Overview

As she approached her fiftieth birthday, Debra Whitman, a globally recognized expert on aging, wanted to delve deeper into why so many Americans struggled to live well as they aged. And she began to wonder what was in store for her own second fifty. Suddenly, the questions she’d been studying for years became personal: How long will I live? Will I be healthy? Will I lose my memory? How long will I work? Will I have enough money? Where will I live? How will I die? Americans are now living decades longer than previous generations. These added years offer exciting possibilities but also raise crucial questions. In her groundbreaking book, Whitman provides a roadmap for navigating, and celebrating, the second half of life. Drawing on compelling stories from her own family and people across the country, interviews with experts, and cutting-edge research, she shares insights on brain health, the contributions and concerns of an older workforce, caregiving, financing retirement, and more. Her findings are often surprising: Americans over fifty are a boon to—not a drain on—the economy. Dementia rates have actually been declining as more people achieve higher levels of education and adopt healthier lifestyles. And while we’ve long known that staying connected to others is critical to mental health, it turns out it is also linked to a stronger immune system, lower blood pressure, and a longer life. Whitman presents practical steps we can take to help create a better second fifty for ourselves. But we can’t do it alone. Whitman also calls for urgently needed changes that would make it easier for every American to enjoy a vital and meaningful second half of life. Whether you are approaching fifty, into your later years, or caring for someone who is, you’ll find a wealth of wisdom in these pages. Informed by Whitman’s unmatched expertise and her deep passion, The Second Fifty is an indispensable guide for living well in the twenty-first century.

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9780393867657

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Reviews

"""Exhaustively researched and deeply intimate."" -- Joseph F. Coughlin, founder of the MIT AgeLab, and author of The Longevity Economy ""The most important book you can read on longevity and aging, The Second Fifty combines groundbreaking science, keen policy insights, and practical recommendations to help us take control of our new longevity."" -- Laura Tamblyn Watts, author of Let’s Talk About Aging Parents ""As wise and joyful as it is practical, The Second Fifty helps us reclaim our sense of agency and possibility in the second half of life. As individuals and as an aging society, this is the book we didn't know we needed."" -- Ai-jen Poo, Executive Director of Caring Across Generations ""In this thoroughly illuminating and beautifully written book, Debra Whitman shows us why she is our preeminent expert on aging policy—and one of our wisest guides to navigating the years beyond fifty with purpose, connection, and joy."" -- Marc Freedman, author of How to Live Forever ""Both a must-read for diverse individuals of all ages and backgrounds and a playbook for policymakers committed to making the second fifty years of Americans’ lives better."" -- Dr. Lisa Berkman, author of Overtime ""Tackles the big questions we are all afraid to ask about aging with warmth, empathy, and humor. A must-read for everyone who thinks they will live beyond fifty—or knows someone who will."" -- Anne Lester, author of Your Best Financial Life ""The Second Fifty speaks directly to our biggest worries about growing old with vital information about how we and those we love can meet the aging process with more grace and wisdom. Beautifully written and a great read!"" -- Robert J Waldinger, MD, co-author of The Good Life"

"""Exhaustively researched and deeply intimate."" -- Joseph F. Coughlin, founder of the MIT AgeLab, and author of The Longevity Economy ""The most important book you can read on longevity and aging, The Second Fifty combines groundbreaking science, keen policy insights, and practical recommendations to help us take control of our new longevity."" -- Laura Tamblyn Watts, author of Let’s Talk About Aging Parents ""As wise and joyful as it is practical, The Second Fifty helps us reclaim our sense of agency and possibility in the second half of life. As individuals and as an aging society, this is the book we didn't know we needed."" -- Ai-jen Poo, Executive Director of Caring Across Generations ""In this thoroughly illuminating and beautifully written book, Debra Whitman shows us why she is our preeminent expert on aging policy—and one of our wisest guides to navigating the years beyond fifty with purpose, connection, and joy."" -- Marc Freedman, author of How to Live Forever ""Both a must-read for diverse individuals of all ages and backgrounds and a playbook for policymakers committed to making the second fifty years of Americans’ lives better."" -- Dr. Lisa Berkman, author of Overtime ""A compelling case that we must care for ourselves – all those healthy habits – but we don’t age alone. We have to muster our collective will and care about each other."" -- Jason Karlawish, MD, author of The Problem of Alzheimer's ""Tackles the big questions we are all afraid to ask about aging with warmth, empathy, and humor. A must-read for everyone who thinks they will live beyond fifty—or knows someone who will."" -- Anne Lester, author of Your Best Financial Life ""The Second Fifty speaks directly to our biggest worries about growing old with vital information about how we and those we love can meet the aging process with more grace and wisdom. Beautifully written and a great read!"" -- Robert J Waldinger, MD, co-author of The Good Life"

"""Exhaustively researched and deeply intimate."" -- Joseph F. Coughlin, founder of the MIT AgeLab, and author of The Longevity Economy ""The most important book you can read on longevity and aging, The Second Fifty combines groundbreaking science, keen policy insights, and practical recommendations to help us take control of our new longevity."" -- Laura Tamblyn Watts, author of Let’s Talk About Aging Parents ""In this thoroughly illuminating and beautifully written book, Debra Whitman shows us why she is our preeminent expert on aging policy—and one of our wisest guides to navigating the years beyond fifty with purpose, connection, and joy."" -- Marc Freedman, faculty co-director, Yale Experienced Leaders Initiative, and author of How to Live Forever ""Both a must-read for diverse individuals of all ages and backgrounds and a playbook for policymakers committed to making the second fifty years of Americans’ lives better."" -- Dr. Lisa Berkman, author of Overtime ""Debra Whitman tackles the big questions we are all afraid to ask about aging with warmth, empathy, and humor. She does a fantastic job weaving together scientific research, public policy, cultural and societal norms, and personal stories to help us understand what we can do. A must-read for everyone who thinks they will live beyond fifty—or knows someone who will."" -- Anne Lester, author of Your Best Financial Life ""As wise and joyful as it is practical, The Second Fifty helps us reclaim our sense of agency and possibility in the second half of life. As individuals and as an aging society, this is the book we didn't know we needed."" -- Ai-jen Poo, Executive Director of Caring Across Generations ""The Second Fifty speaks directly to our biggest worries about growing old with vital information about how we and those we love can meet the aging process with more grace and wisdom. Beautifully written and a great read!"" -- Robert J Waldinger, MD, co-author of The Good Life"

"""Debra Whitman’s book is a must read for policy makers as well as individuals from all walks of life and for all ages. The book is a playbook for policy makers committed to making the second fifty years of Americans lives better. She clearly points to strategies that cross all generations and the diversity of America."" -- Dr. Lisa Berkman, Cabot Professor of Public Policy and Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health"

Author Information

Debra Whitman, PhD, is AARP’s chief public policy officer and the former staff director for the Senate Special Committee on Aging. She holds a doctorate in economics from Syracuse University and lives in Maryland.

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