A Four Part Series from TTBOOK!

Public Radio International

Wisconsin Public Radio

FACING DEATH

Program 09-05-17-A

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Can science conquer death? It may seem like an absurd question, but some people think it's possible. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge we'll meet Aubrey de Grey, a maverick English scientist who has identified seven major kinds of molecular and cellular damage. He thinks we can prevent all these natural cases of death and thereby extend our lives indefinitely.

SEGMENT 1:

Aubrey de Grey is the maverick scientist who's the chief science officer of the Methuselah Foundation. He's identified seven categories of molecular and cellular damage. He says if we can prevent or repair that damage, there's no reason why people can't go on living indefinitely. His complete, unedited interview with Steve Paulson can be heard HERE. Also, we hear Umberto Eco's thoughts in favor of death, and Jim Fleming reads an excerpt from writer Julian Barnes' memoir "Nothing to Be Frightened of."

The complete, unedited interview Steve Paulson did with Aubrey de Grey addresses much more of his research. Web listeners will find it HERE. Right-click and choose "save-as" to download.

SEGMENT 2:

Diana Athill was the editor of some of the most celebrated writers of our time, including John Updike, Simone de Beauvoir, and V.S. Naipaul. At the age of 91 she's written her second memoir, "Somewhere Towards the End." Athill talks with Anne Strainchamps about how her life has changed in old age.

SEGMENT 3:

Simon Critchley is the author of "The Book of Dead Philosophers," a quirky account of how various philosophers thought about death and died themselves. Critchley, a philosopher at the New School for Social Research, talks with Steve Paulson. Also, Lincoln Hall is an Australian mountain climber. He tells Jim Fleming about his fatal adventure on Mt. Everest, the subject of his book "Dead Lucky: Life after Death on Mount Everest."

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 09-05-17-A.

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Books & CDs:

Diana Athill, Somewhere Towards the End: A Memoir (Norton)
Simon Critchley, The Book of Dead Philosophers (Vintage)
Lincoln Hall, Dead Lucky: Life After Death on Mount Everest (Tarcher/Penguin)
Julian Barnes, Nothing to be Frightened Of (Knopf)
Aubrey De Grey & Michael Rae, Ending Aging: The Rejuvenation Breakthroughs That Could Reverse Human Aging in Our Lifetime (St. Martin's Griffin)

Music:

• "Legend" from "Metheny Meldhau" (Nonesuch)
• Aria from Bach's Goldberg Variations - Crow & McNabney & Haimowitz
• Variation XXVfrom Bach's Goldberg Variations - Crow & McNabney & Haimowitz
• "Bard" from "Elegiac Cycles" - Brad Mehldau (Warner Bros)
• "Lament for Linus" from "Elegiac Cycles" - Brad Mehldau (Warner Bros)
• "The Philospher's Song from "The Instant Monty Python CD Collection" (Virgin Records)
• "Unrequited" from "Metheny Mehldau" (Nonesuch)

Distribution dates: week of 03/14/20109 - hour 1 week of 05/17/2009 - hour 1 click HERE for timings and cues

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

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