“Heartfelt and ever-endearing—equal parts information and inspiration.

This is a book to keep by your bedside and return to often.”—Amy Dickinson, nationally syndicated advice columnist "Ask Amy"More than one thousand extraordinary Americans share their stories and the wisdom they have gained on living, loving, and finding happiness. After a chance encounter with an extraordinary ninety-year-old woman, renowned gerontologist Karl Pillemer began to wonder what older people know about life that the rest of us don' t.

His quest led him to interview more than one thousand Americans over the age of sixty-five to seek their counsel on all the big issues—children, marriage, money, career, aging. Their moving stories and uncompromisingly honest answers often surprised him.

And he found that he consistently heard advice that pointed to these thirty lessons for living.