The Gift of Aging: Growing Older with Purpose, Planning and Positivity

by Marcy Cottrell Houle, Elizabeth Eckstrom

Award-winning authors Marcy Houle and Elizabeth Eckstrom have teamed up again following the success of their critically acclaimed book The Gift of Caring, winner of the 2016 National Christopher Award. This new book blends frontline science with inspirational stories and insights from wise elders for aging with health, joy, and purpose. The book explains how our bodies and brains age, defining what can be expected with aging and what is unusual. It demonstrates ways we can significantly increase our chances for a positive aging experience into our 80s, 90s and 100s. It offers key strategies for meeting the challenges of aging, informs us of issues of inclusion and equity, and advises on handling legal and financial affairs. The Gift of Aging illustrates how we can make the third act of our lives meaningful and fulfilling, ensuring we as elders can make a difference in our world.

Genres: Nonfiction

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 8, 2023

Reviews

[Snickers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to read and review.
This book's concept is overall great I think especially with the whole "anti-aging" schtick going on especially on TikTok people need to understand the beauty and blessing of aging. But the appreciation for the book stops pretty much there for me. The stories were nice and gave a view point into other's aged lives but at the same time none of it really stood out or felt profound so there was nothing of impact with this book for me.

[Kate Belt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Among the many books I’ve read about aging and end of life, this one from a geriatric M.D. (with contributions from experts in fields other than medicine) is a standout. The most valuable sections for me are chapters about changes that take place in the body as we age, such as bones, muscles, autoimmune system, bladder, kidneys, and the cardiovascular system. There are other books and resources that cover how the body works, but not specific to how things are different in older people. She also talks about medications that carry more risk for older bodies. There’s a long section in the book that covers financial planning and making choices about living with disabilities and end of life. There’s another long section on Care of the Soul. This book is not just for old people. It’s never too early to plan!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gift to oneself!

Marcy Cottrell Houle and Dr. Elizabeth Eckstrom have once again written an inspiring book that helped me look at aging with new eyes. The book is filled with inspiring anecdotes, stories, and medical information all around the issue of growing older. Many of the people interviewed for the book are what we consider as elders in the United States and they all had something valuable to share and made me think about aging with purpose and positivity. I particularly enjoyed Oregon’s former governor Barbara Roberts’ story and others who had gone through hard times, yet remained optimistic for their future.

[Kelly Hodgkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

The entire book is one anecdote after another flowing from one into the next with very little theoretical content overarching it and predominately North America focused. I had hoped, as a 36 year old, to learn generally about ageing trends and changes but this is targeted at the older adult as a “how to” book from the experience of the authors as if they are complete novices at it.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's some wisdom here, and some good advice and stories. I'm not sure there's anything new here (and there doesn't need to be), but the info is solid, and certainly help some readers.

Thanks very much for the free ARC for review!!

[Anne Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Gift of Aging", published by Cambridge University Press is to be released on June 8, 2023.
It’s a blend of inspirational stories of older people not only thriving but relishing the last decades of their lives and a host of practical advice to help manage the inevitable decline of capacities with grace and gratefulness.

Marcy Cottrell Houle is a wildlife biologist, award winning author and contributor to many notable magazines and Elizabeth Eckstrom is Chief of Geriatrics at Oregon Health & Science University. Her work focuses on healthy aging. Both eminently qualified in their fields, they have collaborated to produce a book that encourages older people to revise their preconditioned conception of aging as an ordeal of physical debility, mental decline, loneliness, anxiety about burdening loved ones and fears about dying. As we age, as Marcy Cottrell Houle found, we may struggle to keep “the aging demons at bay”. But as with all demons, once faced they turn out not to be as invincible as we feared.

Elizabeth Eckstrom has travelled the world in search of places where aging people are still living vital, purposeful and happy lives – places called “Blue Zones”, defined as locations where substantial numbers of the population live in good health for 100 or more years. Such people have low rates of age-related diseases and extremely low rates of dementia. Her findings on why this is so informed many of the strategies discussed in the book.

There is a wealth of information in the book, ranging from recipes for healthy eating and financial planning at one end of the scale to spiritual wisdom and reflections on what life and death might mean for those grappling with these profound questions in the “third act” of our lives.

A focus of the book that particularly resonated with me was the emphasis on the importance of developing a sense of purpose. This is so much more than filling in time. Having a sense of purpose is vital to our ability to face each day with optimism. The authors make it clear that it isn’t always easy. Succumbing to apathy and self-pity is often the path of least resistance. But making a conscious decision to find purposeful work and activities, volunteering, helping others or pursuing a passion brings rich rewards.

A must-read for anyone dealing with ageing related issues and their loved ones and friends. Or even for younger people who are contemplating this last stage of their lives with apprehension.

My thanks to NetGalley and Cambridge University Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for this review.

[Marleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

We learn that there are things that you can do that will make the aging process easier.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

a must read for us "older adults"

[Chip Rigsbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly anecdotal evidence about methods to preserve mental and physical health while ageing. Even so, the examples were interesting and compelling.

[AnnieM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has loads of pearls of wisdom in it! The subtitle is Growing Older with Purpose, Planning, and Positivity. This book is applicable to my aging parents but also to myself. It is a combination of stories and life lessons from people including Bob from Bob Mills (think flours and oatmeal!). Some of the nuggets in this book are that we take care of ourselves by taking care of others; that if we make a contribution and be a part of a cause that is greater and more enduring than ourselves then we can feel we have purpose and are leaving a legacy. The book has helpful actions to take as we age. The authors also describe "denialists" and "realists" - denialists fear aging and don't take steps to prepare where realists view life as it actually is and adjust as needed. I found this to be a very helpful framing. They also give tips on diet and exercise and even include a few recipes! I found this book to be an informative read and I will be referring back to the tips and recipes.

Thank you to Netgalley and Cambridge University Press for an ARC and I left this honest review voluntarily.