How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger and Gene Stone
by M.D. FACLM Michael Greger, Gene Stone
At a glance
First published2015
Audiobook19h · Michael Greger
AudienceAdult
About the Author
M.D. FACLM Michael Greger, Gene Stone1 book reviewed
How Not to Die
Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger and Gene Stone
by M.D. FACLM Michael Greger, Gene Stone
LuvemBooks Verdict
Best for
Health-motivated readers who want a rigorous, peer-reviewed, disease-by-disease case for whole-food, plant-based eating — and are ready to commit to nearly nineteen hours of densely evidenced argument rather than a quick prescriptive plan.
Worth it if
You want a thoroughly researched, science-grounded foundation for rethinking your diet and are willing to engage with a structured, reference-style book that covers all fifteen leading causes of disease-related death plus a wide sweep of updated lifestyle topics.
Skip if
You're looking for a balanced survey of competing dietary philosophies, a light quick-start guide, or a shorter read — the book is unapologetically partisan toward one dietary framework and exhaustive in its depth.
4.7from 28,889 Amazon ratings— reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score
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How Not to Die: Revised and Updated is a rigorously evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle reference by physician Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM, and co-author Gene Stone, arguing that the fifteen leading causes of disease-related death are largely preventable through diet and lifestyle choices. Now expanded for its tenth anniversary with new research on COVID-19, mental health, air pollution, and cancer screening, it is an ideal resource for readers who want a peer-reviewed, disease-by-disease case for whole-food, plant-based eating — narrated in the audiobook by Greger himself. The key caveat: this is a deep, nearly nineteen-hour commitment built around a single dietary philosophy, not a quick-start guide or a balanced survey of competing nutritional frameworks.
- Is it worth reading?
- For readers who want a rigorous, research-grounded foundation for dietary decision-making, How Not to Die: Revised and Updated delivers substantively — it is a New York Times bestseller with a decade of established readership and has now been expanded with new research on topics ranging from pandemic prevention to mental health and cancer screening. The disease-by-disease architecture makes a dense body of science concrete and navigable, and Greger's standing as a physician with no commercial sponsors or brand partnerships lends the work notable credibility. The key caveat is that the book argues strongly for one dietary framework — whole-food, plant-based eating — rather than presenting a balanced survey of competing nutrition perspectives, which is a feature for its intended audience but a friction point for readers expecting pluralism. Those seeking a lighter, more prescriptive approach may find the volume of scientific context more than they need.
- Who should read this?
- How Not to Die: Revised and Updated is designed for adults who want a rigorous, evidence-based foundation for dietary and lifestyle decision-making — particularly those motivated by preventing or managing chronic disease. It rewards readers who are comfortable with dense scientific context presented in a structured, reference-style format and who are open to the book's whole-food, plant-based point of view. It is especially well-suited to those who have already been curious about plant-based nutrition and want peer-reviewed justification rather than anecdote. Readers expecting a quick-start guide, a simple meal plan, or a balanced survey of competing dietary philosophies will likely find a mismatch with the book's ambition and depth.
- Similar books
- Readers drawn to How Not to Die: Revised and Updated for its evidence-based case for plant-based eating and disease prevention will find strong company in Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, which similarly challenges conventional nutrition wisdom with a research-informed argument, and T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II's The China Study, one of the foundational texts linking diet to chronic disease. For a more practical, plant-forward approach, How Not to Diet — Greger's follow-up focused specifically on weight loss — is a natural next read. Dean Ornish's work on reversing heart disease through lifestyle also shares the book's conviction that chronic illness is largely preventable. Those interested in the gut-health dimension of nutrition may find The Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body's Most Underrated Organ by Giulia Enders a complementary entry point.
- What are the main themes?
- The book's central theme is dietary empowerment: the idea that lifestyle and food choices — not genetic fate — are the primary drivers of whether individuals develop the fifteen leading causes of disease-related death. A second major theme is the democratization of science: Greger's stated mission, reflected in his donation of all book proceeds to charity and his work at the free nonprofit NutritionFacts.org, is to make peer-reviewed nutrition guidance widely accessible rather than commercially mediated. The revised edition broadens these themes to encompass mental health (depression and food), environmental health (air pollution, forest bathing), and pandemic preparedness (COVID-19), positioning diet and lifestyle as relevant to wellbeing far beyond the traditional chronic-disease categories.
- Is the author independent or does he have financial conflicts?
- The review highlights that Michael Greger's work is grounded in his nonprofit NutritionFacts.org, which operates without commercial sponsors or brand partnerships — a notable contrast to much of the nutrition advice ecosystem. Greger also donates 100 percent of the proceeds he receives from his books to charity, a fact his publisher highlights as context for his stated mission of making science-based nutrition guidance freely and widely available. These factors are relevant to readers assessing the independence of the book's recommendations.
- How is the audiobook experience?
- The audiobook edition of How Not to Die: Revised and Updated, released December 9, 2025 by Macmillan Audio, is narrated by Greger himself — a significant asset, as the book's persuasive force depends heavily on his direct, energetic voice and the authority of a physician presenting his own research synthesis. At nearly nineteen hours in its unabridged form, it demands sustained commitment and may feel exhaustive for casual listeners. For readers who engage well with long-form audio and want to absorb a dense, evidence-heavy argument at length, the combination of Greger's own narration and the updated content makes the audiobook a compelling format choice.
Summarize this book
Is it worth reading?
Who should read this?
What are the main themes?
Is the author independent or does he have financial conflicts?
How is the audiobook experience?
Summarize this book
How Not to Die: Revised and Updated makes the case that the fifteen leading causes of disease-related death are, for the most part, preventable through diet and lifestyle. Physician Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM, draws on peer-reviewed scientific literature to identify specific foods, exercise habits, and lifestyle choices designed to prevent — and in some cases reverse — chronic disease, organizing the argument disease by disease before presenting his practical dietary framework. Co-written with Gene Stone and now expanded for its tenth anniversary, the revised edition adds substantive new sections on COVID-19 and pandemic prevention, depression and food, air pollution, forest bathing, cancer screening risks and benefits, and more. The book's animating thesis, in Greger's own words: 'Whatever genes we may have inherited from our parents, what we eat can affect how those genes affect our health. The power is mainly in our hands and on our plates.'
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Age & Reading Level
Recommended age
Adult
Reading level
Adult
Skip if You want a balanced survey of competing dietary philosophies rather than a deep, single-framework argument for whole-food, plant-based eating.
Editorial Review
How Not to Die: Revised and Updated is a New York Times bestseller by physician Michael Greger, M.D.…
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