Wellness for the Glory of God: Living Well after 40 with Joy and Contentment in All of Life

by John T. Dunlop

What Is True Wellness?

From dieting cookbooks to workout DVDs, our culture is obsessed with getting healthy and staying fit. But what does true wellness really entail, especially as we get older?

In this comprehensive book, a Christian doctor explores the six areas of life that contribute to a holistic vision of physical, mental, social, financial, spiritual, and emotional. With questions for personal reflection and group discussion, this book offers older Christians the guidance they need to view aging as an opportunity for continued learning and growth in all areas of life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 30, 2014

About the author

JOHN DUNLOP, M.D. (Johns Hopkins University, 1973), practices medicine in Zion, IL, and serves as an adjunct professor at Trinity International University. He is board certified in geriatrics, holds a masters degree in bioethics, and is a fellow of the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity.

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the medical background to this Christian resource about wellness in the various areas of life. I especially appreciated his lengthy treatment of dementia and I gained a lot of vision for what growing older might look like. When you are a kid, growing up and having a job seems so abstract and distant. Now, at 41, growing to retirement age or being 85 one day sounds so abstract but it is not! Preparation can begin now in so many ways and tiny decisions! Loved the balanced perspective and his emphasis on how spiritual wellness can continue to thrive even as other areas may experience decline.

*I do agree w the other reviewers that comment that the subtitle is a little misleading. It seems like it is targeted to 60+ but still, I would rather read now to think about some of these things while time to set good habits in them, by God’s grace. Just maybe needed a better subtitle!? 🤔

[jocelyn davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really helpful read. I liked how the author focused on a variety of aspects of health including physical, mental, social, financial, spiritual, and emotional.

[Michael Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wellness For The Glory Of God is a great read for anyone, especially those approaching the age of 40 or older, who are concerned about living healthy in vital life areas. Around 170 pages, the author covers many great topics and points, including:

1. Take ample vacation time.
2. Not getting proper rest may be due to you doing activities that God did not call you to.
3. Suggestions for improving our mental abilities.
4. Instead of just doing things with people, enjoy being with them!
5. Benefits of investing in other people.
6. Cultivating friendships brings glory to God.
7. Potential problems of too much togetherness (give people space).
8. Benefits of working at least part-time in your later years.
9. We can grow more spiritually when we spend more time solitude and quiet instead of constant busyness.
10. Trust is essential in spiritual growth.

The book is written by a medical doctor, has a Christian perspective, very well-written and easy to understand (the author could have made this a very technical and boring read, but thankfully did not), contains many good practical and spiritual points and suggestions, and includes very good footnotes for further study and helpful scriptural and general indexes.

Very good read and will be read again. I was given a review copy by Crossway in exchange for a fair review and appreciate the opportunity.

[Jennifer Graves · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read about 1/3 of this book before giving up. The subtitle appealed to me because it said "Living well after 40..." I thought this meant it would be more about the transition period of life where your health concerns and your body is no longer responding like a young person, but transitioning to responding much differently. I felt like the audience of the book was less for 40-somethings like me, and more for 60-somethings. Not a bad book, just not what I was looking for- and I really think the subtitle should be aimed a little bit higher.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this the day after I turned 40. It’s been an invaluable message- practical, prayerful preparation for growing old, couched in the greater picture of living for God and having our lives point to His beauty and goodness. If you’re near 40, read this! Aging is something to prepare for, to embrace as it comes, not to fear or avoid thinking about. Be encouraged by the heartening wisdom of Dr Dunlop.

[Dani Sligh]

This was an ironic read at 19… but I still got so many good takeaways!