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What a wise man who took the time to share some positive ways in which to face aging.
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The Virtues of Aging
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Former president Jimmy Carter reflects on aging, blending memoir, anecdote, political savvy, and practical advice to truly illuminate the rich promises of growing older.
“As we've grown older, the results have been surprisingly good,” writes former president Jimmy Carter in this wise, deeply personal meditation on the new experiences that come to us with age. President Carter had never enjoyed more prestige or influence on the world stage, nor had he ever felt more profound happiness with himself, with his accomplishments, and with his beloved wife, Rosalynn, than in his golden years. In The Virtues of Aging, Jimmy Carter shares the knowledge and the pleasures that age have brought him.
The approach to old age was not an easy one for President Carter. At fifty-six, having lost a presidential election, he found himself involuntarily retired from a job he loved and facing a large debt on his farm and warehouse business. President Carter writes movingly here of how he and Rosalynn overcame their despair and disappointment as together they met the challenges ahead.
President Carter delves into issues he and millions of others confront in planning for retirement, undertaking new diet and exercise regimens, coping with age prejudice, and sorting out key political questions. On a more intimate level, Carter paints a glowing portrait of his happy marriage to Rosalynn, a relationship that deepened when they became grandparents. Here too are fascinating sketches of world leaders, Nobel laureates, and great thinkers President Carter has been privileged to know—and the valuable lessons on aging he learned from them.
The Virtues of Aging celebrates both the blessings that come to us as we grow older and the blessings older people can bestow upon others. An important and moving book, written with gentleness, humor, and love, The Virtues of Aging is a treasure for readers of all ages.
“As we've grown older, the results have been surprisingly good,” writes former president Jimmy Carter in this wise, deeply personal meditation on the new experiences that come to us with age. President Carter had never enjoyed more prestige or influence on the world stage, nor had he ever felt more profound happiness with himself, with his accomplishments, and with his beloved wife, Rosalynn, than in his golden years. In The Virtues of Aging, Jimmy Carter shares the knowledge and the pleasures that age have brought him.
The approach to old age was not an easy one for President Carter. At fifty-six, having lost a presidential election, he found himself involuntarily retired from a job he loved and facing a large debt on his farm and warehouse business. President Carter writes movingly here of how he and Rosalynn overcame their despair and disappointment as together they met the challenges ahead.
President Carter delves into issues he and millions of others confront in planning for retirement, undertaking new diet and exercise regimens, coping with age prejudice, and sorting out key political questions. On a more intimate level, Carter paints a glowing portrait of his happy marriage to Rosalynn, a relationship that deepened when they became grandparents. Here too are fascinating sketches of world leaders, Nobel laureates, and great thinkers President Carter has been privileged to know—and the valuable lessons on aging he learned from them.
The Virtues of Aging celebrates both the blessings that come to us as we grow older and the blessings older people can bestow upon others. An important and moving book, written with gentleness, humor, and love, The Virtues of Aging is a treasure for readers of all ages.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1,1998
This edition
- Format
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160 pages, Paperback
- Published
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October 13, 1998 by Random House Publishing Group
- ISBN
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9780345425928
- ASIN
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0345425928
- Language
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English
About the author
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Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
James Earl Carter, Junior, known as Jimmy, the thirty-ninth president of the United States from 1977 to 1981, creditably established energy-conservation measures, concluded the treaties of Panama Canal in 1978, negotiated the accords of Camp David between Egypt and Israel in 1979, and won the Nobel Prize of 2002 for peace.
Ronald Wilson Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter, the incumbent, in the presidential election of 1980.
He served and received. Carter served two terms in the senate of Georgia and as the 76th governor from 1971 to 1975.
Carter created new Cabinet-level Department of education. A national policy included price decontrol and new technology. From 1977, people reduced foreign oil imports one-half to 1982. In foreign affairs, Carter pursued the second round of strategic arms limitation talks (SALT). Carter sought to put a stronger emphasis on human rights in 1979. People saw his return of the zone as a major concession of influence in Latin America, and Carter came under heavy criticism.
Iranian students in 1979 took over the American embassy and held hostages, and an attempt to rescue them failed; several additional major crises, including serious fuel shortages and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, marked the final year of his tenure. Edward Moore Kennedy challenged significantly higher disapproval ratings of Carter for nomination of the Democratic Party before the election of 1980. Carter defeated Kennedy for the nomination lost the election to Ronald Wilson Reagan, a Republican.
Carter left office and with Rosalynn Smith Carter, his wife, afterward founded the nongovernmental center and organization that works to advance human rights. He traveled extensively to conduct, to observe elections, and to advance disease prevention and eradication in developing nations. He, a key, also figured in the project of habitat for humanity. Carter particularly vocalized on the Palestinian conflict.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jimmyc...
James Earl Carter, Junior, known as Jimmy, the thirty-ninth president of the United States from 1977 to 1981, creditably established energy-conservation measures, concluded the treaties of Panama Canal in 1978, negotiated the accords of Camp David between Egypt and Israel in 1979, and won the Nobel Prize of 2002 for peace.
Ronald Wilson Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter, the incumbent, in the presidential election of 1980.
He served and received. Carter served two terms in the senate of Georgia and as the 76th governor from 1971 to 1975.
Carter created new Cabinet-level Department of education. A national policy included price decontrol and new technology. From 1977, people reduced foreign oil imports one-half to 1982. In foreign affairs, Carter pursued the second round of strategic arms limitation talks (SALT). Carter sought to put a stronger emphasis on human rights in 1979. People saw his return of the zone as a major concession of influence in Latin America, and Carter came under heavy criticism.
Iranian students in 1979 took over the American embassy and held hostages, and an attempt to rescue them failed; several additional major crises, including serious fuel shortages and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, marked the final year of his tenure. Edward Moore Kennedy challenged significantly higher disapproval ratings of Carter for nomination of the Democratic Party before the election of 1980. Carter defeated Kennedy for the nomination lost the election to Ronald Wilson Reagan, a Republican.
Carter left office and with Rosalynn Smith Carter, his wife, afterward founded the nongovernmental center and organization that works to advance human rights. He traveled extensively to conduct, to observe elections, and to advance disease prevention and eradication in developing nations. He, a key, also figured in the project of habitat for humanity. Carter particularly vocalized on the Palestinian conflict.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jimmyc...
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3.5 stars- I picked this up because it was short and I knew I could finish it in one sitting... it felt like taking Elder Law all over again. Still, Carter has a wonderful way with words. He has a charming and does a wonderful job of maintaining simplicity throughout. I'll definitely be looking forward to his backlist
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As I near 50 and think about the next half of my life, who better to consult on aging than Jimmy Carter? I'm not sure there's much here that I needed to learn per se, but I did get some new ideas and a lot of reassurance.
Attending a Sunday School class taught by President Carter is still one of the highlights of my life--all the better to have shared the experience with my mother. If ever there were someone who demonstrated servant leadership, it would be the Carters.
Attending a Sunday School class taught by President Carter is still one of the highlights of my life--all the better to have shared the experience with my mother. If ever there were someone who demonstrated servant leadership, it would be the Carters.
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A pleasant read
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Jimmy Carter describes how he and Rosalynn build a rich and full life after his "forced retirement" at 56 (when he failed to win re-election). As a young adult, he imagined a life with much fewer possibilities for himself as a 60 something, 70 something and 80 something. However, he built a life full of purpose, service, learning, devotion, and meaningful relationships with friends, family members, activists and volunteers. He also describes the rich and full lives of many people 80 plus, dispelling the myth that people past 65 have nothing to contribute. From the details of his book, it's clear that many mature people are making meaningful contributions in several venues. Inspiring and informative.
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Picked this up on a whim, and very glad I did: it's charmingly written and full of some pretty basic advice that I can often use reminders of. Plan for retirement, keep your body as healthy as possible, create new friendships and maintain the old ones, volunteer, revisit the topics that interested you when you were young.... and on & on. This is written by a 70-something for fellow seniors, but I'm feeling old enough lately to feel like I can use a lot of this advice. And it makes me nostalgic for a time when we had presidents (& ex-presidents) who exuded a sense of compassion and honor. (Of course, Jimmy Carter has always been a unique president in that way.)
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Former President Carter, now in his late nineties, wrote this over 20 years ago. He begins by saying that he was just 56 when he was "involuntarily retired" from being president and had to figure out the rest of his life. He tells quite a bit about his background and family members. Most striking is that none of his three siblings nor his father lived past 65, all of them dying of the same cause: pancreatic cancer. Carter's mother Lillian, widowed at 55, became a fraternity housemother, then nursing home manager, then Peace Corps volunteer at 68. Carter tells us that even into her eighties, she woke up each morning "with determination to make the new day an adventure." She died at 85.
Carter suggests practical ways that seniors can stay positive and engaged in life, through continuing education, participating in sports and fitness as they are able, activities with friends and family, and particularly through volunteering in their communities. He says the two crucial factors determining an older person's happiness and success are 1) having a purpose, and 2) maintaining quality relationships with others.
Overall, the tone of the book is relaxed and friendly, like sitting down for a chat with a wise elder.
Carter suggests practical ways that seniors can stay positive and engaged in life, through continuing education, participating in sports and fitness as they are able, activities with friends and family, and particularly through volunteering in their communities. He says the two crucial factors determining an older person's happiness and success are 1) having a purpose, and 2) maintaining quality relationships with others.
Overall, the tone of the book is relaxed and friendly, like sitting down for a chat with a wise elder.
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I enjoyed this read and since I have reached the early 70's in age, am pleased to know I've done more right than wrong. His work in meditation with foreign countries helped so much even though he was no longer President. His volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity is admirable. Thank your President Carter for a life we all should exemplify in our later years.
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