The Joy of Old presents a new vision of positive aging based on continued development in elderhood, during which successful elders blossom into human fullness with integrity and spirit. This guide for elders and mature boomers suggests we protire (rather than retire), shows how values change with age and why joy in age seems countercultural today. The book discusses the transformation from midlife to elderhood, strategies for aging, and the ten marks of successful elders. Each core page presents one idea, clarified by one or more drawings. 160 pages, 135 drawings.
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Editorial Reviews
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Look for the publication of this title in July: it provides an unusual, positive view of aging and reveals what gets better with age and how to replace standard negatives with more positive observations on aging. From learning to be more candid to mastering age effects, this packs in important lessons. -- Midwest Book Review
Read this wise and joyous book to discover how aging can be more adventurous, valuable, and rich. The Joy of Old is a gem of a book. It captures the essence of positive aging in a simple yet profound way. Just what we boomers need to face aging with vision and hope. -- Ken Dychtwald, author of Age Wave and president and CEO of Age Wave, Inc.
Retire? Thats something you do to a wheel. The authors suggest Protirement instead. Switch to a new phase of life and refocus, cope with change, embrace elderhood. Drop the daily concern about a job schedule. Its just one of the hundreds of ideas Murphy and Hudson propose in this book, which is for elders, not about them. By century's end there will be 100,000 Americans who have lived 100 years. The "golden years" last longer now. And a new strategy needs adopting. First, reject the stereotype of age, take care of the body (it's never too late) and shore-up that financial plan. Then put economic issues on the back burner. Get rid of life's clutter and busyness. Turn the frenetic energy of midlife into a more leisurely approach to the world around you. Accept death: it's inevitable, so stare it down and think five years ahead to stay future-oriented. A good start? List the things you've always wanted to do...then mark those that spark a passion. Friends will die; gri! eve them and replace them with new ones, including younger people for whom you can be a mentor. And turn up the spirit as the body fades. If religion is your highway, fine. But inner spirit is the key. Splendid prescriptions for joy beyond that pasture. -- The Book Reader
We are living longer than our ancestors, with more leisure along the way. Yet our society's picture of those years at the far end of the life spectrum--elderhood--is not an attractive one. We tend to see the dark side of aging but not its bright side. Viewed through the materialistic paradigm, aging is a necessary but negative consequence of living, inevitably accompanied by declines in physical constitution, mental acuity, and vitality. Yet it could be otherwise; other cultures appreciate and honor age.
Read this wise and joyous book to discover how aging can be more adventurous, valuable, and rich. The Joy of Old is a gem of a book. It captures the essence of positive aging in a simple yet profound way. Just what we boomers need to face aging with vision and hope. -- Ken Dychtwald, author of Age Wave and president and CEO of Age Wave, Inc.
Retire? Thats something you do to a wheel. The authors suggest Protirement instead. Switch to a new phase of life and refocus, cope with change, embrace elderhood. Drop the daily concern about a job schedule. Its just one of the hundreds of ideas Murphy and Hudson propose in this book, which is for elders, not about them. By century's end there will be 100,000 Americans who have lived 100 years. The "golden years" last longer now. And a new strategy needs adopting. First, reject the stereotype of age, take care of the body (it's never too late) and shore-up that financial plan. Then put economic issues on the back burner. Get rid of life's clutter and busyness. Turn the frenetic energy of midlife into a more leisurely approach to the world around you. Accept death: it's inevitable, so stare it down and think five years ahead to stay future-oriented. A good start? List the things you've always wanted to do...then mark those that spark a passion. Friends will die; gri! eve them and replace them with new ones, including younger people for whom you can be a mentor. And turn up the spirit as the body fades. If religion is your highway, fine. But inner spirit is the key. Splendid prescriptions for joy beyond that pasture. -- The Book Reader
We are living longer than our ancestors, with more leisure along the way. Yet our society's picture of those years at the far end of the life spectrum--elderhood--is not an attractive one. We tend to see the dark side of aging but not its bright side. Viewed through the materialistic paradigm, aging is a necessary but negative consequence of living, inevitably accompanied by declines in physical constitution, mental acuity, and vitality. Yet it could be otherwise; other cultures appreciate and honor age.
This book provides a new vision of elderhood as a natural, powerful and valuable stage of human development in which the fullness of human maturity emerges. . . . The book suggests ten marks by which successful elders can be recognized--those who have found the joy and strength of this stage of life rather than looking enviously toward a time which is no longer theirs.
While most of this may seem like just plain "good sense", reinventing elderhood challenges deeply embedded societal assumptions linked to an emphasis on youth, strength and beauty as necessary requirements for happiness. The book is remarkably "reader-friendly" and uses simple language to help reframe aging as a unique developmental opportunity, with its own tasks, timetable and rewards. -- Noetic Sciences Review
About the Author
John S. Murphy, PhD, 73. His life activities include psychotherapist, consultant, speaker, WWII veteran, computer pioneer, entrepreneur and author of several books. He earned a PhD in psychology at age 53. Married over 49 years, he has six children and ten grandchildren.
Frederic M. Hudson, PhD, is a consultant, speaker, pioneer in distance learning, coaching and mentoring, scholar in adult development, and author of several books. He is president of the Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent companion to 'The Adult Years' & 'Life Launch',
By Lee Say Keng "KNOWLEDGE ADVENTURER/TECHNOLOGY... (Ho Chi Minh City/Singapore) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Joy of Old: A Guide to Successful Elderhood (Paperback)
This is an excellent companion to Frederick Hudson's 'The Adult Years: Mastering the Art of Self Renewal' & 'Life Launch: A Passionate Guide to the Rest of Your Life'.
Frederick Hudson also happened to be the co-author of this interesting book. I particularly liked the two authors' warm approach to sharing insightful observations & important lessons about elderhood. Instead of the traditional approach to dealing with retirement, & of course, aging, they urged readers to think proactively. They coined the term: protirement. Their meaningful & practical suggestions are phrased along this way. For example (also my personal favourites): - turn frenetic energy of mid life into a more leisurely approach to the world around you; - Accept death: it's inevitable, so stare it down & think five years ahead to stay future-oriented; - friends will die; grieve them & replace them with new ones, including younger ones for whom you can be mentor; Bravo to John & Frederick! Great Work!
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