An interesting look into President Carter's post-White House years. Full of good advice from someone who is making the most of his golden age of life.

This was a nice little book written to make one feel better about getting older. President Carter explains about some of the benefits of being older and how one can improve ourselves over time. He encourages education, volunteerism, getting things in order, staying healthy and so forth. I enjoyed this, was a quick and easy read.

A little dated but relevant for me because he wrote it at my age. Very insightful !

Aging and preparing for it.

Less a book about the virtues of aging as a book of personal observations and suggestions on aging. A decent book, but kind of bland.

I have this audio book, read by the author. I listened to most of it last year in the Spring. I have great respect for this man and would love to volunteer to work in his center in Atlanta. I help out on Habitat for Humanity. He has a good mind.

While there is much of note, and certainly some wisdom in this collection of brief essay-like writings, Former President Jimmy Carter's 1998 book shows its age both in its style, its contemporary references, and yes, its sexism, though it most likely wouldn't have been viewed that way then. So much has happened since and most of his generation (he's now 97) have passed on. Quite a few members of the Baby Boom generation, of which he is rather critical, and which includes his older children, are now of Medicare age. He must have forgotten that it was his generation that raised us.

While I honor his religious beliefs, he is somewhat overbearing in his multitude of references to them. There is just a single page in which he acknowledges other major faith traditions, though he does that carefully, diplomatically and respectfully. Those overwhelming declarations of his Christian beliefs make me somewhat uncomfortable, though I suspect he may be more welcoming and broader in his views by now.

I'd love to see a revised, contemporary version. I admire the former president for his many accomplishments in fostering the importance of human rights, diplomacy, and many other endeavors. It's too bad he was pushed out of the White House by the subterfuge of the Republican Party, and the lemming-like, unthinking hordes who elected Ronald Reagan, thus starting the sad, and now dangerous, slide downward of American democracy.

i don’t know what to do with the knowledge of 73 year old jimmy carters sex life

Bible for Aging

The Late President Carter provides us with a road map for Aging filled with wisdom and expertise. It is a guide for Aging gracefully and with purpose.

There is a season for this book. I found it lying around my father’s study. There’s no evidence he read it, and it’s highly unlikely he ever will read it. But as his offspring, middle-aged and occupied with thoughts of aging and caregiving, this was the right book for me to pilfer and set aside for a rainy day.

That rainy day was yesterday, the day Jimmy Carter died. The Virtues of Aging has no secrets for living to 100 years old. The book was written in the late nineties. But if you can get over the dated expressions of the capital i Internet, it’s fair to say the world is similar enough now to make this book interesting and encouraging. Carter’s arc in life through different careers gives him a unique perspective. He makes it clear that greatness is often in the agency of others, the pursuit of happiness deserves careful thought, and the growing imminence needs maturity and courage.

His references to his faith and Lewis’s Four Loves may add value to this read for Christian men.

Suggestions for Living to a Ripe Old Age

Jimmy Carter asks the reader, - when are we old? He follows up, by Rules saying that the correct answer is that each of us is old when we think we are—when we accept an attitude of dormancy, dependence on others, a substantial limitation on our physical and mental activity, and restrictions on the number of other people with whom we interact; not to how many years we’ve lived. He continues by telling the reader: "Two thirds of our physical ailments and premature deaths are caused by our own deliberate choice of lifestyle and can be delayed or prevented with proper habits."

Carter states that he believes: "Our primary purpose in our golden years is not just to stay alive as long as we can, but to savor every opportunity for pleasure, excitement, adventure, and fulfillment. There is still a difference between how long we live and how much we enjoy living. With reasonably good health, there are two crucial factors in how happy or successful an older person is: (1) having a purpose in life and (2) maintaining quality relationships with others."

"Some sociologists have decided that the three most significant predictors of successful aging are (1) the level of education we have attained, (2) the amount of physical activity that we maintain, and (3) the degree of control that we feel we have over our own destiny." Carter says: "I’m inclined to agree with an elaborate study sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation, which concluded that the three indicators of successful aging are (1) avoiding disease and disability, (2) maintaining mental and physical function, and (3) continuing engagement with life."

"It is a sign of maturity when we can accept honestly and courageously that frustrated dreams,illness, disability, and eventual death are all normal facets of a person’s existence—and that despite these, we can still continue to learn, grow, and adopt challenging goals. The simple things—our own happiness, peace, joy, satisfaction, and the exploration of love in all its forms—are the key to the virtues of life, at any age. You are old when regrets take the place of dreams."

"SOME OF THE most valuable advice I’ve ever received is that it’s better to use recreation to preserve health rather than to use medicines and treatment to regain health."- Jimmy Carter in The Virtues of Aging.

Tips From A Man Who Has Lived Life Well

I’m 72 and for the first time this year I had to confront the idea that many of those significantly younger than me view me and my fellow seniors as either irrelevant or impediments. It wasn’t a good feeling, so this book has proven to be interesting counterpoint.
I’m not sure Jimmy Carter was a great president, but his is certainly a long life well lived and post presidency, he has certainly found ways to remain relevant. Who better to offer some uplifting advice about the upside of being retired.
There aren’t a lot of new ideas in his book, but it serves as a wake-up call that we seniors are not helpless and largely control the choices we make.
I needed the reminder.