Books Archive

Breaking the Age Code

Retirement Wisdom · Mar 4, 2024 ·

by Dr. Becca Levy

People tell me I’m getting older and maybe that’s happening to you, too. It’s an important aspect of retirement. You’ll bring many things to your retirement and perhaps the most important will be your attitude. And that includes your attitude towards aging.

If your doctor told you there was a pill that would add over 7 years to your life, would you be interested? Well, there’s not a magic pill, but something simpler – your beliefs about aging. In Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long and Well You Live, Becca Levy, a psychologist, epidemiologist and professor at the Yale, shares groundbreaking research that found a 7.5 year difference in lifespan between those who held positive views on getting older versus those who had negative beliefs about aging.

And you need to work on those positive beliefs because in our society today, ageism is everywhere. Stereotypes about age are insidious, and can be encountered at work, at your doctor’s office, the pharmacy, the grocery story and even in interacting with friends and family. And the research shows that it takes a toll – on mental, emotional and physical health, cognitive ability and overall well-being. Dr. Levy shares data and case studies on the damaging effects of negative perceptions of aging and how they can shape self-perception and behavior and accelerate decline over time.

But beyond the compelling research, which is sure to get your attention, Breaking the Age Code offers strategies for individuals and institutions. There are practical and specific ways recommended to foster positive beliefs and public policy solutions to combat ageism and create a more equitable world.

It’s easy to spot ageism in others. If you’re like me, you’ll find the book leads you to reflect on our own beliefs about aging and identify how societal ageism may have a more subtle effect on our thinking than we may realize.

Becca Levy’s research is substantial and significant. Breaking the Age Code is a powerful wake up call and a must-read if, like me, you’re getting older.

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Buy Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long and Well You Live by Dr. Becca Levy

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Retirement Wisdom · Feb 19, 2024 ·

by Elisabeth Sharp McKetta

What do you do after you design your life? Elizabeth Sharp McKetta has a great idea: edit your life. I read over 60 books last year and this is the by far best book I read.

McKetta describes it as an “organizing book for the soul” and while it’s not about retirement specifically, that event could be a timely catalyst for this impactful book. A talented editor brings out the best in a writer’s work, sharpens it’s focus and illuminates it’s essence. This book helps you do the same with your life.

Edit Your Life presents a powerful process to reflect on your life and make targeted edits to amplify your satisfaction. The book is organized three parts. Part One entails examining your life with an eye toward the possibilities of what it could become and a look at what is needed. Part Two immerses you in the editing process. You’ll edit for clarity, growth and generosity. In Part Three you put your edits into action in your daily life and focus on enjoyment.

Along the way, McKetta introduces a number of compelling and useful ideas. One of my favorites is First Choices or “painless long shots.” When you’re considering making a change or choosing a new pursuit, don’t settle. Set your sights higher and start with the best option. Another is her idea of following the wisdom of the seasons. Clarify what’s necessary for each season and take full advantage of the unique offerings of each one. This a great concept for the seasons of the year and for the seasons of life as well.

Edit Your Life is a wonderful and practical book that emphasizes looking at what’s necessary and what’s possible. It’s a valuable resource for people considering what’s next?

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Buy Edit Your Life by Elisabeth Sharp McKetta

Listen to my podcast conversation with Elisabeth Sharp McKetta here

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Book summaries you may be interested in:

Designing Your Life

Retirement Wisdom · Jan 31, 2024 ·

By Christina Wallace

This is yet another excellent book that’s not explicitly all about retirement, yet very applicable to retirement.

Christina Wallace describes herself as a “human Venn Diagram.” Her portfolio life includes being a Senior Lecturer at the Harvard Business School, startup mentor, angel investor, writer, podcaster and theater producer – and that’s just on the professional side of her life.

The core idea of this book is taking business frameworks and exploring how they can be used in life planning and design. A foundational concept behind The Portfolio Life is a familiar principle in investing: diversification. Wallace makes a compelling case against putting all of your eggs in any one basket, when it comes to designing your life. It’s a concept that fits quite well with planning your life in retirement. Rather than looking for a singular interest to replace what full-time work provided you, craft a combination of multiple pursuits instead.

Another useful idea that Wallace advocates is to create your own personal Board of Directors who can advise and assist you in your future endeavors. And like an organization’s board, she notes that you’ll want to think through the optimal roles and skills you’ll want the collective board to possess. She advises build a diverse group to play different roles like Coach, Negotiator, Connector, Cheerleader and Truth Teller.

Another practice Wallace recommends importing from the business word is measurement. What gets measured is indeed what gets done. She recommends building your Personal Balanced Scorecard to gauge how you’re doing with your new portfolio. Creating it can be a thought provoking exercise in defining and clarifying what success and and/or satisfaction will look like for you in your new life.

If you’re unclear about your vision for your future The Portfolio Life includes practical exercises that can help you started. One especially powerful one is 100 Wishes, which she described in my podcast conversation with her. You can listen in here and get started on building your own portfolio life.

Buy The Portfolio Life here

Listen to my podcast conversation with Christina Wallace

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Related Book Summaries You May Like:

Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

Tapas Life by Andrew Robin

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Retirement Wisdom · Dec 29, 2023 ·

How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen | by David Brooks

While I don’t especially love the title of this new book by David Brooks, I do appreciate his insightful books, especially The Road to Character and The Second Mountain. I find that they offer a different perspective and practical ideas on mid-to-later life.

In How to Know a Person, Brooks continues sharing the research and experiences underpinning his journey of reflection and personal growth. This book focuses on honing the ability to truly see and understand others as a key building block for healthy relationships, meaningful connection and community, all of which are key elements in a satissfying life in retirement. Brooks sees this ability as an important skill that can be developed and cultivated over time. Brooks starts with power of observing others carefully, and explores the value of empathy, deep listening, vulnerability and the art of meaningful conversation. He also has a take on wisdom. In his view it’s not about knowledge – it’s “about knowing about people.”

The core idea I’m taking away from How to Know a Person is a choice that Brooks poses: Are you an Illuminator or a Diminisher?

He explains that Illuminators are genuinely curious about others and know how to ask the right questions at the right time. They know how to read people. They bring out the best in people up amplify their strengths, including ones that they may not fully see in themselves. In contrast, Diminishers are self-absorbed and make other people feel small. I think this is an important choice to consider and can have a big impact on your relationships, interactions and satisfaction in life. This book offers useful ” how-to” ideas on understanding others better and enhancing your skills in building deeper relationships.

In 2024, let’s strive to be Illuminators – and minimize the time we spend with Diminishers (the in-person ones and the virtual ones).

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Retirement Wisdom · Dec 9, 2023 ·

Quitting: A Life Strategy: The Myth of Perseverance―and How the New Science of Giving Up Can Set You Free by Julia Keller

They say that breaking up is hard to do. Is something telling you it’s time to move on? Could a single word be standing between you and the next phase of life you’ve been planning for and dreaming about?

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Julia Keller thinks that we need to step back an reconsider our beliefs about the emotionally charged word quitting. In our culture we highly value grit and staying the course. We’re taught from a very young age the importance of perseverance. In sports and in the work world, it’s rewarded. And these traits and indeed valuable. But Keller notes, perhaps we overvalue them. She points out that in a many situations sticking it out is not the smartest play. Moving on is. But our aversion to quitting often holds us back from making the bold decision to change course and pursue a different path. Keller makes a compelling case for why strategic quitting can be transformational in certain situations and lays out why it can be a courageous act of love to make a course correction versus sticking it out. She explores the neuroscience behind quitting and recounts examples from her own life, and the experiences of people from various walks of life for whom quitting was exactly the right move.

While this is not specifically a book about retirement, if you’re contemplating retirement or a pivot to a second act, you’ll find this book to be timely, insightful and thought-provoking.

Listen to my podcast conversation with Julia Keller here

Buy Quitting: A Life Strategy: The Myth of Perseverance―and How the New Science of Giving Up Can Set You Free

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