World Book Day: Top 5 Books On Aging

April 23rd is World Book Day, and why not celebrate by taking a read of one of WayWiser’s favorite books on aging? Our top picks cover the gamut from technology to finances, to lifestyle and more. Read on to learn more about the experience of aging and how it affects us all differently with these five engrossing books.

1 – I Remember Nothing, by Nora Ephron

One of our favorite books on aging is this modern classic. If you’re looking for a light but sharp observational book on aging, then pick up “I Remember Nothing.” The late author Nora Ephron wrote the screenplays for “When Harry Met Sally,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “Silkwood,” and other Hollywood hits. She brings her unique voice to “I Remember Nothing,” which includes reflections on her career, memories of her parents’ dinner parties, and her “Google moments”, aka senior moments. Reviewers on Amazon call “I Remember Nothing,” “fabulous,” “breathlessly funny,” “on target,” and “candid and witty.”

2 – Aging Thoughtfully, by Martha C. Nussbaum and Saul Levmore

Our second pick for the best books on aging is “Aging Thoughtfully: Conversations about Retirement, Romance, Wrinkles, and Regrets” takes a unique approach by pairing up essays from a philosopher (Nussbaum) with a lawyer/economist (Levmore), with all of the writing focused on topics related to aging. The authors cover when to retire, anti-aging cosmetic procedures, and how to provide for care in older age. There are also culturally relevant essays, such as musings on marriages between men and much younger women (which includes thoughts on former President Donald Trump). The “engaging, thoughtful, and often humorous exchanges” provide a valuable and stimulating discussion on aging more thoughtfully, according to Amazon. 

3 – Aging and the Digital Life Course, edited by David Prendergast and Chiara Garattini

Technology is constantly transforming all of our lives. This series of essays from commentators and researchers from around the globe takes a closer look at technology and aging, covering caregiving, social media, robotics, gaming, chronic disease/dementia management, the internet, smartphones, and much more. Reviewers say that “Aging and the Digital Life Course” provides real insight into how technology is used in an aging society and that it’s an “interesting” and “thought-provoking” read. This collection easily makes our list for the best books on aging.

4 – The New Old Me, by Meredith Maran

Ever wanted to reinvent yourself? It’s a common thought, and some people actually pull it off. Our fourth pick for the best books on aging is all about reinvention, and no less, someone trying to do it later in life while living in youth-obsessed Hollywood. That’s what readers learn about in “The New Old Me,” where author Meredith Maran experiences the death of her best friend, a financial downfall, and the collapse of a marriage. She then leaves life in San Francisco for Los Angeles. One reviewer calls it a “must read” for everyone as we get older. Readers also praise Maran’s book as poignant, funny, and moving. 

5 – Being Mortal: Medicine and What Happens in the End, by Atul Gawande

This bestseller, and our final pick for this roundup of the best books on aging, comes from surgeon and New Yorker writer Atul Gawande and focuses on the value of making the remaining time in life meaningful, even if that remaining time is short. His book is often a plea for the medical profession to help improve quality of life for those who are older and live in senior care facilities. “Everyone should read this book,” says one reader, while others praise it as the ideal tome for someone with a terminal illness or for those caring for loved ones who have declining health.