The art of aging: a doctor's prescription for well-being

A few years back I read with great interest and enjoyment Sherwin Nuland's memoir about his immigrant father, LOST IN AMERICA. It explained a lot about the author's ambition and success as a physician and scholar. Then I began reading his best known book, HOW WE DIE, but still have not finished it. But now I have done a quick read of his THE ART OF AGING and quite enjoyed it. My own aging process hasn't been very artful, but is anyone's?

In his clinical descriptions of the process, you're bound to learn something. For instance -

"... testicles hang lower than they did years ago, because of loss of turgor in the skin muscle of the scrotum, a muscle called the dartos."

Turgor? Dartos? Your scrotum has muscles? See what I mean? Who knew?

But show more seriously - for this is a serious book - Nuland looks far beyond the physiological aspects of aging here, with a chapter about choices, in which he gives us three case studies of people who suffered strokes and how they coped and came back from them. One of these was actress Patricia Neal, who credits her then-husband Roald Dahl with forcing her recovery and return to acting.. Another chapter, "A Friendship in Letters" gives us Nuland's years-long correspondence with an aged Indian widow and her struggles with and recovery from suicidal depression.

"Drinking from the Fountain of Youth" was an especially entertaining chapter, as Nuland related his friendship with a med school classmate, Frank Scott, inventor of an inflatable penile implant playfully labeled "the hydraulic hard-on."

Later he tells us that wisdom - so often equated with age - is not just knowledge, but the proper management of knowledge. And that "caring" is vital to a happy old age. And lots more. So much more. And yes, there is wisdom here. Nuland knew how to manage his accumulated years of study and the knowledge he had gleaned. A wise man. Dr Nuland died in 2013.

This is a good book, filled with useful information - and yes, wisdom. Very highly recommended.

- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER show less

This is a book that caused me to think and learn; both from Dr. Nuland and from the many people he has learned from.
" ... we must study how to be old."

My favorite section was Nuland's discourse with Michael Debakey:
"Curiosity and the seeking of knowledge is a transcendent life force. Almost you might say spiritual. It has a driven character to it. It drives you intellectually, and to an extent physiologically. The brain influences the body in ways we don't know about."

I also found the discussion of Aubrey de Grey and the debate over biogerontology to be fasciating. There certainly must be a tradeoff between human lifespan and the ecology of the planet. On the other hand, having spent some time in a grove of bristlecone pines this show more summer, I beieve the limit to lifespan could be much higher than our current ~ 120 years.

The concept of compression of morbidity was also very interesting. This is the idea that instead of a gradual decay to death, we fall apart all at once.

I will close with a brief condensation of Dr. Nuland's prescription:
"... beyond the pursuit of wisdom, there is a triad of factors ... that are the essential ingredients of the benisons that should come with the later decades of our lives. ... The three are:

- A sense of mutual caring and connectedness with others.
- The maintenance , in so far as we can influence it by our own actions, of the physical capabilities of our bodies
- Creativity

Remember: " ... we must study how to be old." show less

Nuland's short but insightful book examines the effects of aging on our bodies and minds. The author's readable prose eloquently explains the variabilities of the aging experience.

Excellent Birthday Gift: Dr. Nuland has authored an excellent guide to extending ones life. At first glance, I thought this book would offer substantial how to guidance on nutrition, exercise, and other physical life extending practices. I was pleased to discover that Dr. Nuland explores a wide array of discoveries concerned with the social practices that truly make one "alive".

Chief among these life giving/extending practices, are the intrinsic rewards offered to those who, in some way, live for the benefit of others. My heart resonated with the stories of people who by serving others have found purpose and therefore life. This book makes a great birthday gift for anyone who is on or is beginning his or her later life journey. It show more causes one to reflect on the fascinating adventures that could be in store for those who ponder the possibilities of an extraordinary purpose filled life. show less

A beautifully written and heart felt book. The last portion on wisdom is especially magnificent.

Loved this book. One of the best I've read so far on approaching the challenges of this stage of life with enthusiasm and creativity.

Having turned 65 a few months ago, aging is frequently on my mind. I'm grateful every day that my health is inexplicably good, as is my attitude and my mental, emotional, and spiritual life.
After having heard an interview with the author about a month ago (it was a rebroadcast shortly after he died), I put this book on my to-read list. I'd previously read and appreciated his HOW WE DIE book.
I found the book to be a good read. I was pleased to see that I appear to be on the right path when it comes to mental, emotional, and spiritual health practices, but I need to increase my exercise.