Roctogenarians: Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs

by Mo Rocca, Jonathan Greenberg

From beloved CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Mo Rocca, author of New York Times bestseller Mobituaries, comes an inspiring collection of stories that celebrates the triumphs of people who made their biggest marks late in life.

Eighty has been the new sixty for about twenty years now. In fact, there have always been late-in-life achievers, those who declined to go into decline just because they were eligible for social security. Journalist, humorist, and history buff Mo Rocca and coauthor Jonathan Greenberg introduce us to the people past and present who peaked when they could have been puttering—breaking out as writers, selling out concert halls, attempting to set land-speed records—and in the case of one ninety-year tortoise, becoming a first-time father. (Take that, Al Pacino!)

In the vein of Mobituaries, Roctogenarians is a collection of entertaining and unexpected profiles of these unretired titans—some long gone (a cancer-stricken Henri Matisse, who began work on his celebrated cut-outs when he could no longer paint), some very much still living (Mel Brooks, yukking it up at close to one hundred). The amazing cast of characters also includes Mary Church Terrell, who at eighty-six helped lead sit-ins at segregated Washington, DC, lunch counters in the 1950s, and Carol Channing, who married the love of her life at eighty-two. Then there’s Peter Mark Roget, who began working on his thesaurus in his twenties and completed it at seventy-three (because sometimes finding the right word takes time.)

With passion and wonder Rocca and Greenberg recount the stories of yesterday’s and today’s strongest finishers. Because with all due respect to the Golden Girls, some people will never be content sitting out on the lanai. (PS Actress Estelle Getty was sixty-two when she got her big break. And yes, she’s in the book.)

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Biography, Humor, History, Biography Memoir, Self Help

Audible Audio

Published June 11, 2024

About the author

Maurice Alberto "Mo" Rocca is an American humorist, journalist, and actor.

He is a correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning, the host and creator of My Grandmother's Ravioli on the Cooking Channel, and also the host of The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation on CBS. He is the moderator of the National Geographic Society's National Geographic Bee, and host of the CBS News podcast Mobituaries with Mo Rocca.

Reviews

[Diane Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and informative and quite funny. Only 2 downsides for me (because I'm old myself): This library book was oversized and heavy, which made reading in bed difficult.
4 stars is for content, not logistics.

[Brian Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

[3.75] Perhaps Pablo Picasso said it best: “We don’t grow older, we grow riper.” This witticism puts a humorous spin on an underlying theme in “Roctogenarians:” late life is no time to surrender. Even in a youth-focused culture, we can turn our age into an asset.

CBS Sunday correspondent Mo Rocca and co-author Jonathan Greenberg aptly describe this eclectic collection of breezy bios as a banquet — “ a sumptuous feast of stories for every taste.“ But like any robust smorgasbord, not every dish will satisfy every reader. For example, I wasn’t overly interested in the sections involving late life accomplishments of folks in the military arena or milestones in people’s love lives (there goes my carefully cultivated image as a hopeless romantic.)

Having said that, this anthology of tales about the triumphs and milestones achieved by folks in the 60-to-death demographic is both inspiring and entertaining.

“Old people are my jam,” Rocca proclaimed in an NPR interview.

His enthusiasm for such stories is evident in every chapter. One must give credit to a literary duo who skillfully managed to include the stories of such a diverse cast of characters — from Norman Rockwell to Norman Lear. From Colonel Sanders to Mel Brooks. There are even delightful vignettes about Laura Ingalls Wilder and Clara Peller, a burger hawker who made all of us ask “Where’s the Beef?”

Although the book celebrates late-life comebacks, there’s also a section titled “Misspent Old Age” that examines successful people who self-destructed in old age (Can you say Guilani?)

“Roctogenarians” is an engaging book that serves as a reminder that we’re never too old to hit new heights.

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a delightful book and one you should keep on your nightstand. It's one that you can read a little of every night and go to bed happy. Truly inspirational, it tells the stories of exceptional people, most of whom became exceptional in the last quarter of their lives. There are so many people and they did so many good things that you will be charmed by the true stories you read here. The authors relish in stories of people, horses, and even fictional characters. It's the perfect book for an older person.

[Betsy Rose]

I will read anything Mo Rocca writes (especially if it's an audiobook he reads /to/ me).

[Suzanne Noakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book inspired me to go back to school and finish what I started forty years ago. I expect I'll be done by the time I'm seventy. This will afford me enough time for a twenty year career in my degree field and five years of retirement before I reach the projected average life expectancy. Thanks, Mo!

[Chip Watts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting at times, but you have to wade through long sections that are pretty dull.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of Mo Rocca. That's half the reason I picked up this book in the first place. I didn't know that he wrote a book called "Roctogenarians: Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs". In this book, he tells the stories of people, both real and fictional (and some animals too), who accomplished something noteworthy late in life, to serve as inspiration to the reader that the second half of life can be just as rewarding as the first.

Anyone who has read or seen anything by Rocca knows that he peppers his prose with liberal references to Broadway musicals, or other tips of the hat to musical theater. And this book does not disappoint. As Rocca tells the stories of writers or actors or scientists (or even turtles) who did something amazing in the second half of their life, so too comes the references to Les Mis or Chita Rivera. I would say this book is half a "feel good story for those at mid-life" and half a "tongue-in-cheek tale of what older people can accomplish". But combined, it's a good read.

Rocca's creativity is prolific, what with his books, podcasts, and other ventures, but Rocca might just be his own best example of late-in-life triumphs. He is approaching sixty years old and not slowing down at all. Likely written just as much for him as the reader, this book is one in which you will find something that will make you smile and think about your next chapter. I certainly did.

[Catherine Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Mo Rocca's stuff. I'll read whatever he publishes next because, between this and MOBITUARIES, it's been nothing but a good time so far. Perhaps I'm predisposed to be such a fan because I'm totally that person who loves fun facts.

Though not necessarily in the same genre or scope of material necessarily, I feel like putting this in the same mental folder as Gene Weingarten's FIDDLER IN THE SUBWAY. Or even his piece ONE DAY. Enjoyable all around, and if you've read Weingarten and also appreciate how he really tells such compelling stories about such interesting, real-life people then you'll like what Rocca does here. It's much the same in its unique look at humanity.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was entertaining, informative, and inspiring - from start to finish. The authors selected (apparently from a much larger list, according to the afterword) a great group of examples. I learned a lot about people that I had never heard of, and learned additional things about those that I had heard about.
I also like that they took some time to warn about people that screwed it up, after they had had it so good. Also, I didn't mind the inclusion of Scrooge, but I thought that the inclusion of Yoda was too much of a stretch.

I listened to the audio version of this book. I am normally against authors narrating their own books (with the exception of autobiographies), but Mo Rocca does an excellent job with the narration.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super interesting accounts of people who made their mark later in life. Loved reading about Laura Ingalls Wilder, IM Pei and Frank Lloyd Wright, among others. Listened yo this on audio and Rocca’s narration was excellent!

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally forgot that I still had this! I finished it over a week ago, I think. I mean, I know I finished it this month, so yeah, probably a week ago or so.

Fun! Nice to see so many who accomplish things later in life. Never give up, right?

[Miki Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of engaging stories

[Brayden · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Mo rocca but I always knew like half of these people and I’m not sure it was what I expected - rather just listen to his podcast or watch Sunday morning

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

[Terrah · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some gems in here, but the book wasn’t as engaging as I had hoped. I did a lot of skimming through the second half.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew just seeing the author's name I would love this book. It was informative and funny always a winning combination for me!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for a light but informative book, give this one a try. It is humorous yet also provides appropriate kudos to late bloomers and seniors who made contributions after the world assumed the sun had set on that person's career. Be ready for a few surprises. What other book will include both Yoda and Rita Moreno as examples of late in life successes?

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an interesting book about how no matter what age you are you can accomplish so many things.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE Mo Rocca and his humor, his stories, and his way with words. These stories are short about people (mostly) who achieved something later in life. I'm later in life, so, they are encouraging stories.
I was disappointed to hear, in the acknowledgments, that The Henry Ford Innovation Nation may be finished after 10 years. How will I survive a Saturday morning without it!

[Nicole Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! ⭐️

Although I found myself slipping away and wanting to read something else (I love non-fiction reads), it still was interesting.

I wish I could have read about more of the average everyday person instead of wealthy folks with great health insurance.

Roca is a very witty writer which I enjoyed. I also liked the “other” categories of octogenarians (ie. The oldest chicken, fifty year old noodle soup, and Mr Pickles a 90 year old tortoise and first time father).

I enjoyed what Roca said about, as people age they spend more time looking back and less time planning ahead. This statement to me was very profound and powerful!

[Courtenay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about so many talented individuals who are older.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read about late bloomers or people who bloomed in early and late life chapters in Mo Rocca’s engaging style.

[Linda Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never too late to be all you can be. Lots to inspire and aspire can be found in these pages.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

As heard on Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda:
https://stitcher.simplecastaudio.com/...

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Mo Rocca since my husband and I watched his first TV series, My Grandmother's Ravioli. Then I continued to follow his career as he became a correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning, host of the hit Mobituaries podcast, and host of the Henry Ford's Innovation Nation.

I enjoyed his first book, the New York Times bestseller Mobituaries. Now this new book, an inspiring collection of stories that celebrates the triumphs of people who made their biggest marks late in life. Eighty has been the new sixty for about twenty years now. In fact, there have always been late-in-life achievers, those who declined to go into decline just because they were eligible for social security. Journalist, humorist, and history buff Mo Rocca and coauthor Jonathan Greenberg introduce us to the people past and present who peaked when they could have been puttering-breaking out as writers, selling out concert halls, attempting to set land-speed records-and in the case of one ninety-year tortoise, becoming a first-time father.

Roctogenarians is a collection of entertaining and unexpected profiles of these unretired titans-some long gone (a cancer-stricken Henri Matisse, who began work on his celebrated cut-outs when he could no longer paint), some very much still living (Rita Moreno, the EGOT who's still got it). The amazing cast of characters also includes Mary Church Terrell, who at eighty-six helped lead sit-ins at segregated Washington, DC, lunch counters in the 1950s, and Carol Channing, who married the love of her life at eighty-two.

Good read indeed

[BOOKLOVER EB · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Roctogenarians," Mo Rocca and Jonathan Greenberg pay tribute to older men and women who strive to get the most out of each day. Some work into their nineties or even past one hundred. A few embark on new projects later in life, or complete ones that they had left unfinished when they were younger.

The book is divided into chapters with such themes as: Writers, Turning Loss into Gain, Ageless Architects, and Founding Fathers of Comedy. "Roctogenarians" is not only informative and entertaining, but it is also funny and poignant. Thanks to the authors' clever puns, witty prose, and lively anecdotes, the pages fly, and we are eager to discover more about artists, civil rights crusaders, musicians, scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs, and others whose remarkable stories inspired this delightful work of non-fiction. (There are even some playful biographies of fictional characters, a turtle, and horses, all of whom made their mark when youth was a distant memory.)

We learn about Ruth Slenczynska, a concert pianist who, at ninety-seven, released her first album in more than sixty years; Mary Church Terrell, an activist who, in her eighties, led the fight to integrate lunch counters in Washington, D. C.; and I. M. Pei, who was seventy-five when the Louvre, which he had redesigned and modernized, reopened in 1993. How refreshing it is to read about older folks from a wide variety of backgrounds who, often against formidable odds, achieve remarkable things when quite a few of their peers are content to enjoy a leisurely retirement.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't listen to his podcast or watch any broadcasts that he does but I will read (nix that, I will LISTEN) to any book he writes because I adore his wit, his topics, and his style of writing. He narrates his books so it's just the best.

In this book, he decided to focus on those that succeed at things later in life after a chance conversation with Chance the Rapper that made him ponder. Then he collected stories, upon stories, upon stories and they're not just about humans, they're about animals too. He talks about Biblical figures and actors. Each profile included the humor and gusto of people to decided that they weren't giving up on their dreams or pursuits and that included civil rights and education but also the tortoise that was a dad at 90. It shows that no one should ever give up and having life experiences might even make the triumph all the sweeter as was the case with a prodigy child performer who finally debuted AGAIN in her twilight years because SHE wanted to perform, not because others demanded it of her.

His treatment of each of the profiled "roctogenarians" pays homage to their skills and abilities and outlook that we can and should have as we age.

I'm always in awe of topics that people think of to write about.

[Diane Carrozzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soooooo, this book was really a 3.5 because there was much that was boring, but I rounded up because there was more that was not boring. This book is a compilation of real-life stories about "old" people and their accomplishments in "old" age. It was often inspirational. My favorite story is about Brian May, lead guitarist for the band Queen, but he didn't start out that way. He was heading toward getting his PhD in astrophysics when he chose the path of music instead. However, what made him worthy of this book was that as a "senior citizen", he later earned that PhD in astrophysics. I thought that was great.
This book was certainly written to encourage people to pursue their passions no matter how old. One of my favorite quotes came from the same Brian May segment in which I read these encouraging words attributed to George Eliot: “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” I find that fascinating and even challenging. So by all means read it.... or listen to it like I did with the majority of the book. Perhaps you'll be challenged as well... or at the very least entertained.

[Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roctogenarians by Mo Rocca has been on my "to-read" for about half a year. I heard him speak at the Springfield Forum last fall and bought a signed copy. It fell into the MA Center for the Book May challenge because its first sentence is less than eight words: "Think of this book as a banquet." And that it is! It features short biographies of people who had outstanding achievements late in life. A perfect book for me since I am just now finishing my first year of official "retirement." The first thing I thought about as I picked up the book was how it physically reminded me of elementary textbooks: the size was the same, and it had short reading excerpts and plenty of pictures! But that is not meant to discount the content. I especially liked the parts about three long-life comedians I love: Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, and Norman Lear. I recommend this book to a reader of any adult age, but the timing for me was perfect.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5-
I liked this book a great deal, as I have Mo Rocca's TV spots and his previous book, Mobituaries. In his latest offering, Rocca focuses on people and a few inanimate objects that have achieved some kind of success later than expected. Some I was already familiar with but still enjoyed revisiting, and some were surprisingly unknown to me. Many were inspiring, others humorous, and a few quite poignant. I appreciated the variety. I was entertained and informed in equal measure.

Mo doesn't go deeply into his subjects, but my curiosity was often piqued encouraging me to examine some of them more fully in the future. Mo's tone is honest but generous, a relief from some of the pessimistic reports commonly available at this time. Of course we need to be aware of serious issues, problems, and transgressions, but a book like this is often needed a breath of fresh air.