fasting’s benefits . . . and he pulls no punches when highlighting flaws in research, as with studies that emphasize ‘profit rather than health.’ His levelheaded, irreverent approach and sharp reporting set the book apart. The result is a winning mix of captivating storytelling and fascinating science.”
Publishers Weekly

“Hendricks’s book is a remarkable blend of authoritative history, illuminating science, and endearing storytelling. In The Oldest Cure in the World, Hendricks gives us the wonders of fasting—too long neglected by doctors and scientists, too often misunderstood by most of us, yet so potent a therapy—with marvelous clarity, page-turning crispness, and appealing humanity.”
Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies

“Steve Hendricks set himself the Herculean task of weaving together the long history and deep science of fasting with his own revealing self-experiments—and has succeeded brilliantly in turning out a captivating tale. The Oldest Cure in the World is an engrossing tour de force and offers a bona fide strategy for slowing the aging process.”
Dan Buettner, New York Times–bestselling author of The Blue Zones