'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 70s,
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 56,
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, 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 canbestow 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.
