along with a good diet of healthy whole foods these are also communities where the elders are looked after, given respect and kept active within the communities. what traditionally happens in most western communities?...we fill them full of prescription drugs, place them in care homes relinquishing responsibility and visit at christmas and birthdays. cynical? yes, but unfortunately true. also i wonder about the Barbagia area in Sardinia as they are high in the mountains and eat little fish (although it is listed in the study as one of the staples) and the people living there have been asking for formal recognition of their diet for a long life for years. according to them it's their diet of full fat milk and cheeses and roast lamb and piglet that is the cause. the lessons to be learned from this book are that clean living and clean food, good community care, sunshine, good air conditions and being active into old age all help towards living longer. can't argue with it