In 'Stillness is the Key', Ryan Holiday explores the concept of inner stillness as a universal principle across different philosophical and religious traditions, including Stoicism, Buddhism, Epicureanism, and more. The book is divided into three sections: stillness of the mind, stillness of the spirit, and stillness of the body. Holiday argues that cultivating stillness allows for better decision-making, increased focus, and a more fulfilling life. He uses anecdotes from historical figures and contemporary examples to illustrate the importance of moderation, patience, and self-awareness in achieving this state of stillness[2][3][5].
This book is a historical biography of the human genome, detailing the scientific quest to understand heredity from ancient times to the present day. It weaves together stories of key scientists such as Gregor Mendel, Charles Darwin, Francis Crick, James Watson, and Rosalind Franklin, along with the author's personal family history of mental illness. The narrative explores the ethical implications of genetic research and its potential to change human fates and identities. Mukherjee's writing combines science, social history, and personal narrative to create a compelling and accessible account of one of the most significant scientific concepts of our time.
In this book, Siddhartha Mukherjee provides a detailed and engaging history of cancer, from its first recorded cases to the latest treatments and research. The book delves into the scientific, medical, and social aspects of cancer, making it a compelling read for both medical professionals and the general public.
In 'Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It', Gary Taubes critiques the 'calories-in, calories-out' model of weight gain, arguing that carbohydrates and insulin play a crucial role in obesity. He presents a low-carbohydrate diet as a solution to maintaining a healthy weight. The book is based on extensive scientific research and historical analysis of nutritional science.
In 'The Laws of Medicine', Siddhartha Mukherjee explores the uncertainties and complexities of medical science through three foundational laws. He emphasizes the role of intuition, the importance of outliers in medical research, and the impact of human bias on medical experiments. The book offers a nuanced perspective on the art and science of medicine.
In 'Malignant', Dr. Vinayak K. Prasad critiques the current state of oncology, highlighting issues such as lax regulatory standards, financial conflicts of interest, and the overemphasis on surrogate endpoints in clinical trials. He argues for reforms to ensure that cancer drugs provide meaningful benefits at lower costs. The book offers insights into how cancer trials are conducted and how drugs are approved, proposing solutions to improve cancer medicine.
In this episode, originally recorded to be the 100th episode of The Drive, Peter discusses topics that he has changed his mind about since starting the podcast as a result of preparing for interviews as well as from the actual conversations. Peter also reviews some of his favorite moments from the first 99 episodes, shares what books he’s currently reading, and much more. Initially scheduled to be released as episode 100, this was delayed due to recent podcasts covering COVID-19.
We discuss:
- Definition of “strong convictions loosely held,” and the value in trying to shoot down your own hypotheses [2:20];
- Metformin—How Peter’s strong convictions have changed since 2018 [8:00];
- Getting a dog—Why Peter caved and how it’s going so far [15:45];
- Rapamycin—How Peter’s feelings have evolved, and the questions still needing to be answered [20:45];
- Archery, the joy of pursuing mastery, and the importance of stillness [26:50];
- Zone 2 training—Why Peter has made it a big component of his exercise regimen [37:30];
- Deadlifts—Why Peter now believes it’s extremely beneficial to longevity when done properly [41:45];
- Read any good books lately? [50:00];
- Baby aspirin for preventing blood clotting—Why Peter no longer takes it, and a few alternative options [53:15];
- Generic drugs—How and why Peter’s mind has shifted on generic drugs [55:45];
- Omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA—How Peter’s long-held views have changed [58:15];
- How Peter got better at saying “no” [1:02:30];
- Does Peter have any favorite episodes of The Drive? [1:07:15]; and
- More.
Learn more: https://peterattiamd.com/ Show notes page for this episode: https://peterattiamd.com/strong-convictions-loosely-held Subscribe to receive exclusive subscriber-only content: https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/ Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/ Connect with Peter on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.
The Peter Attia Drive 
