Sept. 2002 This Active Life -- Books

These new releases can help you with retirement finances or travel--or provide a fresh perspective on 'aging well.

What Leads to Happier Golden Years?

In our youth-obsessed culture, the baby boomer generation has created all sorts of concoctions from "wonder creams" to plastic surgery in hopes of slowing down Father Time. But in Aging Well: Surprising Guideposts to a Happier Life, Dr. George Vaillant, M.D., advises embracing aging, rather than fearing it.

Vaillant, the director of the landmark Harvard Study of Adult Development, writes from the perspective of a researcher, scholar, and friend. Deftly weaving together hard data and poignant stories, he discusses his personal encounters with the 864 subjects who were chosen as teenagers more than half a century ago and have been continuously tracked and studied for six to eight decades.

The subjects fell into three groups: the Harvard sample, consisting of well-off, Harvard males; the inner-city sample, young men consisting of sons of blue-collar, European immigrants; and the Terman Women sample, consisting of middle-class young women who exhibited high intelligence. (One note: a significant drawback of the study is the absence of subjects of non-European ancestry. Vaillant notes that during the selection process for the Terman sample, equally bright Chinese-American students were left out due to the biases of the early researchers. While Vaillant argues that race is not a factor in determining happiness in the later years, race not being a factor in the selection process could surely skew the results.)

Based on thorough academic research, the book outlines the factors that contribute to aging well along with the factors that do not, but what makes the book unique is being able to get to know the subjects as people rather than guinea pigs.

Vaillant writes clearly and honestly sans scientific jargon. He concludes that "individual lifestyle choices" play the greatest role in determining happiness in people's later lives, not genetics, wealth, or race. This book challenges prevailing negative views on aging and offers helpful advice on effective ways to live a happier and more satisfying life in the later years. $24.95 (hardcover) from Little, Brown and Company.

To order, go to www.twbookmark.com or call (800) 759-0190.

--Lorinda Bullock

Deals for the Over-50 Crowd

Did you know that there are free or almost-free college educational opportunities for people over 50? Or that there are special clubs, vacations, and matchmaking services for you too?

The new 2002-2003 edition of Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're 50 can help you save a bundle on airfare, trains, buses, car rental, vacations, and hotels. This handy guide also spotlights discounts on automobile and homeowners insurance--all just for people over 50 and ready to take on the world. Author Joan Rattner Heilman eliminates the excuses, "It costs too much" or "I'm too old," and provides an easy-to-use, must-have reference guide for active retirees. The book includes useful tips and gives the contact information for every group or company cited. $14.95 from Contemporary Books. To order, go to www.books.mcgraw-hill.com or call (877) 833-5524.

Quick Reads

Retire Abroad?
In The Grown-Up's Guide to Retiring Abroad, author Rosanne Knorr writes on how to have a relaxing, culturally rewarding time. $14.95 from Ten Speed Press. To order, call (800) 841-BOOK or go to www.tenspeed.com.

Plan, Plan, Plan
This guide, the 2002 edition of Retiring Right, by Lawrence J. Kaplan, teaches you to make smart investments, find the best places to live on a fixed income, and avoid common retirement pitfalls. $17.95 from Square One Publishers. To order, call (516) 535-2010 or go to www.squareonepublishers.com.