Adventure may hurt you, but monotony will kill you.
And so, begins the candid and inspiring journey of Dr. Akil Taher, who not only talks a
Adventure may hurt you, but monotony will kill you.
And so, begins the candid and inspiring journey of Dr. Akil Taher, who not only talks about his past, the obstacles he faced but also the steps he took to overcome them and convert them into opportunities.
My first encounter with both this book and the author, Dr. Akil Taher, was in LinkedIn where I came across a very interesting interview where the author described, in brief, his incredible journey from a heart patient to someone who not only overcame it but went onto rise up to heights that very few can dream of achieving. I was curious wanted to read this journey of his and when I was granted that wish, I was elated.
One of the striking elements about this book is the honesty that flows through it, which is both refreshing and quite charming. While writing about such life changing moments, it is quite difficult to be truthful, especially when you are a doctor, but not Dr. Taher, his sincerity can be seen throughout the book. Not only does he talk about his belief that he won’t be affected by any disease, but he also goes about describing his thoughts when he was diagnosed with one.
I could have retired immediately, sat on my rocking chair all day, lived vicariously through my children and grandchild, and resigned myself to the inevitability of eventual death. Instead, I chose to live life to the fullest, turning a setback into an opportunity.
The book describes how Dr. Taher converted a setback into an opportunity by using the diagnosis as a motivator to live a better life. His incredible journey involves running a marathon, climbing mountains, participating in a triathlon and many more such activities which are usually not recommended to patients who have had a by-pass surgery much less to one who is above 60 years of age. Not only does he defy and change the usual outcome of such setbacks but also proves that age is but a number and has no impact on how to live. He also proves that by making small changes to your lifestyle you can live not only a healthy life but a complete one. This book is not only motivating to those who are suffering from illness but also to those who want to live a better life but don’t know how to do so.
While I was devouring this book, I couldn’t help but feel that it was a tad too brief. Even as I was enjoying Dr. Taher’s journey, I kept wanting more, for instance a little bit more detail on his thoughts, his struggle and his feeling of accomplishment on his small victories or even his despair while not being able to get to some in the early days. While he does share some of his experiences I felt that it was too rushed. He jumps from one experience to another without allowing the reader to enjoy the previous one. While brevity is to be appreciated, I felt that a little more description would have suited me better.
Another issue that I had with the book were the two different voices that the author used in writing the book. Almost the entire book is written in first person, but the last chapter was written as a doctor. While this by itself is not an issue as the doctor by wanting to emphasize on the importance whole food, plant-based diet thought it better to use a doctor’s voice rather than a personal one, I felt that a personal touch along with the doctor’s voice would have been better. Not to take away anything from the chapter as I truly feel that it provides some great arguments for adopting the said diet, but I felt that it lacked the personal touch that the other chapters have and is therefore quite clinical in nature. Personally, I would have loved to read more about how the doctor felt while changing his diet and following a completely different routine as that would have made it more relatable. However, despite this, I have to emphasize that it doesn’t take away anything from this book, which is truly fascinating.
Heart disease is a major cause of death in the US. India and other countries.
Health has always been a very important aspect, but it is more so today given the situation that has gripped the world. And where we talk about health, the heart can never be too far away. The large percentage of this is due to the unhealthy diet and sedentary life that people have adopted in the past several decades. This book reflects on how to overcome these difficulties, convert them into opportunities and live a wholesome life. It motivates us to not only stay healthy but to dream and achieve things that we thought were beyond our reach. In today’s world, this gem of a book is a must read for everyone. So, what are you waiting for, go ahead and pick up this small gem of a book, it is definitely worth it.
This is an honest review in exchange for an author review copy....more
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