What if live gets better with age?
Well, that’s what we’re here to find out. In fact, with life expectancy for UK men and women now rising above 80, it’s actually becoming less of a question, more an expectation. There is no shortage of research to show how people are now playing more sport, achieving more at work, enjoying more sex and pursuing new interests at a life stage previously – reductively – associated with slippers and Horlicks. These people have variously been referred to as Age Rebels or Re-Imagineers, but making longer lives better lives is no longer the preserved mindset of mavericks. Longevity has become a consensus issue, a mainstream ambition and a shared goal.
This is why The Long View exists and this is who it is for: all those who simply want to supercharge their second acts and make the coming years count. And since you’re reading this here, that presumably includes you. In which case, welcome.
What is The Long View?
At its core, The Long View is a weekly briefing for people who are interested in living well and staying fresh beyond their preordained sell-by date. In staying strong enough to continue developing, flourishing and succeeding in the things you enjoy. Keeping your brain in decent working order and having enough money to give you choices. And making sure the pursuit of a longer life doesn't get in the way of enjoying this one. Because if you don’t have a good time while you’re at it, what is the point?
Each dispatch will feature an assembly of trusted journalism, expert advice and hot takes on the latest discoveries in health, nutrition, tech and finance. We’ll test claims, explain the evidence and advise you on the choices worth considering.
But there’ll be no lectures, no piety and no judgement. The longevity industry is already very good at telling us what we should be doing. Eat this. Don’t eat that. Measure this. Optimise that. Buy this £400 device. Sleep exactly seven hours and 43 minutes. Move to Sardinia. Never drink alcohol again. Or possibly drink red wine, but only on Tuesdays. In short, we’re only interested in what stands up.
We’re interested in the bigger picture, too. Because happiness in later life isn’t a one-size-fits-all blueprint. Priorities change with age. What matters to a 35-year-old with two young children may be rather different from what matters to someone contemplating retirement, a second career or simply a very long lunch. All we promise is clear thinking, fresh ideas and practical guidance for making the most of what lies ahead.
We also offer no apology for the occasional raised eyebrow. To paraphrase an old saying: stop questioning and become tired – or keep learning and stay young.
What will you find here?
Let’s start by saying what you won’t. We’re categorically not interested in building another platform where every story begins “New research suggests…” and ends with a photograph of a woman in Lycra looking thoughtfully at a lemon.
Instead, The Long View is organised around a handful of recurring obsessions, including but not limited to:
Ask The Long View
Your questions about living longer, living well and making the most of the years ahead, answered by a trusted team of experts, academics and specialists.
The Week in Longevity
The developments, discoveries and debates worth knowing about, from science and health to money, work, technology and what a longer life means for all of us. We’ll tell you what’s happening, why it matters and whether you need to care.
The Longevity Lab
Living well for longer is becoming big business. That deserves a critical eye. We’ll take a closer look at the products, treatments and technologies changing the way we look after ourselves, then tell you which bits deserve your attention and your money. From supplements and sleep tech to health tests, wearables and treatments, we’ll separate the genuinely useful from the overhyped, overpriced and downright silly.
The Long View Live
The Long View isn’t just another newsletter. Throughout the year, we’ll bring the conversation to life through events that give you access leading thinkers, experts and practitioners to explore the questions that matter as our lives get longer. Expect sharp ideas, proper debate, a few laughs, a glass or two of wine (think of the polyphenols!) and the chance to meet your fellow Long Viewers.
Subscribing to The Long View
Simply add your email address here and you’re in.
It’s free, by the way, so there’s nothing to lose. Every new post is sent directly to your email inbox, or you can follow updates at thelongevity.co.uk. Alternatively, you can access everything Long View via the Substack app. And if you like what you read/see/hear, we’d be grateful if you would share with friends whenever you see a button like the one below. We’d be delighted if you join for the long haul.
