Big Ben in London

Why do we age—and why has rejuvenation always proved so elusive?

This book expresses a clear-eyed, deeply informed exploration of the biology of aging and reproduction. Drawing on evolutionary biology, endocrinology, reproductive science, and medicine, it examines humanity’s perennial attempts to outwit time—and why biology so often resists our ambitions.

From Victorian gland grafting and early hormone experiments to contemporary treatment of infertility, menopause, and senescence, I trace how scientific insight has advanced and myths have perished.

I aim to explain with clarity and wit why fertility declines, why men and women age differently, and why extending the lifespan is far more challenging than a simple remedy. This is not a self-help guide and doesn’t offer recommendations for longevity. Instead, Cheating Time is an accessible and thought-provoking account of what science can—and cannot—do about aging, written for curious readers with an interest in medicine, biology, and the future of human reproduction.

This is the first digital edition. It is a reissue of the original print edition published in the USA and UK, revised with updated information.

This digital edition is available at Amazon for $3.99 (or equivalent currency) or free with Kindle Unlimited.

THE NEWSLETTER, ON SUBSTACK

Enjoyed this essay?

Join me on Fertile Ground: occasional essays on nature, science and medicine, sent to your inbox.

More to read

Who knows about Fructose?

Who knows about Fructose?

Was it a sweet or sexy temptation? The apple that Eve plucked from the tree was sweeter than honey, or to be perfectly accurate it had relatively more of the sweeter stuff than in honey. Apples contain more fructose than

Read essay →
Little Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron

At one time, the Little Blue Heron was a common wading bird in the Coastal Plain and Eastern Shore, but it has been in steep decline since the 1950s (from habitat loss?). Local birds leave our area after breeding to

Read essay →

Baby’s First Picture

The first picture of a baby is usually in the mother’s arms soon after delivery, and becomes pasted into an album for posterity.  My mother missed out on that snapshot since I was born in austere post-war London when a

Read essay →
Scroll to Top