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"Utterly fascinating." - Bill Bryson "An incredible journey." - Siddhartha Mukherjee A groundbreaking exploration of the science of aging and mortality - from Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist Venki Ramakrishnan The knowledge of death is so terrifying that we live most of our lives in denial of it. Throughout human history - from the immortal afterlife of Judeo-Christian thought to the cycle of reincarnation posited by many Eastern religions - we have developed beliefs that allow us to avoid recognizing its finality. One of the most difficult moments of childhood must be when each of us first realizes that not only we but all our loved ones will die - and there is nothing we can do about it. Or at least, there hasn't been.