The Longevity Project

Friedman and Martin

We have been told that the key to longevity involves obsessing over what we eat, how much we stress, and how fast we run. Based on the most extensive study of longevity ever conducted, The Longevity Project exposes what really impacts our lifespan-including friends, family, personality, and work.

Gathering new information and using modern statistics to study participants across eight decades, Dr. Howard Friedman and Dr. Leslie Martin bust myths about achieving health and long life. For example, people do not die from working long hours at a challenging job- many who worked the hardest lived the longest. Getting and staying married is not the magic ticket to long life, especially if you’re a woman. And it’s not the happy-go-lucky ones who thrive-it’s the prudent and persistent who flourish through the years.

With questionnaires that help you determine where you are heading on the longevity spectrum and advice about how to stay healthy, this book changes the conversation about living a long, healthy life.

This book's Disciple Making Purpose

What started as a “one-off” airport read by our lead storyteller turned into an incredible self-awareness, self-care for disciples who are headed out to make disciples and accept many of God’s invitations over the coming years. This book dips back into the idea of how to be focused, going all in where God wants and avoiding other supposed duties (Step 9). The truths reveal how to stay healthy as you lead (Step 11) over many years and it really supports the idea of serving-minded (Step 12). It is a great last book for this three year journey that now becomes a self-led practice. It also removes so many proverbial truths and misconceptions from the “silos” in our lives.

Key Topics or Truths

Life
Health
Happiness

This Book is Good For...

This book is a great disruptor for everyone. It is truly enlightening, eye-opening, and might just change the way you live and seek God.

How We Use this Book to Make Disciples

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Disciples read this as they move from the formal process of discipleship to the practice of discipleship – that is, life after Discipleship Three.  One of my favorite takeaways is that a long and happy life can be found in Solomon’s words from God. But it has many more truths about longevity and joyful living (backed by data and science) that have their roots in the Bible. We encourage disciples to reorganize their time investments around the Biblical principles found in the results of this study. We look back and refresh Raynor’s thoughts on time management and godliness from Redeeming Your Time.

This is a light, eye-opening read that just doesn’t fit until you begin to think about taking care of yourself as you live, work, and play following God in each of the three realms. If there were two overriding points that we always emphasize, they would be:

  1. Disruption: The book’s research shows that living long and well is less about luck or quick fixes, and more about steady, responsible living (Steps 7-8), nurturing relationships, meaningful work, and giving back to others (Step 12 – servant-driven).
  2. Application: How available do you want to be, how mentally, physically, and spiritually ready do you want to be so that you can accept God’s invitations to great things? (Step 11 – lead, Step 5 – called)

There is a suggested reading plan below. We just have fun with this and really discuss it with our peers having fun in open discussion. You will love this read and the discussion that it spurs as you review it each week.

Week 1 : Introduction + Chapters 1–8

Key Points

  • Longevity is not about quick fixes like diets or supplements.
  • Personality matters: traits like conscientiousness and responsibility predict longer, healthier lives.
  • Cheerfulness by itself doesn’t guarantee health; persistence and stability matter more.
  • Work isn’t the enemy — having purpose and responsibility in work can promote resilience and health.
  • Stress isn’t always bad — challenge and responsibility often strengthen people over time.

Discussion Questions

  1. Which of these findings surprised you the most?

  2. Do you see conscientiousness or responsibility shaping your health or stress?

  3. How can stress be reframed as a positive challenge in your own life?

Week 2 : Chapters 9–Conclusion

Key Points

  • Strong, stable social ties (marriages, friendships, community) are essential for long life.
  • Lifestyle habits like steady exercise, moderation, and responsibility in choices impact health more than fads.
  • Longevity is tied to giving back, living with purpose, and staying engaged with others.
  • Legacy matters: those who contribute to their families, communities, and the next generation tend to live longer, more meaningful lives.

Discussion Questions

  1. What kinds of relationships in your life feel life-giving, and which feel draining?

  2. What lifestyle habits could you adjust now for long-term benefit?

  3. What kind of legacy do you want to leave — and how might that shape your choices today?

 

Real Life Story

I read this just because it seemed interesting (an airport purchase!). I quickly realized that most of their findings are found in the book of Proverbs. It really refocused me on the basics and reminded me that God is so consistent. It has changed what I value and invest in.

Know Issues or Controversies

No known issues

We love this book because it debunks so much of what our secular and Christian “experts” tell us about living a long and healthy life while actually pointing us to things (that are Biblical) that keep us alive, healthy, and happy.

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Friedman and Martin
Book Details
Pathway Steps: 9, 11, 12
  • Phase: Year 3
  • Book Type: Non-Fiction
  • Flair: Eye Opening
  • Tags: Christian Living, Spiritual Health
Reading Time
Two Weeks
Start Reading After Week 46
17 Pages per Day
21 Minutes per Day
Related Reads

This book pairs so well as a unique reinforcer of Redeeming Your Time. The group will have many connections between the two. We always read Redeeming first.