Product Description

"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. Now in his seventies, President Carter has never enjoyed more prestige or influence on the world stage, nor has he ever felt more profound happiness with himself, with his accomplishments, and with his beloved wife, Rosalynn. In The Virtues of Aging, Jimmy Carter shares the knowledge and the pleasures that age have brought him. Blending memoir, anecdote, political savvy, and practical advice, this book truly illuminates the rich promises of growing older.

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.

As the book unfolds, 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1811111 in Books
• Published on: 1998-10-13
• Released on: 1998-10-13
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 140 pages

From Amazon.com
When Jimmy Carter left the White House in 1981, he and his wife, Rosalynn, had to face the same questions many elder Americans encounter when retirement approaches: "How could we accommodate the unpleasant circumstances that had been forced on us? What were our assets and abilities? What were the dependable factors in a good life, and how could we recognize and develop them? Was it at all possible for us to be as satisfied in the future as we had been during some of our most interesting, adventurous, and successful times? Did we have anything much to offer in the years ahead?" In the years since, both Carters have become internationally recognized for their work as authors, teachers, and humanitarians, but as Carter amiably insists in The Virtues of Aging, you don't need to be a former president (or first lady) to make a difference in your life and the lives of others. He urges older Americans to take charge of their lives--by staying active, whether it's through volunteerism or indulgence in personal recreation; by relying on oneself as much as possible; by getting involved with others; and by putting one's affairs in order with an honest self-awareness of the inevitability that even the richest, most rewarding life comes to a close. Like all the books in the Library of Contemporary Thought series, this is a fairly short tome, but it lives up to the best in the series--such as Pete Hamill's News Is a Verb or Seymour Hersh's Against All Enemies--by presenting readers with something to ponder on just about every page.

From AudioFile
President Carter packs his accumulated wisdom about aging and growing older into two cassettes. Topics include determining what you want to do now; changing interests, hobbies and activities; and contributing time to good causes. In his slow drawl, President Carter encourages the listener to slow down and consider his words carefully. Full of stories and self-discovery, President Carter's book presents useful suggestions for learning new things and exploring new activities while one ages gracefully. M.B.K. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Ingram
Jimmy Carter shares the knowledge and the pleasures that age has brought him. Blending memoir, anecdote, political savvy, and practical advice, this book truly illuminates the rich promises of growing older. This work celebrates both the blessings that come to us as we grow older and the blessings older people can bestow upon others. Part of "The Library of Contemporary Thought" series. Unabridged. Available now.