Outrunning My Shadow: Surviving Open-Heart Surgery and Battling Obesity/The Decision to Change My Life by Keith Ahrens is a fascinating and highly informative memoir about the author's confrontation with mortality and his determination to save his own life. In this self-help book, the author shares the experience of weighing more than 400 pounds, suffering lightheadedness, and finally seeing a physician. When this sedentary man learned that he had suffered a heart attack and that open-heart surgery was his only option for survival, his efforts toward his recovery became dramatically proactive. The spirit of this book is not a confrontation for readers who are overweight, but a supportive and encouraging reminder that everyone deserves to have a long and healthy life, and that paying attention to how we live; food, exercise, regular checkups; goes a long way toward good health. For anyone seeking the inspiration and encouragement to pursue longevity, this is the place to start.