Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 1,071 ratings

Price: 21.66

Last update: 02-25-2025


About this item

Science Writers and Communicators of Canada Book Award—General Audience

INSTANT TOP 10 BESTSELLER New York Times USA Today Washington Post LA Times

“Debunks the idea that aging inevitably brings infirmity and unhappiness and instead offers a trove of practical, evidence-based guidance for living longer and better.”—Daniel H. Pink, author of When and Drive

SUCCESSFUL AGING delivers powerful insights:

Debunking the myth that memory always declines with age

Confirming that "health span"—not "life span"—is what matters

Proving that sixty-plus years is a unique and newly recognized developmental stage

Recommending that people look forward to joy, as reminiscing doesn't promote health

Levitin looks at the science behind what we all can learn from those who age joyously, as well as how to adapt our culture to take full advantage of older people's wisdom and experience. Throughout his exploration of what aging really means, using research from developmental neuroscience and the psychology of individual differences, Levitin reveals resilience strategies and practical, cognitive enhancing tricks everyone should do as they age.

Successful Aging inspires a powerful new approach to how listeners think about our final decades, and it will revolutionize the way we plan for old age as individuals, family members, and citizens within a society where the average life expectancy continues to rise.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Robert G Yokoyama
    5.0 out of 5 stars I learned a lot of tips about how to age successfully.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2020
    I want to age successfully, and that is why I read this book. I can increase the neuroplasticity in my brain by learning some new things. Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to change and adapt over time, I can increase neuroplasticity by learning to speak a new language. I grew up speaking Chinese, but I am hopeful that I can expand my vocabulary by taking lessons. I can also increase the neuroplasticity in my brain by performing in a theater. Learning how to memorize lines and movements can make the neural connections in my brain strong. I am proud of the fact that I have been working for over twenty years, and I am glad that the author says meaningful work is critical to longevity too. I will continue working, but I have been involved in pedestrian safety for people in wheelchair like myself. This secondary job sharpens my spatial, writing and speaking skills. This also increases the neuroplasticity in my brain and keeps me young.

    I learned that high blood pressure can lead to hearing loss because the hair cells in my ear can stiffen. This piece of news is a wake up call for me because my blood pressure is slightly elevated. I will strive to keep walking and exercising to keep my blood pressure in check though. I learned that exercise can improve my memory and creativity, so I have more incentive to exercise now.

    I like the information about friends in this book. Having a social network of friends improve my mood and keep my brain healthy. I have friends, but I don't see them that often. I am hopeful that I can make new friends to listen to music with and hang out with in person.

    I struggle to get a quality night of sleep, but I will follow Levitin's advice and make my room as dark as possible. The author also advises writing in journal to relax, so I will try this. I will strive to get out more to visit park and beaches. This activity will sharpen my senses and keep me young. This is such an insightful book.
  • babs
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
    Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2024
    I enjoyed this book very much. Some of the information was not new but much was. It was very interesting, informative, well-sourced and even included a bit of humor. Loved the author’s style. I took a few notes for personal reminders of matters I need to focus more on.
  • 48Z7EEgp6
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2021
    Saw this at my doctors office. After scanning its contents, bought the book. Pretty good stuff inside !
  • Norwenna
    5.0 out of 5 stars Practical hints spread throughout the book
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2023
    Contrary to implications by some other reader reviewers, there are practical tips concerning how to age successfully sprinkled throughout the book. For instance, when explaining that myelination decreases as we age, Dr. Levitin recommends eating good fats (e.g., fish oil) to help replenish the myelin and thus enhance neural transmission. I would call that a rejuvenation tip, and it's not just located in the last part of the book (I've only read 25 % of the book and I've noticed them throughout). Maybe those readers did not notice them because they already knew those tips; but there are a number that I was not aware of because they're based on recent research (I retired from teaching and researching psychology nearly 10 years ago).
    I also like that the practical tips are accompanied by the reasons that they can be helpful in maintaining youthfulness: e.g., taking a walk in nature impacts all the senses, which in turn keeps the brain active, alert and healthy and stimulates it to make new connections. The references are not listed at the spot that the research is described, but the name of the scientist who claims it is there, so a google search can find the study. (And doing a google search for complex new information might be good for your brain.)

    Edited after finishing the book: You don't have to google the references; the author put the references in notes at the end of the book, and you can find the entire studies online or in your nearest university library stacks.
    I finished the book without stopping except to sleep. Now I have a stiff neck. Thanks, Dr. Levitin.
  • LVZee
    3.0 out of 5 stars Buried Nuggets in a Verbal Dumpheap-Might Make You Think
    Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2020
    Like most authors of this type of advisory books, he tends to find studies that support what he does in his personal life. For example:
    • He recommends early, big breakfasts, when there is many studies find the opposite
    • He doesn’t approve of naps, especially siesta style 90 minutes after lunch
    • He doesn’t rate vegetarian diets or active supplementation with vitamins or other nutrients very highly, but favors hormone treatments.
    • He doesn’t think brain training sites (Lumosity or BrainHQ) accomplish much

    One interesting concept that all these authors miss is that many, perhaps most studies can be debunked because controls weren’t properly chosen, there were problems with statistical methodology and self-interest in reaching certain conclusions or results. This absolutely does not mean that results are wrong, only that they haven’t been definitively proved.

    He also merges readily available things one can do (like following the Mediterranean Diet, meditation, exercising or learning a new skill) with technologies that aren’t easily available, and some that are closer to science fiction than reality (brain implants to increase memory or intelligence.)

    I am also puzzled why certain obvious questions aren’t asked by either the authors or the researchers. Looking at sleep: They recommend sleeping in a cool room, presumably with pajamas and a heavy quilt, but don’t discuss sleeping nude with little or no cover in a warm room. They don’t study regular nappers who sleep 6 hours (4 cycles) at night and 1.5 hours (1 cycle) in the afternoon vs. 7.5 hours at night and no nap. I frequently read that blue light before sleep is bad and room should be ‘totally dark.’ Didn’t humans evolve sleeping with some ambient like from the moon and stars, even before fire became common?

    However, buried in the book are nuggets of very useful recommendations or information that isn’t common in the popular literature. For example, he recommends an additional ‘dementia proxy,’ which is very different than the standard health proxies that are commonly recommended.

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