Disrupt Aging: A Bold New Path to Living Your Best Life at Every Age

by Jo Ann Jenkins

Discover the inspiring national bestseller about aging and health that "will help us all live each year to the fullest" (Sheryl Sandberg). We've all seen the ads on TV and in magazines-"50 is the new 30!" or "60 is the new 40!" A nice sentiment to be sure, but CEO of AARP Jo Ann Jenkins disagrees. 50 is 50, and she, for one, likes the look of it. In Disrupt Aging, Jenkins focuses on three core areas-health, wealth, and self-to show us how to embrace opportunities and change the way we look at getting older. Here, she chronicles her own journey and that of others who are making their mark as disruptors to show readers how we can be active, healthy, and happy as we get older. Through this powerful and engaging narrative, she touches on all the important issues facing people 50+ today, from caregiving and mindful living to building age-friendly communities and making our money last. This is a book for all the makers and doers who have a desire to continue exploring possibilities, to celebrate discovery over decline, and to seek out opportunities to live the best life there is.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Health, Audiobook, Medicine

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2016

Reviews

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me, the information seemed old. I really didn't find anything new in the book, and I had looked forward to that. Most of what is written is for those who are healthy and have a decent amount of retirement funds available to them. What about those who are taking care of disabled adult children, or are disabled themselves? What about those who have lost everything to pay hospital bills? What about the minimum wage earners who find that social security is not even enough to pay today's rental prices? i think the book leaves out a large segment of our population, but I could be wrong. So many women never earned enough in the workplace to have decent retirement plans, and not all women can rely on a husband's or ex-husband's earnings. The baby boomer retirees are a transitional lot, and many of them are finding that it is taking everything they have just to survive. I don't think the book does justice to all of us out there, but it does show that those privileged enough to have retired well without illness or dependents have a great future ahead of them, and are looking in all sorts of ways to spend their many, final years.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Massive hype by AARP, not sure why. Nothing new here. I got it from the library--would have been pissed if I had wasted the money to buy the book. She should stick to being CEO of AARP instead of writing more books unless she has something original to say. The book could have been a series of short articles in AARP magazine.

[Terri Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by the CEO of AARP is so exciting and brimming with optimism and info about options and changes that are leading to a new view of aging and thrilling options to live an exciting life to 100 plus. People live far longer and new ideas on housing, education, finance, health care, careers, and more are here. If 60 is the new 40, you've got to get ready for many more happy and productive years. A quote from a woman who lived to be over 122 is included. I love this book. At 57, this is how I view things and how I plan to live. I may still have 50 or more years to enjoy and make an impact on the world.

[Cheryl]

Ok, I didn't read it. Don't want to. Came here to say that I am looking forward to my rocking chair, my senior discount, and the elbow hold of the youth as I cross the street. You who have the energy, go ahead, speak up for yourselves. But don't speak for me.

Btw, I'm getting close. I do limp; I do have lots of gray. And I've never felt any sort of discrimination.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the optimism of this book wanes in today's political climate. What we thought we knew has radically changed.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

As each kid leaves for college and my clock continues to click (thankfully), I find myself noticing, um, self-help books. Ugh, there... I said it. I've already been through this phase when I was in my late twenties/early thirties. How am I here again?! Because life continues to change and the challenges are different, and self-help books are actually appreciated.

I doubt I would have noticed this book were it not for its heavy advertisement. My AARP snail mail and email was saturated with it, along with the catchy "Life Reimagined" campaign that I first heard about on someone's blog.

As for the content, charismatic CEO Jenkins (with Boe Workman) compiled an informative guide on how to vigorously approach old age. Yes, old age! Easy to read, I found stories of her personal journey, and that of others, a good diversion to break up some of the text book info, which advises us to embrace our age with enjoyment, adequate mental and physical health care, and financial stability. To use her word, "disrupt" the stereotype of being 50+.

[Alisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I learned some new things, such as about the “compression of morbidity” model of using preventative techniques to delay the onset of chronic illness, this was largely a memoir and self-help guide book for older Americans.

The prologue started with research, and I was expecting that to be a through-line throughout the book, which it was not. Many facts and even anecdotes were repeated throughout the book, and the writing was not sharp. I fully believe in the mission of AARP, having once interned there myself, but this book fails to capture all the significant research and policy work that AARP does quietly behind the scenes. I wanted much more than what I got.

[Wendy G. Ellingsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not terribly deep, but nonetheless thought provoking. A little political, but once again not deeply so. It’s a good introduction to some new (and needed) ways of thinking.

[Joel Cigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great find through reading the AARP newsletter that comes in the mail. I’m glad I read it especially the latter 1/3 of the book which reads much better than the earlier parts which made me rate this about a 3/5.

We are biologically the age that we are so people that say 50 is the new 30 are quite wrong in their thinking. We do experience an extended middle age and people are definitely living longer than before but that type of thinking is quite flawed.

Perhaps we have more opportunities than before and conditions that were once debilitating are not so much anymore through improvements in medicine and technology.

The author does say that our healthcare system is actually “sick care” but for the rich and resource savvy there are ways to make us OWN and DISRUPT our biological age by focusing our toils on health, wealth and self.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book for a variety of reasons. It speaks to my demograpic. The author is the former chief operating officer of the Library of Congress and now the CEO of AARP. This is a great read for adults of any age. It can encourage and prepare younger people for what lies ahead. For those of us who are "there", it can cause us to examine our own attitudes and preparation for the years ahead. The overall all message is significant: owning your age, making the best of your life which had become significantly extended due to modern medicine, and avoiding stereotypical thinking. It is a wakeup call.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what I expected from this book but "a bold new path' led me to expect more meat. I liked the idea of owning your age but felt that many of the ideas were rehashes of things I've read on the AARP website or in the mag. No startling new info-- just reminders that people are getting older and need not to be shunted to the background.

[Massanutten Regional Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leslie, Central patron, June 2016, 3 stars:

Some interesting concepts, but primarily a book of ideas about what options there should be for later in life. Many of those options are not currently available, or at least not to an average person.

Diane, Central patron, July 2016, 3 stars:

Helpful to consider planning for the future. Somewhat of an ad for AARP.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s nothing enlightening in this book. Frankly, it could have been truncated to a 5-6 page magazine article.

[Leigh Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this book I am inspired about the next chapter of my life. Observations...while it’s become somewhat of a cliche, 50 is the new 30... that tag line is a perfect summary for how many people of my generation feel as they enter the elder hood years. We don’t feel old. While companies focus on worker diversity and inclusion, one group that continues to be routinely marginalized is the aging. It’s just not where we work but where older people shop, it’s in the messages in advertising. We continue to hold on to assumptions and biases of a generation or more removed. There are real opportunities for companies to rethink assumptions about those nearing traditional retirement. Opportunities for innovation in products and services to accommodate not just older people, but those less mobile, abound. This is a must read for anyone looking for insights into their next chapter or for those who want a better understanding of what older people have to offer us all and how we can utilize experience and wisdom instead of marginalizing people because they are “old”.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when I thought it was time to slow down and maybe stop the hard work of activism, along comes this book about disrupting aging. This is a wider vision of what it means to grow older and how to live our lives the way we want.

Working to diminish the harmful effects of ageism in a time when racism, sexism, homophobia are widely disapproved of, it still seems to be OK to joke about and denigrate someone for their place "over the hill".

This book proves to me that there is work afoot to roll back the power of ageist thought and its deeply ingrained place in American culture.

The largest generation in American history, the Baby Boomers and entering the next phase in their lives. We have had a powerful impact on every other phase of American life so far, so I believe we will have the same effect on the future of "retirement" culture.

Read it if you want to know more.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Disrupt Aging” is a fast, easy-to-read introduction to the topic of aging - particularly for Boomers (10,000 of whom reach retirement age every single day) who are entering a new stage in their journeys. Readers can then look for books that delve deeper into the “health, wealth, and self” aspects of aging in America! Loved it! I plan to use it for a community education workshop I intend to lead in the fall!

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was really informative- but I disagree with some of the points. You cannot save up enough or invest enough with the amount of income or jobs that are available. People are going to need to build their own businesses to be able to support themselves as long as they can. Self-sufficiency is key, here.

[Rita Wilkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jo Ann, CEO of AARP, is a true visionary. When I read her book, "Disrupt Aging: A Bold New Path to Living Your Best Life at Every Age" I was inspired to start speaking to my audiences on the big issues that baby boomers are facing in today's longevity economy. Highly recommend this book for anyone who speaks to or writes about baby boomer audiences.

[Cindy Clemons · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the optimism presented in this book and also the core philosophy of “disrupting ageism” as a society. But the statistics were 5 years old, so the pandemic impact was obviously not addressed. Also, there was really no big takeaway concepts besides what everyone already knows: take care of yourself physically, emotionally and financially if you want a long enjoyable life!!!!

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jenkins proposes interesting ideas, many of which ask the reader to look at a concept differently. As more of society begins to live longer than previous generations, topics such as retirement and where and how to live become of greater concern.

[Kathleen Sams]

This book was informative, but I felt like the author was not speaking to me. She published this book in 2016 and seems to assume that everyone over 50 is a Baby Boomer. Some of us who are members of Generation X have entered our 50s, too.

[Rita R · Rating 3 out of 5]

About to turn 70, I've been thinking about this subject a lot. As Ms. Jenkins points out early on, the problem really is that America holds on to its stereotyped view of aging and, especially, "being old." That attitude informs everything else.

[Ilona Isaacs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two wordy and repetitive to be truly inspiring, there were some interesting parts. Key sections would be great as sparknotes on aging strategies. I was looking for more concrete ideas.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at how to live your best life as you age.

[Merrill Medansky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful and readable, packed with resources and tools

[Susan Haines · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part commercial for AARP, part self-help book, with some actual wisdom thrown in.

[Stevie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for research for a script that I'm writing, and even thought it's not aimed at me, I found it to be very inspiring and insightful. It's worth a read at any age.

[Rachel Lavender · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things to think about in aging...

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot to think about as I get near the retiring age just too much AARP advertising for me.