I heard a story about a man who decided that he wanted to live a good life. He set his mind to developing healthy habits. He read every book he could find that laid out the path to a long and productive life. He never smoked, drank, or overindulged at the table. He ate fresh fruit and vegetables and stayed away from anything with preservatives in it. He exercised every day and got his eight hours of sleep each night. He lived in the country and avoided going into the city with its smog and high incidence of crime and disease. He visited his doctor regularly and he was set to live to be 100 years old.

I am told his funeral was last Wednesday. He was only 53. He is survived by eighteen specialists, four health institutions, six gymnasiums, and numerous manufacturers of health foods and drug…