"The smartest guy I know has written the most illuminating book of the year. Now if I can just summon the discipline to follow his advice!" MITCH DANIELS , president, Purdue University, and formergovernor of Indiana "Don Brown has taken an incredibly diverse range of topics-origins of the universe and life, evolution, biology, chemistry, disease progression, and how to live better lives-and connected them together in a purposeful way. He has a true gift of making the complex understandable through stories, pictures, and analogies. It was amazing to see how he links the activities of 4.5 billion years of evolution together in a way that relates to each of us asindividuals and our own health. I know this will change the way I think and live." DENNIS MURPHY , president and CEO, Indiana University Health "Dr. Brown masterfully makes an impossibly complex topic accessible.

Beautifully written!" MARC COHEN , cofounder and executive chairman, C4 Therapeutics "I found Understanding Life an interesting and fun read, as it presented a foundational explanation of the underpinnings of the science that allowed life to evolve in a manner that anyone can understand. One does not have to have a background in science or medicine to 'get it.' I recommend Understanding Life to anyone who wants to understand how and why we are here." DICK RECK , president, Business Strategy Advisors LLC "Don Brown strikes again, this time addressing the beautiful complexitiesof life itself. As someone who's devoted himself to both improving the present and challenging the status quo, in less than three hundred pages, Don provides an answer key to improving the quality of our personal and professional lives. Fortunately, this one book does the research for you and peels back multiple layers of history, conveniences, and personal decisions that lead to the condition of our health and wealth no matter what your age, stage, or place you call home. Now comes the hard part-applying the research to the daily decisions we make. This page-turner, Understanding Life , has the power to change your life for the better.

It's been a gift to obtain, and I intend to pass it on." ERIC HOLCOMB , governor, State of Indiana "A timely, must-read book for anybody interested in being their healthiest self. Dr. Brown artfully simplifies complex scientific and medical information, empowering readers to take real control over their health and well-being." ED SIMCOX , vice president, Mayo Clinic, and formerchief technology officer, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.