The Gift of Aging

Award-winning authors Marcy Houle and Elizabeth Eckstrom have teamed up again following the success of their critically acclaimed book The Gift of Caring, winner of the 2016 National Christopher Award. This new book blends frontline science with inspirational stories and insights from wise elders for aging with health, joy, and purpose. The book explains how our bodies and brains age, defining what can be expected with aging and what is unusual. It demonstrates ways we can significantly increase our chances for a positive aging experience into our 80s, 90s and 100s. It offers key strategies for meeting the challenges of aging, informs us of issues of inclusion and equity, and advises on handling legal and financial affairs. The Gift of Aging illustrates how we can make the third act of our lives meaningful and fulfilling, ensuring we as elders can make a difference in our world.

About the Authors

Marcy Cottrell Houle, MS, is a professional wildlife biologist and the author of eight award-winning books. Two of her books received the Christopher Award 'for books that affirm the highest values of the human spirit.' Her work has been selected by the New York Times as a Best Book for Earth Day. She is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times, LA Times, and Globe and Mail, and written for the Nature Conservancy Magazine, Cricket Magazine for Children, Readers Digest, the New York Times, and Smithsonian Magazine. Marcy lives with her family on a small farm on Sauvies Island, Oregon.

Elizabeth Eckstrom is Chief of Geriatrics in the Division of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics at Oregon Health & Science University. Her research focuses on healthy aging and has shown that tai chi reduces falls by at least 50% and improves memory test scores (she recommends tai chi for everyone!). She is grateful to care for and learn from her older patients, and has had the opportunity to teach conferences and workshops on fall prevention and healthy aging around the world. She is thrilled to call Oregon home and can frequently be found in her garden, windsurfing on the Columbia River, and hiking and skiing on Mt. Hood.