Crack the Code: Book Review

Published November 5, 2018.

Louis Bezich combines reading, research, and personal experience to write a book for men 50 plus on how to adopt healthy behaviors.

His title reveals his dual content. Crack the Code: 10 Proven Secrets that Motivate Healthy Behavior and Inspire Fulfillment in Men over 50. 

Bezich doesn't just give evidence-based facts about healthy lifestyle choices--diet, exercise, stress management. He also discusses the psychology of changing one's habits.

Consequently, he includes information from psychology alongside information from the health professions.

The book includes not only research from scholarly journals but interviews from case studies conducted by the author. The reader gets to "hear" the experiences of mature men taking control of their health.


Bob, a 65-year-old vet, explains how he conceptualizes his time at the local YMCA:

"When I go to the gym I feel like I'm making a deposit for my future--my future health and fitness." 

David, a 55-year-old divorced shipping manger, describes his change from running full marathons:

"I don't have to run a marathon anymore. If I can do a half marathon, that would be fine. Sometimes you're not going to have the same goals, but as long as you're still getting out there, I think everything will be all right." 

 Tom, a 78-year-old tour guide, describes the role of optimism in his life:

"I understand that there's two sides to almost every issue. And, I like to think that either I can influence the outcome, and it would be a positive outcome if I'm influencing it. And so, I think that's kind of optimistic." 

After a few chapters providing context, Bezich presents the core ten chapters:

• Assess Your Current State
• Create Your Vision
• Build Your Strategy
• Create Your Personal Lifestyle
• Design a Sustainability Plan
• Leverage Micromotivators
• Diversify
• Be Optimistic
• Adjust
• Be a Hero

The language of the book reminds me of books like Steven Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Successful People. (1989).  It convey's the can-do attitude of the American dream. There is a lot of really good information based on 21st Century science. I teach a university class on the biology of aging, and Bezich refers to some very sound principles of diet, exercise, and stress management.

If you are still refining your New Year's Resolutions for better self-care, this book will help support changes to the mind and body.