Cheer Up--You're Only Half Dead: Reflections at Mid-Life

At the age of 42, the author, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, beset by impaired vision, occasional memory problems and an aging physique, here reflects on his mortality. He presents recommendations for getting the most out of life, interspersed with thoughts about friends, sports, fame and his delight in eating well. Yuan's personal ""big bang"" theory is that life should be lived fully and that middle-age discontent sets in when one's mind is too quiet. While Yuan's advice is competently written and well meant, his remarks about his experiences with women express excessive self-absorption, as does his comment that ""most people who know me envy me, even if just a little bit."" His descriptions of plastic surgery, an ""artistic discipline,"" and his enthusiasm for his profession are somewhat more interesting. (Aug.)