Book Review
Chris Crowley
Dr Henry Lodge
Younger Next Year
BOOK REVIEW - CHRIS CROWLEY - DR HENRY LODGE - YOUNGER NEXT YEAR - AGING
Younger Next Year - Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy Until You're 80 and Beyond – is the Chris Crowley book and Henry Lodge book that provides a compelling guide on longevity, aging actively and healthily. It promotes enhanced retirement lifestyle, strong retirement health and ultimately longevity. Doctor Lodge observed that his patients aged in their fifties, sixties and seventies were often overweight, out of shape, apathetic, and seriously sick or injured. This book challenges conventional biological decay and presents the "new science of aging" that suggests we don't have to age significantly for decades, offering the possibility of living like fifty into our eighties.
Black Friday
Early book deals
Black Friday early deals
Travel Tech
CHRIS CROWLEY BOOKS & DR HENRY LODGE BOOKS
Younger Next Year - Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy - Until You're 80 and Beyond
Younger Next Year for Women
Thinner This Year - A Younger Next Year Book
Younger Next Year - The Exercise Program
The Younger Next Year Back Book - The Whole-Body Plan to Conquer Back Pain Forever
“The keys to overriding the decay code are daily exercise, emotional commitment, reasonable nutrition and a real engagement with living. But it starts with exercise”
KEY TAKEAWAYS - LONGEVITY THROUGH EXERCISE, NUTRITION AND PEOPLE
Exercise Six Days a Week
To counteract natural decay then serious, consistent exercise is essential as you age. The body is constantly choosing between growing and decaying based on the signals it receives; sedentary behavior sends a "decay" message, while vigorous exercise sends a "grow" message. Exercise triggers processes involving chemical messengers like C-6 (inflammation) and C-10 (cytokines that control repair and growth). Consistency is emphasized over intensity, especially when starting. The program involves both aerobic exercise (focused on endurance and infrastructure growth like blood vessels and mitochondria) and strength training (focused on power and coordination, essential for daily movements and preventing falls). The authors of Younger Next Year strongly advocate using a heart rate monitor for aerobic training to ensure you're working in the correct zones (e.g., fat-burning zone below 65% max heart rate, or higher for more intense training). For strength training, they recommend two days a week, stressing the importance of proper form (ideally with a trainer initially) and pushing muscles to fatigue to stimulate cellular damage and subsequent growth.
Prioritize Smart Nutrition by Quit Eating Crap!
The authors bluntly recommend elimination of foods high in solid fats, added sugars, and excessive salt. This includes most fast food (called "gardens of evil"), processed snacks, "white foods" (refined carbs like white bread, rice, potatoes), and excessive sugar. Refined carbs cause rapid spikes and drops in blood sugar and insulin, leading to hyperabsorption of calories, fat storage, and continuous hunger, contributing to problems like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. They recommend focusing on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which provide fiber and micronutrients. They distinguish between good fats (unsaturated fats found in fish, nuts, vegetable oils) and bad fats (saturated fats common in the modern diet). "Good nutrition happens in the supermarket, not in the kitchen" urges readers to make healthy choices before they even get home.
Aging Well Through Deep Connections and Commitments
The book Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley and Dr Henry Lodge stresses social and emotional needs, being crucial non-physical aspects of aging well. Humans are "pack animals," meaning maintaining strong relationships with partners, friends, or even pets are biologically important. Engaging in activities, projects, or volunteer work that provides purpose and social interaction is also key to staying nourished emotionally and mentally, countering the potential isolation of retirement. Loneliness and lack of connection are presented as detrimental to health, while social contact, caring for others (altruism), and being cared for produce positive biochemical responses like serotonin, which counter stress hormones.
“For those who are given to excess, abstinence is easier than moderation”
PERSPECTIVE OF AUTHORS
Crowley is a lawyer who began implementing these principles in his sixties. He provides the personal, often humorous, and sometimes blunt narrative voice. He admits to being an "indifferent athlete," initially overweight, and "hardwired for pleasure", making his success with the program relatable. His voice is conversational, anecdotal, and motivating, using analogies and personal stories to make the points land. He is the "demo model" and the driving force behind initiating the book project.
Dr. Henry S. Lodge is a board-certified internist and gerontologist. He is described as younger than Crowley, quiet, perhaps a bit "nerdy" but deeply knowledgeable in recent developments in cellular and evolutionary biology. His chapters explain the "biology of growth and decay", the science behind exercise, nutrition, and the limbic brain/emotion. While acknowledging the complexity of the science, his aim is to make it accessible and persuasive.
Their combined perspective offers a potent mix: the practical experience of someone who has lived the principles and achieved remarkable results, coupled with the scientific foundation from a respected medical expert.
BOOK STRENGTHS – EMPOWERING, SCIENTIFIC GUIDANCE ON LONGEVITY AND AGING
Science-Backed Philosophy
By grounding its lifestyle recommendations in evolutionary biology and cellular processes, the book Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley and Dr Henry Lodge offers a powerful and compelling reason to make changes beyond simply looking or feeling better. The idea that you are literally signaling your body to grow or decay based on your actions provides a strong motivational framework.
Holistic Approach
The book recognizes that health and aging well are not just about physical fitness. By incorporating sections on nutrition, emotional well-being, social connection, purpose, and even personal economy, it provides a comprehensive guide to thriving in the later decades of life. The emphasis on the biological importance of caring and connecting is particularly insightful and often overlooked in similar books on longevity and aging.
Motivational Tone
Crowley's direct, no-excuses, yet self-deprecating voice is highly effective for many readers. Phrases like "Suck it up, be a guy, do your job" or the blunt assessment of unhealthy choices resonate with a certain audience. The stories of readers who have transformed their lives serve as powerful inspiration.
Practical Guidance
Despite the big-picture science, the book provides actionable steps. It outlines Harry's Rules clearly, offers a sample exercise program, gives concrete tips for avoiding unhealthy food, and stresses the importance of tools like heart rate monitors and logbooks. The detail on specific exercises (like the Squat or Single-Leg Squat) adds further practical value.
Empowering Message
The core message is that aging is not a passive process dictated solely by genes (which are only "maybe twenty percent of it") but is largely within our control. This empowers readers to take charge of their health and future.
Authentic Partnership
The alternating voices of the layman and the doctor feel genuine and reinforce each other. Crowley's personal journey validates Lodge's scientific principles.
BOOK WEAKNESSES - INTELLECTUAL CONCEPTS RATHER THAN CHECKLIST ACTIONS
Scientific Simplification
While lauded as a strength for accessibility, the admitted simplification of the science means readers looking for in-depth biological explanations may find it wanting. The mechanisms are presented in broad strokes.
Rigidity of Rules
The insistence on "six days a week, serious exercise" can feel daunting or even discouraging to someone just starting or facing significant physical limitations. While they offer a scaled approach, the initial presentation is quite rigid. The "no exceptions" stance might not be suitable for everyone and could lead some to give up entirely if they can't meet the demanding schedule.
Bluntness and Tone
Crowley's candid and sometimes gruff tone, while motivating for some, might be off-putting to others. His generalizations about "guys" or his harsh descriptions of people out of shape may be perceived as insensitive or alienating. His self-proclaimed lack of discipline in some areas (drinking, spending, clothes) might undermine his credibility for some readers, although he presents it as part of his relatable journey.
Less Detail on Non-Physical Aspects
While the book covers caring, connecting, and committing, the practical advice in these areas is less structured and detailed than the exercise guidance. The authors acknowledge this, noting these areas are harder to provide fixed prescriptions for. For readers struggling most with loneliness or finding purpose, the guidance might feel less concrete.
“You can choose to live like fifty until you’re in your eighties”
WHO SHOULD READ THE BOOK?
The book Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley and Dr Henry Lodge is explicitly aimed at men in their fifties, sixties, and beyond, particularly those who have been relatively successful in their careers but may have let their physical health slide. It speaks directly to the experience of facing the realities of aging and retirement. However, the principles are broadly applicable, and the authors note that the book can matter even more to single people. The existence of a version for women suggests the core message resonates across gender, though the original's tone and anecdotes are clearly geared towards a male perspective. Those with an interest in biology may find the scientific explanations particularly engaging.
WHAT ARE SIMILAR BOOKS ON LONGEVITY & AGING?
Peter Attia - Bill Gifford - Outlive - The Science and Art of Longevity
Casey Means - Good Energy - The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health
Vonda Wright - Unbreakable - A Womans Guide to Aging with Power
Mark Hyman - Young Forever - The Secrets to Living Your Longest, Healthiest Life
Hector Garcia - Ikigai - The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
Mariza Synder - The Perimenopause Revolution - Reclaim Your Hormones, Metabolism & Energy
Kerry Burnight - Joyspan - The Art and Science of Thriving in Life's Second Half
Gabrielle Lyon - Forever Strong - A New Science-Based Strategy for Aging Well
Eric Topol - Super Agers - An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity
Dan Buettner - The Blue Zones Kitchen - 100 Recipes to Live to 100
Dan Buettner - The Blue Zones - Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who Have Lived the Longest
Dan Buettner - The Blue Zones Solution - Eating and Living Like the Worlds Healthiest People
John Mackey - The Whole Foods Diet - The Lifesaving Plan for Health and Longevity
Howard Luks - Longevity Simplified - Living A Longer Healthier Life Shouldnt Be Complicated
Alan Castel - Better with Age - The Psychology of Successful Aging
HOW IS THE BOOK DISTINCTIVE?
The Core Biological Argument
The strongest differentiation of the book Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley & Dr Henry Lodge is the concept that decay is not an inevitable consequence of "normal aging” but a biological choice influenced by lifestyle. This reframes aging from a passive decline to an active process that can be managed by sending the correct biological signals.
Complimentary co-author profiles
The collaboration between a successful layman living the program and a doctor explaining the science provides a unique, relatable, and credible voice that sets it apart from books written solely by medical professionals or personal trainers.
Emphasis on Exercise as Signaling
The book doesn't just tell you to exercise; it explains why in biological terms, focusing on how different types and intensities of exercise send specific "grow" or "repair" messages to the body's cells.
Integration of Limbic Health
The significant attention given to the biological imperative for social connection, caring, and commitment, linking it directly to the limbic system and overall health, is more prominent than in many other health or fitness books aimed at this demographic. It elevates relationships and purpose from mere "nice-to-haves" to biological necessities.
The "Until 80 and Beyond" Promise
The ambitious goal articulated in the subtitle – living strong, fit, and sexy until 80 and beyond – distinguishes it from books that might focus simply on slowing decline. It promotes the idea of continued vitality and quality of life late into old age.
CONCLUSION – YOUNGER NEXT YEAR - LIVE STRONG, FIT AND SEXY UNTIL YOU’RE 80 AND BEYOND
"Younger Next Year" is more than just a health or fitness book. It's a manifesto for actively choosing how you will live the last third of your life. Its central, empowering message is that decay is optional, and much of what we consider normal aging and good longevity can be prevented or reversed by adhering to fundamental biological rules. The book's strength lies in its compelling blend of personal testimony and accessible science, motivating readers to make significant lifestyle changes – primarily daily exercise and mindful nutrition – not just for vanity, but because they are essential biological signals for growth and health. The book's holistic approach to well-being, emphasizing the crucial role of relationships and purpose alongside physical health, provides a powerful and actionable roadmap.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are "Harry's Rules"?
Dr. Henry S. Lodge, referred to as Harry, provides a set of core rules for living the "Younger Next Year" program. These rules are presented as the fundamental principles for achieving functional youth and a better quality of life in later years.
Rule 1: Exercise six days a week for the rest of your life. This is presented as a non-negotiable, mandatory commitment, especially after age fifty.
Rule 2: Do serious aerobic exercise four days a week for the rest of your life. Aerobic exercise is seen as critical for sending "grow" signals to override decay.
Rule 3: Do serious strength training, with weights, two days a week for the rest of your life. Strength training is highlighted as being incredibly important for feeling good and staying healthy, addressing a different set of issues than aerobic exercise.
Rule 4: Spend less than you make. This rule relates to personal economy and financial planning for retirement, urging a realistic assessment of income and adjustment of lifestyle to live within those means.
Rule 5: Quit eating crap! This refers to making conscious choices about nutrition, focusing on eliminating unhealthy foods rather than strict dieting.
Rule 6: Care. This is a broader rule encompassing caring about your own life, exercise, and nutrition, but also caring about things beyond oneself, aspiring to "higher caring" for the greater good.
Rule 7: Connect and commit. This rule emphasizes the crucial importance of social connection and involvement with other people, groups, and causes.
Why is exercise, particularly "Harry's First Rule," considered so important?
Exercise is presented as a foundational and transformative element of the "Younger Next Year" program. While the authors mention other important aspects like nutrition, social connection, and financial health, exercise is introduced early and stressed repeatedly as the great key to aging. The sources explain that exercise is essential for communicating a constant "grow" message to your body's cells, overriding the natural biological tide of decay that picks up around age fifty. Biologically, there is only growth or decay, and your body looks to you to choose. Exercise is the language your body understands to tell it to get stronger, more limber, and functionally younger.
What does the book say about nutrition and Harry's Rule #5, "Quit eating crap!"?
The book emphasizes that nutrition is a critical component of the "Younger Next Year" program and aging well. This means being mindful of what you consume and making conscious choices. "Crap" includes foods high in solid fats, added sugars, and excessive salt. The authors point out that many processed foods fall into this category. They strongly advise against fast food, calling such places "gardens of evil". A core piece of advice is that "Good nutrition happens in the supermarket, not in the kitchen".
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Chris Crowley is the author, with Henry S. Lodge MD, of Younger Next Year - the New York Times bestseller with over two million copies sold in twenty-three languages. As at 2025, there are now six books in the Younger series with co-authors including Jeremy James, a healer. Chris is also the author of the legal thriller The Practical Navigator.
Chris was a litigation partner at a leading Wall Street law firm, Davis Polk & Wardwell. For twenty-five years, he led teams in the usual run of big cases for major companies. He retired early “to live more than one life.” He was born in Salem, Massachusetts, and grew up in Marblehead and Peabody. He graduated from Exeter, Harvard College, and the University of Virginia Law School. He has three children and six grandchildren. Chris and Hilary live in Lakeville, Connecticut and New York City and spend time in Aspen. They are avid skiers, bikers, and sailors.
Henry S Lodge MD FACP headed a twenty-doctor practice in Manhattan and was the Robert Burch Family Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center.
Disclosure: Retire Richly is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our website then, at no cost to you, Retire Richly may receive an affiliate commission if you make a purchase. Opinions, reviews, analysis and any recommendations are those of Retire Richly alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any external entities.