Ageless Body, Timeless Mind; Deepak Chopra (Harmony Books, 1993) ***

I'm a longtime skeptic when it comes to self-help books and most of the New Age writings, but I'd read some interesting things about Depak Chopra and since the Sixties I've always had at least a passing interest in Asian philosophy and religion. And with my background in physics and astronomy, the sub-title, 'The Quantum Alternative to Growing Old' was intriguing (as well as the fact that I'm not getting any younger).

Although it's a mixture of medical science (Chopra is a licensed medical doctor), physical science (only a smattering) and Eastern medical and meditation practices, I found the book informative, up-to-date, and a worthwhile read. Within the book there are summaries of numerous medical studies, usually followed by Chopra's connecting them to his own beliefs and those of Eastern medicine. This is sometimes followed by a questionnaire or a list of recommended activities for the reader. The philosophical concept of timeless existence and methods to at least slow down the aging process are two primary themes throughout this book. His outlook on aging is quite positive compared to the Western norm, and may change your own attitude about 'getting old'.

I can't say that I buy into some of his suggestions, particularly from Eastern medicine, but I came away from this book feeling that I had learned something, and with a somewhat different outlook on existence and on aging, and with a resolve to at least be more open-minded about alternative medical and health practices.