Play on

"When it comes to aging, athletes are like canaries in the coal mine--they feel its effects decades before the rest of us. In Play On, Jeff Bercovici gives us a fascinating look at how older elite athletes use science, strategy, and wisdom to keep up with (and often beat) the youngsters. Playing keeps us young, and this is must read for anyone who believes age is no reason to quit." -Bill Gifford, New York Times bestselling author of Spring Chicken and Ledyard

"As an athlete who is competing past my so-called "prime," Play On goes to the heart of some of the biggest questions around longevity and performance that I've been pondering these past few years. It's an utterly fascinating and entertaining blend of science and storytelling that anyone interested in staying fit as they age, should read. (And, if you're like me, underline obsessively)." -Shalane Flanagan, four-time Olympian, winner of the 2017 New York City Marathon, and NY Times best-selling author of Run Fast. Eat Slow

"From the surprising science of why Olympic cyclists try to think like kids in competition to the strategy behind Carli Lloyd's rise from benchwarmer to soccer phenom, Play On illuminates a dimension of high-performance sports seldom seen on primetime. Told through an engaging cast of characters, Bercovici's book is a must-read not only for the athlete trying to gain an edge, but for the rest of us interested in living longer, healthier lives. In richly-engaging prose, the mysteries of long and strong careers of today's sports stars are revealed -- along with fascinating lessons that could change how all of us view health and fitness." -Mary Pilon, best-selling author of The Kevin Show and The Monopolists

"[An] energetic romp through sports gerontology . . . Bercovici smartly separates science from quackery . . .while offering colorful reportage . . . [and] stimulating information and practical insights to health-minded readers."-Publishers Weekly

"A solid work of sports journalism and encouraging reading for jocks who are late to the game but committed to the win all the same."-Kirkus Reviews