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Anne L. Macdonald
5.0 out of 5 starsjustMarch 13, 2015
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I am 94, and I loved every thought in this book! My summary of the book would be what my mother always told me, "There are two words that will get you not just THROUGH life but enjoying it as you are living it: attitude and gratitude. "They seemed to be a theme of this book! I felt a real sense of peace as I turned these pages and found myself agreeing saying, "yes, that is right." They work for me.
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Richard Barbieri
5.0 out of 5 starsWisdom for the Aging -- and for the AgesAugust 17, 2014
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I have read this book fully twice in the past decade. It is both the most solidly based research on what makes for a happy old age, and one of the most humane and thoughtful records of elders speaking for themselves to a sympathetic, wise, and literate hearer. As I move into the age group discussed by the book, I find it an invaluable guide to self-care in both the physical and the mental/spiritual dimensions. Thank heaven George Vaillant started this work at a young age and has continued it for so many years. Give it to anyone you know who hopes or expects to live into their 60s or later.
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Interested Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars
Several of the critical reviews are misleading.June 8, 2014
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
I think this is an outstanding book, and would like to briefly respond to several of the critical reviews.
1. The author is quite conscious of the impact of privilege on the lives of the Harvard graduates he studies, and repeatedly makes efforts to determine what kinds of success are, or are not, the result of privilege. He pays close attention to the lives of the women in the Terman study, and the "Inner-City" men who were not born into privilege, to compare them with the experience of the white male Harvard graduates.
2. The methods of the study (as, I assume, with the field in general) repeatedly make efforts to correct for the bias of individual observers, including the author. Over the decades, there have been many efforts by "blind" raters to examine one part of the subjects' files, with no knowledge of the rest of that subject's file. I.e. a physician reads the file to evaluate the subject's physical health, with no knowledge of that subject's childhood, professional or personal life, etc. This is not simply about the author interviewing people and confirming his pet theories, although you could superficially get that impression.
3. The author is very frank and aboveboard, that he, like every one of us, has certain biases and prejudices in how he sees the world: he is a liberal East Coast academic. However, it is absurd to say that the book is simply a reflection of his prejudices. He writes sensitively and appreciatively about business-executive Republican types (though he is an academic liberal) and about religious believers (though he is not one). I personally am acutely sensitive to the ubiquitous and un-self-conscious liberal bias in the media and academia, and I really did not find any here. Any given page of the New York Times is 100x worse than this book, if liberal bias is something that bothers you.
Finally, a couple of interesting points that I believe the book proves well:
* Within the cohort of (those who were privileged enough to be) Harvard grads, there was little or no correlation between social status at birth and at the end of life. Many men began with trust funds and boarding school, and ended up scraping by; others from small country towns wound up wealthy.
* Many of the "Inner-City" men, who were raised in or near poverty, with few opportunities or privileges, were able to have healthy, rewarding, inspiring lives, with happy marriages, satisfying work, community ties, grandchildren, rewarding hobbies, etc. On average, they had worse physical health, less prestigious occupations, and lower incomes than the Harvard cohort, but were in no way less happy -- again, on average.
What I take away from this book is the idea that although gifts, talents, luck, personal, physical and intellectual qualities, looks, social status, and privilege are all very unequally distributed in life, it is possible to respond well or badly to life's slings and arrows, and that the nature of this response can have a huge impact on your later life. (i.e.: Avoid alcoholism at all costs!!! Seriously.)
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Roger Winn
5.0 out of 5 starsProgressive and meaningful perspectives for Aging WellMarch 17, 2014
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The areas that were the "intellectual set up for the "Aging Well" documentation were the deeper and least entertaining of this book but quite necessary for providing what would be required for drawing the meaningful conclusions for this book! However I will say that that without this documentation the conclusions drawn for the "Aging Well" premise would not be as well understood. I found the conclusions drawn and recommended to be very insightful and will be helpful on a personal basis. I will retread several of the last chapters where the major conclusions are shared and given meaning that I will personally benefit from for my own "Aging "Well" perspective. I can see where after having lost my wife last year after 50+ years of marriage this information will help me in dealing with my own personal grief reconciliation. Anyone needing a healthy perspective for aging and beginning to face their own immortality would also benefit from reading this book!!
I would never have found this book if it had not been on the end table of the Assisted Living Facility and caught my interest while awaiting an opportunity to talk with the Administrator of the facility where my wife was living prior to here passing.
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Robert L. Johnson
5.0 out of 5 starsWisdom & ClarityNovember 4, 2013
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This is the latest volume reporting the findings of a decades long study about how we "grow up". Two conclustions: 1. we should give a copy to every twenty-year old, but it would be a wasted effort!, 2. I found my perceptions re. my view of both the sources of success and the sources of wounds largely confirmed. There is comfort in both end points: that we may be gratified at the first and left with a clearer understanding that so much of our discomforts about who we are arose from many events and persons which were beyond our control. There is conentment to be found in these pages.
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Massachusetts native
4.0 out of 5 starsImportant SubjectMarch 15, 2011
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
The first half of this book is excellent. The author explains the value of the longitudinal study and then demonstrates its value over and over through the stories of the study's participants. The second half of this book is not as clear or specific as to what the author is trying to tell us. The theme seems to be happy, be outgoing, have a lot of friends and family, have a lot of activity, and you will age successfully. Also, there is an inordinate emphasis on cultivating a garden which is difficult for apartment and city dwellers.
The book is written for a lay person and the author clearly explains any technical information the reader needs to know. It is definitely worthwhile to read this book and glean from what you can that fits with your life.
3 people found this helpful
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Aging Well: Surprising Guideposts to a Happier Life from the Landmark Study of Adult Development
by
George E. Vaillant
3.94 · Rating details · 326 Ratings · 48 Reviews
In a unique series of studies, Harvard University has followed 824 subjects from their teens to old age. Professor George Vaillant now uses these to illustrate the surprising factors involved in reaching happy, healthy old age.
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Paperback, 384 pages
Published January 8th 2003 by Little, Brown and Company (first published 2002)
Original Title
Aging Well: Surprising Guideposts to a Happier Life from the Landmark Harvard Study of Adult Development
ISBN
0316090077 (ISBN13: 9780316090070)
Edition Language
English
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Dec 15, 2014Richard Weijo rated it really liked it
Aging Well by George E. Vaillant, MD. (New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2002).
I am very impressed by this book. The findings from Aging Well are based on a longitudinal study of the lives of three different groups of elderly men and women. One group is 268 male Harvard University sophomores selected between 1939 and 1942, most of who continued to participate in this study for nearly 60 years (or until their death). The second group is a sample of 456 disadvantages Inner City men born in 1930 studied for 70 years. The third group, a sample of 90 middle-class gifted women participating in the Terman Study conducted at Stanford University in 1922, were studied for almost 80 years. The male groups had periodic physical exams to evaluate their health. All groups completed periodic written surveys as well as participated in personal interviews to evaluate their mental health over the 60-80 year period.
With a background as a manager of marketing research, you can imagine why I would be so impressed with this qualitative and quantitative study. It is unprecedented to track respondents over a 60-80 year time period. The book is very clear and well-written. I don’t want to be a spoiler, so I will let you read the book. This book extensively uses the adult development process conceptualized by Erik Erickson. I was impressed by the importance of social and emotional maturation to adult well-being and healthy aging. (less)
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Jul 21, 2013Celia rated it liked it
Shelves: psychology-self-improvement
I might have given this book two stars. It was readable but I thought me and the author had a personality clash.
Some of the Harvard men led such remarkably good lives that I felt had not much relationship to mine or many "ordinary" people.
Also I know many people who have enoyed their retirement so seeing what made people enjoy retirement was not an issue for me.
The author stresses the importatance of family and children in sucessful aging. While I am married(which he also said was important), I don't have children or siblings so I could not relate/found disturbing about the importance of siblings and children when aging. (less)
May 21, 2016Frank rated it really liked it
Shelves: for-peaceful-reflection
A lot of anecdotes, but they are useful in demonstrating the author's ideas. A summary chapter would have been useful.
It is a hopeful book, in that Vaillant writes that your childhood has diminishing influence on your mental and physical health as you get older.
Having a large social circle that you care about is definitely good for maintaining a long life of health. Of course, you read about the usual suspects: don't smoke, don't abuse booze, have a great marriage, guide the young. So much of what he wrote agrees with what I read in Thirty Lessons for Living. I recommend you read both. (less)
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Dec 18, 2012Al rated it it was ok · review of another edition
I undertook this book after reading a favorable review of its recently-published sequel, Triumphs of Experience, in the WSJ. For over 40 years, Dr. Vaillant has led a Harvard study extending across the entire lives of a large (250+) group of Harvard graduates. Those subjects who are still alive are now in their late eighties or older. In this book, published in 2002, Dr. Vaillant reports on his findings as to what factors influence how lives (mostly men's, but a few women's as well) turn out. The book is full, perhaps overly full, of extended case studies of individuals. The meat of his arguments could have been served much more concisely and, for me at least, more effectively if the book had been less ad hominem. But then it wouldn't have been long enough to be a book, would it? Another concern was my perception that Dr. Vaillant, who has spent most of his adult life on this project, seemed so deeply involved with the study and its subjects that it raised a question about his objectivity. All in all, some interesting points, but not what I had hoped.
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Jun 06, 2012Rebecca rated it liked it
Shelves: nonfiction
Adult development, what an interesting idea! Fun to read about people in their 80s whose lives were followed in one of three studies, all brought together in this book. Some had very difficult childhoods; others began their lives with every advantage. We learn--Meeting up with good people can improve your life; alcohol and cigarette abuse are really bad for you; it's good to make new friends as the old leave or die; helping others can be really good for you. I read this at a good age. I was telling my mom about it; I think she could have written it. It has lots of good nuggets. Here's an example: Stuart Little listed 3 important rules: (1) Be a true friend. (2) Do the right thing. (3) Enjoy the glory of everything. (less)
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Feb 15, 2011Michael rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Shelves: brain-body-science
A masterpiece, a special blend of empirical research and wisdom from the humanities; it's firmly among the greatest in my pantheon of great books. Vaillant writes with grace, and this book is even better than his landmarkAdaptation to Life. The vignettes are revealing, joyous, sad, moving, and beautifully perceptive. It is a book I'll be rereading and giving as a gift many times throughout my life. VERY highly recommended!
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Mar 28, 2012Jean rated it liked it · review of another edition
I have always loved Self-Help books and nothing has changed there except I'm now reading books such as Aging Well!!!!! This would be a great read for someone in their late 40's/early 50's to learn from the well-documented longitudinal studies of three different groups of people from their childhood or teens into their late 70's or older. The author, Dr. George E. Vaillant, illustrates his points well with actual histories and it is interesting to have stories of actual people, although most names have been changed. I can't say that I learned anything really new and am glad that the predictive factors for a happy "old age" seem intact for me and my husband. Read the book to find out about your own! (less)
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Apr 01, 2013Kathryn Bashaar rated it liked it
I read this book about 10 years ago when it first came out and I thought it was really good, so I wanted to re-read it now that I'm closer to being old. I didn't get as much out of it this time. I think I had already absorbed most of its lessons 10 years ago and am living them. Still, some of the bios were interesting, and it did re-affirm NOT to get stale as I age, and especially not to allow my social circle to shrink, which I imagine is pretty hard when everybody you knew starts dying. Also encouraging to hear that many people are happiest after 60, still satisfied with their marriages and, if healthy, many people are even still happy with their sex lives. Woo hoo! (less)
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Sep 11, 2011Ryan rated it really liked it
Great statistics and great anecdotes, both working together to give a general picture of healthy aging. Made me both hopeful and apprehensive (still) about the topic of aging and eventually passing on. You could some it up, more or less, into six basic statements: don't be an alcoholic, don't smoke, be very generous with what you have, develop social connections at every step of life, continually play regardless of your age, and love deeply and freely. Always good advice.
As with most non-fiction, I feel like a good essay would have done the job. What made this better was that the anecdotes were really entertaining and interesting. (less)
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Jan 25, 2008Buffy added it
I learned from this book that aging well relies on more that just the physical care of the body. Relationships are another key aspect of living a healthy life, and this book reminded me that I do not want to get to the end of my life and not have had good friendships in it. I was also surprised to learn in this Harvard study that level of education played a role in aging well. I am a committed life-long learner.
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Nov 13, 2011Bumbierītis rated it did not like it
This book made me very upset. Alright, it was an experiment and I assume some of the data were useful/interesting. But the whole narrative is just stupid. The author marks all introvert people and especially the ones that aren't hyped about his little study as failures. You must have a wife and preferably still work 40 hours a week at the age 78 to be deemed successful. One model fits all, oh yea...
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Jan 12, 2011Lam rated it it was ok
Shelves: cornerstone-book-group
I skimmed a lot of this and skipped one or two chapters entirely. I read it for a book group and would never have chosen it to read it on my own. Some of the stories of people's lives were interesting. However,I am very suspicious of studies like this when they try to draw conclusions about people in general. And the longitudinal studies used as the basis for this book had a very narrow base.
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Jun 09, 2013Nuala rated it it was amazing
Shelves: life-learning
George Vaillant is one of my thought-heros. A leading academic, researcher and writer, he does not seek the spotlight but earns complete trust. The findings in this book have stood up to a decade of active research in numerous disciplines. If you want to age well, and who doesn't, read it for yourself and be creative in finding ways to share these essential findings with those you love.
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Aug 22, 2008Peter rated it liked it
The author teaches at Harvard, so the explanations of the research methods and analysis were, at times, a little over my head. But overall, the text was accessible, I found the discoveries fascinating...and what a great topic!
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Feb 16, 2008Joy Fox rated it liked it · review of another edition
George E Vaillant is a medical doctor who followed a longintudinal study of three cohorts or individuals as they aged. It is full of inspiration albeit, a tad dry of a read.
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Dec 30, 2010Joe rated it it was amazing
Shelves: ebook-kindle
Fascinating empirical study of what factors really make a difference towards enjoying old age.
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Jun 24, 2012Paul L'Herrou rated it really liked it
Very good (in most respects) based on human development research following populations over a long period of time.
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Jan 05, 2014Douglas rated it liked it
There is some excellent wisdom in this book, but it is hidden in lengthy anecdotes and rambling. Here's hoping all my goodread friends "age well".
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Mar 07, 2018Summer rated it liked it
"It's not the bad things that happen to us that doom us; it is the good people who happen to us at any age that facilitate enjoyable old age."
