The Immortalist Paperback – February 1, 1977

Perhaps even more meaningful and inspiring today than it was nearly a half century ago, Harrington delivers both an illuminating historical perspective and call to action for practical science-based "immortality" vs. superstitious religious-based immortality. The Immortalist both anticipated and effectively answered arguments against life extension which unfortunately still rage today, reflected in one of the latest examples, being Aubrey de Gray's debate at Oxford last year.A classic which should have been converted to e-book long ago, well worth the time to seek out at the library, and barring that, well worth the extra money for anyone who believes in the ultimate potential of the human race to eventually overcome it's own mortality.On a side note: A perfect supplement to Harrington's Utopia chapter is Asimov's "The Last Question", free for download.

"The time has come to kill Death."This book reviews the possibility of making people immortal and examines the philosophical and other consequences of doing so. It is a wonderful concept, and turns the book into a model giant essay, providing an excuse for examining the key role that death plays in human civilization. They don't write 'em like this any more.Someone should start writing The New Immortalist. It's about time.

A very inspiring read. Alan Harrington mustered the best case for conquering Old Age and Death in 1969. But he was a bit too much ahead of the science. Did not have stem-cell research and the coming-of-age of biotech and genetic engineering and cloning. So in the end he was a bit tentative. You should buy book anyway. It is an Immortalist standard.

I came across this in my University library a few years ago, and I checked it out. At the time I didn't know who Alan Harrington was, but I read this book and other than the fact that some sections have a few outdated examples of technology due to the age of this book, it was a great explanation and argument of the immortalist mindset.

Harrington’s repetitive diatribe suffers from his own prejudiced myopia concerning the non-physical nature of consciousness. He assumes that all earlier teachings are just wishful thinking, steeped in myth. He places his conclusions above those of, say, Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, Zoroaster, Confucius, and many, many others who have provided wisdom teachings to humanity. Hence he must be the most enlightened human being who ever lived.Certainly medical science will find ways to prolong human life, perhaps even extending it to hundreds of years. But it will never create physical immortality because that is against the design of the universe. Everything physical has a time limit. However those entities blessed with consciousness are not subject to extinction of that consciousness just because their physical form dies. That is the basis for true immortality. It is also the best approach to life because it does not include an excessive and compulsive desire to preserve the physical form. Consciousness continues after physical death. That has been, and always will be, the true message.

As advertised and delivered on time.