The Life Machines - by Daria Mochly-Rosen & Emanuel Rosen Hardcover

Book Synopsis

Improve your lifelong health and well-being by understanding what mitochondria really do for you, and how through small lifestyle changes, these awe-inspiring powerhouses can better your life.

Have you ever wondered what makes every heartbeat, every thought, and every movement possible? Meet your mitochondria--tiny but mighty organelles that are the true engines of life. These organelles are popularly known as the "powerhouses of the cell," but new research shows that the mitochondria do more than just convert food into energy--they're orchestrators of critical functions that keep you healthy and alive.

This groundbreaking book by a leading scientist from Stanford University School of Medicine and her husband, a bestselling author, is the first to provide a comprehensive yet easy-to-understand look at mitochondria and their vital role in human health. It is based on the premise that healthy mitochondria are the key to healthy cells and, thus, to healthy tissues, healthy organs, and a healthy body. The Life Machines provides practical and fundamental principles that you can use to unlock your body's full potential, answering questions like:

-How does exercise help mitochondria improve your muscles and your brain?
-What nutrients do mitochondria thrive on, and how is your gut microbiome involved?
-How can developing better sleeping habits improve your mitochondrial health?
-Why relaxing and managing stress will reduce damage to your mitochondria?
-How can you protect your mitochondria from toxins in the environment?
-Why mitochondria are the key to healthy aging

We are only as healthy as our mitochondria. Dysfunction of these organelles has been linked to diseases and conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, depression, autism spectrum disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and infertility. Now, the remarkable progress in understanding the mitochondrial role in these ailments will shape the future of medicine.

Packed with surprising facts, you'll read about "mitochondrial Eve" who lived in Africa 200,000 years ago; tiny rotors that spin inside your body at fantastic speed; how cancer cells steal mitochondria from immune cells; how mitochondria help shape a baby's fingers and brain; how mitochondria in your thighs are linked to your cognitive capacity, and more.

Skillfully weaving cutting-edge scientific discoveries, expert testimonies, personal stories, and practical insights, The Life Machines is inspiring and hopeful, empowering you to adopt lifestyle changes that will benefit the smallest--and yet most crucial--parts of the human body.

Review Quotes

"Even if (like me) you haven't thought about mitochondria since high school biology, if you're interested in how your body works and how to stay healthy, this fascinating and accessible book is for you. In recent years scientists have shown that these tiny cellular engines play a big role in maintaining good health, raising the prospect of new mitochondria-targeting treatments for illnesses like heart disease and cancer. Until they arrive, The Life Machines can help you keep your mitochondria happy, and keep yourself healthy."

--Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, author of Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less

"Mitochondria have always intrigued me because evolution suggests they were once ancient bacteria that we somehow internalized for mutual benefit! In the last few years, we have learned they are so much more than energy machines and that they can cause a host of diseases when dysfunctional. Using case studies and cogent descriptions of scientific breakthroughs, The Life Machines explores this mysterious resident of our every cell. It makes for a great read." --Abraham Verghese, author of The Covenant of Water and Cutting for Stone

"In The Life Machines, Daria Mochly-Rosen and Emanuel Rosen offer a compelling, accessible journey into the world of mitochondria and their critical role in health and disease. As someone who lost a child to mitochondrial disease and has spent decades advocating on behalf of such patients, I applaud the authors for illuminating how mitochondrial dysfunction underlies both common illnesses, rare inherited disorders, and even the aging process itself. Their work powerfully bridges scientific insight with public understanding--an essential step toward better awareness, research, and hope for affected families."
--Philip Yeske, PhD, Science & Alliance Officer, United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation

"The emerging field of mitochondrial medicine holds enormous potential to improve human health, enhance longevity, and transform the treatment of age-related diseases. The involvement of mitochondria in health and disease and the future of targeting them is beautifully illustrated in this book." --Nir Barzilai, MD, author of Age Later and President of the Academy for Health & Lifespan Research

"The diverse and critical functions of our mitochondria to promote our health go far beyond being the powerhouse of our cells and what is common knowledge. The Life Machines is the illuminating master class for understanding these vital organelles, and for what we can do to keep them healthy"--Eric Topol MD, author of SUPER AGERS

"This delightful, enthusiastic book will change your life. After getting to know the billions of tiny, fascinating, hard-working, multipurpose mitochondria that keep you alive and healthy, you'll learn how to help your mitochondria thrive and keep you youthful."--Daniel E. Lieberman, Author of Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding

"If you want to live a remarkable life, start by taking care of your mitochondria. The Life Machines is eye-opening, science-backed, and delightfully readable--think of it as a user manual for the powerhouses inside you. You can't be extraordinary if your cells are running on empty."--Guy Kawasaki, Chief evangelist of Canva and host of the Remarkable People podcast

About the Author

Daria Mochly-Rosen is the George D. Smith professor for translational medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. She's passionate about translating scientific discoveries into treatments and demystifying science to help people make educated health decisions. Based on her discoveries, Daria has founded three biotech companies. She has also founded SPARK, a program that focuses on translating scientific innovations to benefit patients. Following the success of the program at Stanford, leading to the formation of over fifty biopharma companies, SPARK now operates in dozens of universities around the world. Daria and Emanuel Rosen are married, live in Menlo Park, California, and have four adult children and three grandchildren.

Emanuel Rosen is a bestselling author whose books have been translated into thirteen languages. Throughout his writing career, he's been focusing on simplifying complex concepts by using plain language and storytelling. He's the author of the national bestseller The Anatomy of Buzz, and the award-winning Absolute Value (with Stanford professor Itamar Simonson). Emanuel was previously vice president of marketing at Niles Software, where he launched the company's flagship product, EndNote. He's presented his work in numerous forums, including at companies such as Google, Intel, and Nike. Emanuel and Daria Mochly-Rosen are married, live in Menlo Park, California, and have four adult children and three grandchildren.