Books about aging that have been helpful to you?
January 20, 2025 7:07 PM   Subscribe

What are some books – practical advice or philosophical reflection – about aging that have been helpful to you in navigating the process?

I am getting deeper into middle age, and my parents are now elderly and beginning to get frail. It has become clear in the last year that we are all on the cusp of some major changes related to aging and the approach of death. I am casting a broad net here, but looking to put together a reading list that might help me think through and be better prepared for this
posted by ryanshepard to Human Relations (10 answers total) 66 users marked this as a favorite
 
Enjoy Old Age: A Practical Guide, by BF Skinner
posted by the Real Dan at 7:33 PM on January 20


M. F. K. Fisher - Sister Age
posted by Lemkin at 7:57 PM on January 20 [2 favorites]


Try Roz Chast's Can’t we talk about something more pleasant? It absolutely nails the experience of tending for aging parents till the end. Here's my review of it.
posted by zompist at 9:34 PM on January 20 [11 favorites]


Speaking of tending for aging parents, The Reluctant Carer is very, very good.
posted by Calvin and the Duplicators at 2:56 AM on January 21 [2 favorites]


Elderhood by Louise Aronson is excellent.

Posting the link here, because I failed at embedding: https://bookshop.org/p/books/elderhood-redefining-aging-transforming-medicine-reimagining-life-louise-aronson/7178364?ean=9781620405475
posted by massa intermedia at 5:59 AM on January 21


For older women, I bought a copy for my mom and my MIL of Women Rowing North by Mary Pipher. I did that because I checked it out of my library and found it thoughtful.
posted by Kitteh at 6:15 AM on January 21


David Snowdon's narrative of the "nun study" wrt Alzheimer's, dementia, and how the aging process varies among seemingly similar people was a rewarding read for me.
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 6:40 AM on January 21


I strongly recommend Atul Gawande's Being Mortal.
posted by adamrice at 9:19 AM on January 21 [5 favorites]


Not immediately applicable to aging, but applicable to one of the awful consequences of aging: The Orphaned Adult by Alexander Levy, which I read after my mom passed some years ago.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 10:59 AM on January 21


I liked Stupid Things I Won't Do When I Get Old. A Highly Judgmental, Unapologetically Honest Accounting of All the Things Our Elders Are Doing Wrong, by Steven Petrow. Much nicer than it sounds.
posted by metonym at 3:14 PM on January 21 [2 favorites]


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