Mo Rocca

In "Roctogenarians," Mo Rocca and Jonathan Greenberg pay tribute to older men and women who strive to get the most out of each day. Some work into their nineties or even past one hundred. A few embark on new projects later in life, or complete ones that they had left unfinished when they were younger.

The book is divided into chapters with such themes as: Writers, Turning Loss into Gain, Ageless Architects, and Founding Fathers of Comedy. "Roctogenarians" is not only informative and show more entertaining, but it is also funny and poignant. Thanks to the authors' clever puns, witty prose, and lively anecdotes, the pages fly, and we are eager to discover more about artists, civil rights crusaders, musicians, scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs, and others whose remarkable stories inspired this delightful work of non-fiction. (There are even some playful biographies of fictional characters, a turtle, and horses, all of whom made their mark when youth was a distant memory.)

We learn about Ruth Slenczynska, a concert pianist who, at ninety-seven, released her first album in more than sixty years; Mary Church Terrell, an activist who, in her eighties, led the fight to integrate lunch counters in Washington, D. C.; and I. M. Pei, who was seventy-five when the Louvre, which he had redesigned and modernized, reopened in 1993. How refreshing it is to read about older folks from a wide variety of backgrounds who, often against formidable odds, achieve remarkable things when quite a few of their peers are content to enjoy a leisurely retirement. show less

This is a fun, entertaining, and (this will hurt) educational book. Mo Rocca writes with a light, comedic hand and, at the same time, provides information you do not but should know. And you learn without recognizing that such is the case. For example, it was amazing what I discovered about the station wagon.

“Wait!” you say, “Isn’t this a book of obituaries – of people who have died?” Yes, there are a lot of descriptions of people who are no longer with us. But there is more. As show more he states in the introduction “A Mobituary is an appreciation for someone who didn’t get the love she or he deserved the first time around…[But] there are also Mobits for people who aren’t people at all.”

Okay, describing a station wagon as “people” may be a stretch, but that is what is fun. Anyone and anything may appear. There are Mobituaries for the likes of Fanny Brice, Billy Carter, Vaughn Meader (Who? See, you’re wanting to learn already), Reconstruction (and that is a depressing chapter), Prussia, and dragons.

There are important things to be learned here. (The “Works Consulted” section is 35 pages long and provides additional reading that would keep anyone busy for quite a while.) But, allow me to repeat myself, these are entertaining. Very entertaining. And very fun.

I hadn’t heard of the Mobituaries podcast before reading this book. But now I think it might be worth checking out. And you should take the time to check out this book. You won’t be disappointed show less

[3.75] Perhaps Pablo Picasso said it best: “We don’t grow older, we grow riper.” This witticism puts a humorous spin on an underlying theme in “Roctogenarians:” late life is no time to surrender. Even in a youth-focused culture, we can turn our age into an asset.

CBS Sunday correspondent Mo Rocca and co-author Jonathan Greenberg aptly describe this eclectic collection of breezy bios as a banquet — “ a sumptuous feast of stories for every taste.“ But like any robust show more smorgasbord, not every dish will satisfy every reader. For example, I wasn’t overly interested in the sections involving late life accomplishments of folks in the military arena or milestones in people’s love lives (there goes my carefully cultivated image as a hopeless romantic.)

Having said that, this anthology of tales about the triumphs and milestones achieved by folks in the 60-to-death demographic is both inspiring and entertaining.

“Old people are my jam,” Rocca proclaimed in an NPR interview.

His enthusiasm for such stories is evident in every chapter. One must give credit to a literary duo who skillfully managed to include the stories of such a diverse cast of characters — from Norman Rockwell to Norman Lear. From Colonel Sanders to Mel Brooks. There are even delightful vignettes about Laura Ingalls Wilder and Clara Peller, a burger hawker who made all of us ask “Where’s the Beef?”

Although the book celebrates late-life comebacks, there’s also a section titled “Misspent Old Age” that examines successful people who self-destructed in old age (Can you say Guilani?)

“Roctogenarians” is an engaging book that serves as a reminder that we’re never too old to hit new heights. show less

Mo Rocca's "Mobituaries," written with Jonathan Greenberg, is a diverting and amusing compilation of essays in which Rocca recalls people, places, ideas, and objects that, in some cases, have been relegated to the dustbin of history. He also pays tribute to "great lives" that, until now, have not received the attention they deserved. Rocca entertains us with goofy humor, and edifies us with his encyclopedic knowledge of such topics as geography, history, politics, and the world of show more entertainment. He does not concentrate solely on past presidents, movie stars, humanitarians, and sports heroes. Rocca also gives a shout out to or, in some cases, disparages bygone fashion trends, political movements, medical diagnoses, scientific hokum, and tarnished reputations.

We are treated to intriguing tidbits concerning "firsts" and "lasts," people who died on the same day, black-sheep siblings, and places you won't find on a map. Furthermore, Rocca highlights the exploits of females who were ahead of their time, African-Americans who made their mark but were not given credit for their contributions, celebrities who stuck their necks out to help others, and other little-known facts that should please trivia fans.

What makes this book exceptional are its intimacy (Mo Rocca freely shares his feelings and opinions); conversational prose style; meticulous research backed up by an extensive bibliography; Rocca's endless curiosity about what makes people tick; and his compassion for those who, through no fault of their own, failed to accomplish their goals. He answers many questions, such as (in no particular order): Why is the name Giacomo Meyerbeer, the most famous opera composer of the nineteenth century, merely a footnote in the annals of classical music? What were Herbert Hoover's most important accomplishments before he was elected to the White House? Who technically preceded Jackie Robinson as the first African-American Major League ballplayer? What was Marlene Dietrich's true passion? Whatever happened to Disco? You can choose to read "Mobituaries" in order, as I did, or browse through it at your leisure. You might consider purchasing this engaging work of non-fiction as a gift for someone with eclectic tastes who is fascinated by esoteric information on a variety of subjects. show less