Books, Listed Alphabetically-ish by title, with commentary
Brooke Shields is not Allowed to get Old, Brooke Shields, January 2025, Flatiron Books. I listened to this book, and it was read by Brooke so that was fun. There were a lot of core messages around women and aging that really resonated with me.
Conscious Living, Conscious Aging: Claiming the Gifts of Elderhood, Ron Pevny, reprint 2014, Atria Books/Beyond Books - I’m reading this book now (May 2025) and finding it very on point in terms of the things I am thinking about. It provides many concrete activities to undertake to help you on your journey towards being an elder. The organization that Ron Pevny founded still hosts Conscious Eldering retreats across the country maybe twice a year. I’m considering attending one at some time.
The ElderGarten: A Field Guide for the Journey of a Lifetime, Sally Z. Hare, 2023, Prose Press, Pawley’s Island, SC, USA - This is short, sweet book that introduces many of the themes I am following for becoming an elder.
Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life, Richard Rohr, 2011, Jossey-Bass - This was the first book I read on this topic of considering your second half of life in a more deliberate way than our culture prescribes. My mom was a big fan of Richard Rohr, so when I saw this book, I knew I wanted to read it. I bought a copy for my mom as well, but we never discussed it, so I’m not sure if she read it or not.
From Age-Ing to Sage-Ing: A Revolutionary Approach to Growing Older, Zalman Schacter-Shalomi and Ronald S. Miller, original printing 1995, Grand Central Pub - this one I read a while back, but it was good enough that I purchased a copy after I finished reading the library one. I’ll have to come back and give a summary.
From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life, Arthur Brooks, 2022, Portfolio - This is the second book I read on this topic, and is much more focused on career/professional than the other books, But, there are many parallel themes, such as finding meaning and purpose, slowing down, reflecting on your life.
The Grief Recovery Handbook, John James and Russell Friedman, January 2017, William Morrow & Company. A therapist recommended this book when I was struggling after my mom died, and I have recommended it to several others since then. It helped me.
Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life, Sharon Blackie, 2022, September Publishing, UK - This book I am still trying to make my way through. I loved Sharon Blackie’s other two books - “If Women Rose Rooted” and “The Enchanted Life.” This one has been harder to get through - I’d love to have another person to talk with about it, so let me know if you start reading it and want to discuss.
Muse: The Magnetism of Women who Stop Abandoning Themselves, Dr. Amanda Hanson, 2025, Greenleaf Press - I am still reading this book. I met Dr. Hanson at a retreat she led in Boone, NC in June 2024. Her message about working through learned habits that were taught in our culture to find your own instinct resonates with me. She has a strong presence on Instagram, so you can look her up there also, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219356202-muse
The Power of Meaning: Creating a Life that Matters, Emily Esfahani Smith, 2017, Crown, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30008950-the-power-of-meaning
