Serenity at 70, Gaiety at 80: Why You Should Keep On Getting Older

by Garrison Keillor

A book from Garrison Keillor, a man nearing age 80, on leaning into the beauty of getting old. “My life is so good at 79 I wonder why I waited this long to get here,” he writes. You learn that Less Is More, the great lesson of Jesus and also Buddha. Each day becomes important after you pass the point of life expectancy. Big problems vanish, small things make you happy. And the worst is behind you because you lack the energy to be as foolish as you might otherwise be. Including 23 rules for aging, including “Enumerate your benefits,” “Enjoy inertia,” “Get out of the way,” “Don’t fight with younger people; they will be writing your obituary,” and finally, “Ignore rules you read in a book. Do what you were going to do anyway.” Readers are sure to chuckle at the wisdom and humor contained in this short, full-color volume, which includes as supplementary material both photos from Garrison’s life as well as fine art.

Genres: Nonfiction

101 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2022

About the author

Gary Edward "Garrison" Keillor is an American author, singer, humorist, voice actor, and radio personality. He created the Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) show A Prairie Home Companion (called Garrison Keillor's Radio Show in some international syndication), which he hosted from 1974 to 2016. Keillor created the fictional Minnesota town Lake Wobegon, the setting of many of his books, including Lake Wobegon Days and Leaving Home: A Collection of Lake Wobegon Stories. Other creations include Guy Noir, a detective voiced by Keillor who appeared in A Prairie Home Companion comic skits. Keillor is also the creator of the five-minute daily radio/podcast program The Writer's Almanac, which pairs poems of his choice with a script about important literary, historical, and scientific events that coincided with that date in history.
In November 2017, Minnesota Public Radio cut all business ties with Keillor after an allegation of inappropriate behavior with a freelance writer for A Prairie Home Companion. On April 13, 2018, MPR and Keillor announced a settlement that allows archives of A Prairie Home Companion and The Writer's Almanac to be publicly available again, and soon thereafter, Keillor began publishing new episodes of The Writer's Almanac on his website. He also continues to tour a stage version of A Prairie Home Companion, although these shows are not broadcast by MPR or American Public Media.

Reviews

[Fred Forbes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just behind him in years, I certainly agree with a lot of his thinking and enjoy his format and delivery. Surprised he had to resort to self publishing but maybe the "Me too" tarnish was a bit much for the big boy publishers. Moot point for me, though, as I enjoyed the audio version. Some repetition as he moves along, but a goodly number of humorous luster nuggets of humor suggests he still has it. "Hello, Incontinence hotline, please hold." or "A gala is where wealthy people can give money to the poor without actually having to be with them."

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm 83, so this was definitely the book for me. Not only am I "of an age," I was also raised in the Brethren tradition in Iowa (instead of Minnesota). So, I not only "understood" all of his innuendoes, but I also cried and laughed at his examples. The book is remarkably open about all his foibles, hopes and failures - and it is all now taken with a big dose of contentment for being able to give up all the silliness of our striving and enjoying the new life of being a "tourist" here. My copy reads in black ink on the title page: "Merry Christmas Bob Bason. Garrison Keillor."

[Larada Horner-Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely delight book about growing old & respecting the process. His humor grabs me & I live his stream of consciousness writing, the meandering of thoughts and feelings about remembering and looking forward.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comforting and funny

The author’s reflections ring true, and his talent for humor is a refreshing counterpoint to the poignancy associated with senescence.

In terms of style, the run-on sentences became wearisome yet held my attention at the same time. The book is written from the perspective of a male, raised with a strong faith, not relatable to everyone but captivating still.

I highlighted many sections of the book to which I look forward to revisiting for a slice of levity, an uplifting reminder of the value of gratitude and the empowerment that comes with acceptance of the inevitable.

[Tim Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garrison Keillor’s thin self-published book of musings on growing old and mortality contains much familiar material for those who read his memoir and online columns. The book is entertaining and contains some interesting anecdotes and views on modern absurdities, but what truly makes the book worthwhile is the final chapter where a beatific Keillor describes the serenity that can come with old age and a casting away of desire, ambition and the unnecessary. This book is designed for diehard Keillor fans and likely won’t appeal to the uninitiated.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short, but good.

[Adam Ferrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

"My life is so good at 79 I wonder why I waited so long to get here," begins Garrison Keillor in his personal, lyrical, and fulsomely funny, Serenity at 70, Gaiety at 80: Why You Should Keep On Getting Older. Over 96 short pages he restores the "glory of getting old" with torrents of jokes, poems, and observations leavened with gratitude.
"We reach old age through sheer good luck," is an oft-repeated theme. "We have the benefit of drugs unavailable to our parents ... we avoided drowning, close calls on the highway turned out in our favor, we didn't fall in with people whose hobby was opiates, we had mothers who told us to look both ways and we did." Nothing profound here, yet it's a perspective that contrasts sharply with American individualism and capitalist meritocracy. To carry the argument a step further, rich people, or athletic people, or people with great beauty, didn't deserve their boons; they are beneficiaries of precisely these fantastic turns of fortune, even as they give credit to "hard work" or other virtues. My silent retort: Wilfred Owen was a hard worker, too.
Garrison Keillor, however, is lucky and knows it. He's found a spiritual state where "you see you're not the center of the universe, not even the center of south Minneapolis." He's done with insincerity and when, in conversation with teenagers, "obscenities flutter like autumn leaves," he doesn't lecture them or get angry. Indeed he takes some amusement that when they wear earbuds, "the music turned up loud, it sounds like cockroaches eating their brain cells."
It's not Seneca, but Seneca wasn't a humorist. In a previous work Keillor quotes from Dante's Inferno that "the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in a time of moral crisis, maintain their neutrality." Garrison's protest against the manifold scourges of our time - injustice, apathy, narcissism, hate - is a glad heart and the occasional fart joke. I can find room on my bookshelf for that. 5/5 stars.

[Ed Rowell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book. I’ve been a fan of Garrison Keillor for many years. I was hoping for pearls of wisdom, insights into the human condition, etc. These so-called reflections on aging are not much different than any old white curmudgeon would come up with. Not-so-subtle cheap shots at the emerging generations. “Not my problem anymore” attitude about world affairs. Assurances that he still has the physical prowess he’s always had. Not his best work by a long shot.

[Steven Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

"WHISTLING TOWARDS THE EXIT DOOR"

Mr. Keillor’s ‘Serenity at 70, Gaiety at 80’ is a self-published book that came out in 2021. Why no publishing company was interested in producing this little 97-page gem may be because of the Me-Too brouhaha that he fell victim or maybe because the topic was seen as too narrow a customer demographic for potential profits or some other reason that doesn’t come to my mind. I’m just glad the author made the effort to put the book out there for readers. Speaking as a sixty-two-year old with more years behind him than ahead, I found it a funny, thought-provoking, and timely work.

Mr. Keillor was 79 years old and reflecting on the positive aspects of the “golden years” instead of its multitude of downsides. The author sticks to his unique writing style, ‘Serenity at 70, Gaiety at 80’ meanders along by using personal stories and observations to make his points. It is very much a male perspective that mostly ignores senior citizens who are alone and poor. To his credit, the author does acknowledge in passing that his problems are minor compared to many people’s daily struggles and his success was not only hard work but luck. Mr. Keillor has the financial means to reflect and do as he pleases with his remaining years. However, it does not diminish the book’s value. His objective was more to uplift readers. The little book is peppered with a few short poems, limericks, and spiritual musings. It stresses a lot about appreciating the little things and everyday moments. His low-key humor is prevalent. The book ends on a positive note and hope that the younger generations will do better towards fellow human beings, animals, and the planet than the Baby Boomers did.

I can’t see many younger people reading or appreciating ‘Serenity at 70, Gaiety at 80.’ They are at a very different point in their lives and the Grim Reaper is unlikely at the forefront of their minds. At my stage of life, the book was very much welcomed. I’ve read books that are five or six times as large and cost the same amount but they were less rewarding than ‘Serenity at 70, Gaiety at 80.’

[J.K. George · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first cousin, my elder by two whole months, a retired physician in Kentucky, sent me a copy of this wonderful little book (a bit short of a hundred pages) by Mr. Keillor. We both love his writings and clever wit, and this book is another example of these, as well as a bit of a slapdash effort. My notes slip and slide across three pages as a testament to some paragraphs with nearly unending sentences (see pp. 24 and 25 for starters). But there are super clever references to classic writings and modern books and poetry. Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne" is mentioned where "he touched her perfect body with his mind." Yo-Yo Ma and "Beep-Bop-a-Lulu, she's my baby" are racked up - side by side. The Everly Brothers' "Bye-Bye Love" is in there too. It reminds me of a pathetic little summer romance I sort of had with a girl visiting from somewhere in Maryland... her grandfather lived directly across the street from "my house" in Princeton, West Virginia.  We advanced to hand-holding and at the very last moment, I attempted a misplaced little kiss. The day her family car pulled out to return home, I blasted that song out on a really crummy record player on my front porch ... a Wanna-Be-lover's lament. Hey, it just doesn't get any better than that!

Keillor covers walking in NYC, with some terrific remarks about a subway ride, getting off at 42nd Street to hear a string quartet playing Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (a little night music) with the observation that "Mozart in the subway is a miracle." True enough.

Four chapter are included, and in some ways the writing gets better, more relaxed type of better, as Keillor proceeds. He seems to love getting older and mentions at one point that "I had to live to be old before I could appreciate what a paradise this is." He has some terrific humor and Chapter 4 stood out for me. Along the way the book veers from his love of baseball to Biblical quotes (a good one from the Book of Acts stood out). As an eighty-one dude now, I loved the comment that "old age is the cure for self-importance. " Truer words are hard to find.




Jim George

Austin, Tx

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

So few people have read this book, that perhaps the 34 folks giving it five stars are friends. But not me, I don't know him. I've been listening to Keillor for many years, and find this mid-westerner easy tonic. He's like reading something less well-known than the Bible's Book of Proverbs with an AARP bent. He makes me laugh, even though I talked to him once at a theatre back door and he was just despicable. We can't act young forever or strive to make ourselves understood. Once you hit 70, just enjoy. Find the beauty. Under "Rules of the Game," a few favorites are 1. Clean up your act (don't look grubby)., 2. Less is more. Appreciate what you have., 3. Regret is not so interesting. You did it it was dumb...move on., 9. Old age is foreign territory and you should enjoy it as you would if you'd picked up and moved to Paris... 12. Don't fight with younger people, even if you're right (it's their world now). 17. Be grateful for each and every disaster. And of course, pay no heed to someone else's rules. Critics say he's not funny anymore, but those are people with sour dispositions. He gives structure to the world with no apologies. Plus I like the subtitle, "Why you should keep on getting older."

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. An honest look at his own aging, Keillor shares his foibles and how much he loved his life and really loves his retirement. One quote: "The Dairy Queen is as great a pleasure now as when I was 13...a reminder of the goodness of life. I don't need gourmet ice cream. A DQ Butterfinger Blizzard tells me that God loves us." I laughed and laughed because I kind of secretly eat a lot of DQ. One section he called Rules of the Game...Clean Up Your Act, Less is More, Remember where your'e From, Maintain Your Standards, Keep Occupied, Don't Argue with Young People, Get Out of the Way, Be Grateful, Walk Carefully and last, Pay No Heed To Someone Else's Rules. The rest is memoir.

[Donna Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read a bunch of Garrison Keillor, and I find his work usually very funny, witty and inspirational --- this was not any of that to me. The only part I got something out of was the listing of advice that he had for us who are aging -- the writing up to that and after were scattered thoughts to me. It went on way too long, and I just enjoyed the bits where he tells the short stories or tells jokes. I don't really recommend it to anyone --- maybe bits of it, like the list, but that's it. I give it a 2.8, but rounded it to 3 because Goodreads wants me to.

[Cynthiadean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got the paperback from library to read before purchasing as gifts for friends. Sad to report, this not funny or interesting, even. Probably easier to read Mr.Keillor's cunnilingus poem than see him perform it live. Wonder why his wife burst into peals of laughter every time he farted. Does Mr. Keillor have access to the laughing gas my dentist says I no longer can afford? Sending friends Memoirs of Hadrian.

[John R. Petrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garrison Keillor is a National Treasure!!… This short but delightful romp through the joys and travails of aging/life … Poignant and humorous thoughts as only GK can express… I have enjoyed all of his writing and this little gem didn’t fail to deliver the odd chuckle and guffaw as well as elicit a tear… You should help yourself and read Serenity At 70, Gaiety At 80

[Ben Zandstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Blessing from God

I am 71 years old and recently retired from active Christian ministry for 43 years. This book was a blessing from God for me. My work over the years has been very stressful but Keillor has shown me a pathway to serenity from his personal experience. I am grateful for his assistance.

[Jeannie CR Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, wise and funny.

My takeaway from this book is renewed wonder and gratitude for my old age. Relax and enjoy the ride, he says, reminding readers with his humorous look on life, that we shouldn’t take any of it too seriously.

[Robert E Betor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

This book looks at life from that of an aging person over 70. Garrison explains that how we look at life changes after retiring. Insightful, interesting and truthful. Learned a lot about a new way to look at life as one ages.

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not funny anymore

[Dan Ream · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short 100-page collection of essays on enjoying old age with both insights and humor.

[KathleenRegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book is different from his Woebegone books, it was still worth reading. Garrison’s perspective on life has changed as he has aged. This is true of many of us as we age.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit choppy but otherwise excellent. Helps me look forward to retirement,

[Sue Ronnenkamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It was realistic, touching, funny, thought provoking, and more. I recommend this book highly for a great example of how to embrace the aging experience. Thanks Garrison!

[Judy Lindow · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Lydia said.

[Lorna House · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only mildly humous at times. Keillor seems to be obsessed with writing about bodily functions that became boring after his fifth time describing farting, peeing, or sexual encounters.

[Lt. Col. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m blessed

I am very blessed; I’ve achieved average American male longevity. Now it all makes sense. And i added five words.

[Tim Mapel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing, touching reflections on being old by one of my favorite storytellers and a decent human being.

[Sarah Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aging isn't fun. And at some point when you begin or are in the midst of losing all your loved ones, you look at life very differently. Keillor prepares his readers and himself for the legs on one's journey and tries to get us to see it not so much with dread as with acceptance and even see some benefits. From personal experience, when you lose most everyone you not only see life differently, but not much is gonna phase you. Keillor takes a much more positive look at aging and 'growing older gracefully' than I do, but that is what makes him so wonderfully readable and a pleasure to listen.
It's a thought provoking read and even a comforting one for those of us who have passed the midway mark and are trying to take inventory to figure out that rest of the journey. If you're over 50 this is a fabulous read, but there's very little Keillor writes that doesn't work in my book.

[Steve Noe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read for an old goat

As I turn into my sixties, I want to spend the remainder of my days less hectic and more focused on what’s important.
Keillor, in his Wobegon style explains the freedom of our later years. Gives a perspective on using the time we have on the important things, and what it’s like to be life’s passenger as opposed to driver.
Bring it on.

[Karen Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh... Keillor can do better than this!