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I've Got Some Good News and Some Bad News: YOU'RE OLD: Tales of a Geriatrician, What to expect in your 60's, 70's, 80's, and Beyond
Life is an aging process. Each of us will go through it in our own way. "I've Got Some Good News and Some Bad You're Old" serves as a guide for all of us as we age, providing topics for contemplation and discussion with friends, family and colleagues."You're Old" uses real patient experiences to explore what happens as we age-physically, mentally, and socially. The experiences explored in this book include the "good news and the bad" through the inevitable journey of aging. Each chapter concludes with Notes on Living Longer, a resource section providing topic-specific information on organizations, websites, and other expert sources that can help the reader better understand and prepare for a healthy and long life.It is written for the physicians, nurses, families, and other providers who care for seniors. Dr. Bernstein uses his acronym of GRACE to describe the secrets he has learned from his patients to lead a happy, healthier and long life. This resource was written for all of us who aspire to AGE GRACEFULLY™.
- GenresNonfiction
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2014
143 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 17, 2023
Bernstein is the doctor everyone wishes they had. He thoughtfully and systematically goes through the aging process with cogent, science-based suggestions on ways to age gracefully. He listens to his patients, learned from their lives and has compiled a very readable book filled with tips and references. The personal stories span everything from Alzheimer’s to Sex (there was no “Z”). It is a book for the aging, for their family and children, and communities.
March 20, 2025
Required reading!
Reading this book helped me put into prospective the aging process. It will now serve for me at 67, as a roadmap of how and why I will do things differently than my in-laws. Dr Bernstein’s book really clarified their actions, motivations, and rationale as they lived past their 90’s. I plan to learn from his insights and thank him for those insights.
Reading this book helped me put into prospective the aging process. It will now serve for me at 67, as a roadmap of how and why I will do things differently than my in-laws. Dr Bernstein’s book really clarified their actions, motivations, and rationale as they lived past their 90’s. I plan to learn from his insights and thank him for those insights.
January 27, 2023
This outdated book is like one of those shows on PBS around pledging time: a motivational speaker saying obvious things to an audience of enraptured middle-aged people. All fluff and empty calories, no substance. A vanity project not worth my time.
December 7, 2024
smart talk with a smart doctor
Empathetic and honest, this guide book tells how to gracefully age and face what we all must with intelligence and good sense. I appreciated the words and the warmth behind them.
Empathetic and honest, this guide book tells how to gracefully age and face what we all must with intelligence and good sense. I appreciated the words and the warmth behind them.
January 4, 2024
A little more anecdotal than I was looking for. The chapter on driving was very educational for me.
July 12, 2024
Interesting read
Good stories and advice. Interesting perspective from a medical doc whose expertise is aging. Wanted more insight but enjoyed his perspective
Good stories and advice. Interesting perspective from a medical doc whose expertise is aging. Wanted more insight but enjoyed his perspective
August 9, 2024
growing older
This book was interesting with history of growing old. I learned things I did not know about. Thank you for the information.
This book was interesting with history of growing old. I learned things I did not know about. Thank you for the information.
February 22, 2015
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Dr. Bernstein has been practicing as a geriatrician for many years, so he definitely has the background to write this book. He offers some sound advice on how to deal with the various obstacles associated with aging, and he accompanies the advice with stories from his practice. In concept this book is great, but the execution is a bit lacking. The advice is good, but I like to see studies behind the advice or lend it some credence. Yes, we know it's good to have a positive attitude, but his anecdotes seem trite and occasionally, too focused on his role and not the patient. There are so many good advice books on aging - most recently Atul Gawande's Being Mortal and Roz Chast's Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?. Gawande's book is not only filled with sage advice, but he provides information about current research and adds to the mix his skill at telling a story. Chast knows how to pull at your heartstrings. I didn't feel that this book touched me emotionally, or really was any better than getting advice from someone you don't really know. Hope other people find it more useful.
Dr. Bernstein has been practicing as a geriatrician for many years, so he definitely has the background to write this book. He offers some sound advice on how to deal with the various obstacles associated with aging, and he accompanies the advice with stories from his practice. In concept this book is great, but the execution is a bit lacking. The advice is good, but I like to see studies behind the advice or lend it some credence. Yes, we know it's good to have a positive attitude, but his anecdotes seem trite and occasionally, too focused on his role and not the patient. There are so many good advice books on aging - most recently Atul Gawande's Being Mortal and Roz Chast's Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?. Gawande's book is not only filled with sage advice, but he provides information about current research and adds to the mix his skill at telling a story. Chast knows how to pull at your heartstrings. I didn't feel that this book touched me emotionally, or really was any better than getting advice from someone you don't really know. Hope other people find it more useful.
January 14, 2025
I enjoyed reading this clearly written book on gerontology. The author described key lessons from his gerontology practice and illustrated them with in depth, interesting cases of patients that he served.
His medical approach was beginning with the end in mind. This was his way to keep a person's overall health and way of life at the front of his thoughts as varied diseases, illnesses, or injury took their toll and diagnostic reports piled up in electronic files. He wrote: “Even when I treat hypertension, for example, or diabetes or high cholesterol—conditions that, on their own, can be very successfully treated today—I am always planning with the end in mind. The end goal, in those cases: prevention of a heart attack, stroke, or death.”
Several chapters addressed longevity. The author found that living to be 100 years of age is a confluence of genes, luck, and attitude. His key recommendations were: “Maintain a positive attitude about life; if you have a bad attitude, living a long life can be miserable.” Also, “If you wish to live to be 100, live a sensible life: reduce your risks, lower your stress level, and follow healthy habits.”
This book was fun, interesting, and easy to read.
His medical approach was beginning with the end in mind. This was his way to keep a person's overall health and way of life at the front of his thoughts as varied diseases, illnesses, or injury took their toll and diagnostic reports piled up in electronic files. He wrote: “Even when I treat hypertension, for example, or diabetes or high cholesterol—conditions that, on their own, can be very successfully treated today—I am always planning with the end in mind. The end goal, in those cases: prevention of a heart attack, stroke, or death.”
Several chapters addressed longevity. The author found that living to be 100 years of age is a confluence of genes, luck, and attitude. His key recommendations were: “Maintain a positive attitude about life; if you have a bad attitude, living a long life can be miserable.” Also, “If you wish to live to be 100, live a sensible life: reduce your risks, lower your stress level, and follow healthy habits.”
This book was fun, interesting, and easy to read.
January 19, 2015
My copy of this book by David Bernstein, M.D. was given to me by Library Thing's Early Reviewers Program in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!
Dr. Bernstein has over 30 years experience in geriatrics and internal medicine so he's certainly well-qualified to write this book. I feel it should be required reading for all medical-school students and for every adult since we are all aging. It also advises young adults on what to expect from their aging parents with hints on how to handle various situations.
Dr. Bernstein uses experiences that have happened to his patients and relatives as he tells what happens to us physically, socially, spiritually, and mentally as we travel life's path. At the end of each chapter, he includes notes on how to live longer. He covers lots of topics and recommends resources to better understand getting ready to be old.
Highly recommended with 5 Stars!
Dr. Bernstein has over 30 years experience in geriatrics and internal medicine so he's certainly well-qualified to write this book. I feel it should be required reading for all medical-school students and for every adult since we are all aging. It also advises young adults on what to expect from their aging parents with hints on how to handle various situations.
Dr. Bernstein uses experiences that have happened to his patients and relatives as he tells what happens to us physically, socially, spiritually, and mentally as we travel life's path. At the end of each chapter, he includes notes on how to live longer. He covers lots of topics and recommends resources to better understand getting ready to be old.
Highly recommended with 5 Stars!
February 23, 2015
Dr Bernstein is an engaging storyteller and I enjoyed his many anecdotes. I read this at a strange time. I had a friends in the hospital facing terminal and chronic illnesses. I finished it in time to attend a memorial. I had expected something more specific about what kinds of things to expect in the different decades as we age. But this was more a collection of patients' stories. I liked his rule of five, but he forgot to follow it in the subsequent chapters. He does have some concrete things to do to improve one's aging process and offers good resources at the end of each chapter. It did cause me to ponder and try to put myself in the patient's shoes. How would I react? Maybe taking time to do this will improve my attitude as I face the problems of aging.
I was grateful to receive a free copy of this book through the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
I was grateful to receive a free copy of this book through the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2015
Dr. Bernstein gives us a number of anecdotal stories of patients he has seen over the years and how he has treated them. There are some great tips at the end of each chapter for living long. The chapter on driving would have been better without the letter he read verbatim. I feel it was more of a personal journey for Dr. Bernstein on his experiences as a doctor and what lessons he can learn and apply to his own life. A bit boring for me, unfortunately. Med students may find it more interesting.
Angela G. Gentile
Specialist in Aging
www.angelaggentile.com
Angela G. Gentile
Specialist in Aging
www.angelaggentile.com
March 11, 2025
What an incredible doctor!!!
What a refreshing book. I absolutely love that Dr Bernstein spent such precious time listening and learning the needs of his patients. There are so few doctors willing to go the extra mile. I would give anything to have him as my PCP….. especially now as I enter my 80’s.
Bless you as you share “Grace” with many others.
What a refreshing book. I absolutely love that Dr Bernstein spent such precious time listening and learning the needs of his patients. There are so few doctors willing to go the extra mile. I would give anything to have him as my PCP….. especially now as I enter my 80’s.
Bless you as you share “Grace” with many others.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews