Encore Reading Club
From GRPLpedia
Are you interested in joining a different type of book club? If so, consider joining the Encore Reading Club, a partnership between Grand Rapids Community College's Older Learner Center and the Grand Rapids Public Library. We will concentrate on one title Longevity Rules: How to Age Well Into the Future, a collection of essays on aging topics, discussing topics affecting today's aging society each month.
The first meeting was held at the Main Grand Rapids Public Library on Thursday, May 5, 2010, from 1:00 to 2:30. We continue to meet on the first Thursday of each month. Registration is required either by email: continuingeducation@grcc.edu putting "Encore Reading Club" in the subject line and then requesting to register with your name and contact information in the text section, or by calling 616-234-3400.
Registration is required. Phone 234-3400 or e-mail continuingeducation@grcc.edu. Questions? Contact Jane DeVries (GRPL) at 988-5402, ext. 5465 or Mike Faber (GRCC) at 234-3483.
Essay and Topic Schedule:
The following is the essay reading schedule for the next few months. Supplemental readings are noted with links when available. Please feel free to bring in any books or articles pertaining to the discussion topics that may be of interest.
May 3:
Topic: Images of Aging: Positive and Negative -- What Can We Do to Change the Negative into Positive?
Essays:
- Will Generational Coverage Survive the Media Meltdown? (page 60) - discussion leader, Helen Kinsworthy
- Listen, Learn and Live to Be 100 (page 154) - discussion leader, Roger Meyer
Supplemental Reading Suggestions:
- Please bring in examples you find of both positive and negative portrayals of aging.
Encore Reading Club Resources
Organizations and Online Web Sites: Access to online publications is available through many of these web sites.
Michigan:
Advocates for Senior Issues affiliated with the Area Agency on Aging of West Michigan 1279 Cedar NE Grand Rapids MI 49503 616-456-5664 www.advocates4seniors.org
Michigan Offices of Services to the Aging P.O. Box 30676 Lansing, MI 48909 517-373-8230 www.michigan.gov/miseniors/
National:
AARP 601 E Street NW Washington DC 20049 888-687-2277 www.aarp.org
Administration on Aging One Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 20001 202-619-0724 www.aoa.gov
American Society on Aging 71 Stevenson Street, Suite 1450 San Francisco, CA 94105 800-537-9728 www.asaging.org
Generations United 1331 H Street NW, Suite 900 Washington DC 20005 202-289-3979 www.gu.org
Gerontological Society of America 1220 L Street NW, Suite 901 Washington DC 20005 202-842-1275 www.geron.org
International Longevity Center – USA 60 E. 86th Street New York, NY 10028 212-288-1468 www.ilcusa.org
National Academy on an Aging Society 1220 L Street NW, Suite 901 Washington DC 20005 202-408-3375 www.agingsociety.org
National Council on Aging 1901 L Street NW, 4th Floor New York, NY 10028 212-288-1468 www.ncoa.org
National Institute on Aging Building 31, Room 5C27 31 Center Drive, MSC 2292 Bethesda, MD 20892 301-496-1752 www.nia.nih.gov
Books written by the essay authors:
Butler, Robert N. The Longevity Prescription: The 8 Proven Keys to a Long, Healthy Life, 2010 612.68 B978Lp
Butler, Robert N. The Longevity Revolution: The Benefits and Challenges of Living a Long Life, 2008 612.68 B978L
Callahan, Daniel. False Hopes: Why America's Quest for Perfect Health is a Recipe for Failure, 1998 362.10973 C13f
Callahan, Daniel. Taming the Beloved Beast: How Medical Technology Costs are Destroying Our Health Care System, 2009 338.433621 C131t
Cohen, Gene D. The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life, 2000 305.244 C66c
Cohen, Gene D. The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain, 2005 155.6713 C66m
Ellis, Neenah. If I Live to Be 100: Lessons from the Centenarians, 2002 CD 305.26092 EL59i
Hayflick, Leonard. How and Why We Age, 1996 612.67 H33h
Langer, Ellen, J. Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility, 2009 306.4613 L262c
Langer, Ellen J. Mindfulness, 1989 153 L262m
Moody, Harry R. The Five Stages of the Soul: Charting the Spiritual Passages That Shape Our Lives, 1997 291.44 M772f
Nuland, Sherwin B. The Art of Aging: A Doctor's Prescription for Well-Being, 2007 305.26 N912a
Nuland, Sherwin B. How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter, 1994 616.078 N912h
Olshansky S. Jay. The Quest for Immortality: Science at the Frontiers of Aging, 2001 612.68 OL8q
Roszak, Theodore. The Cult of Information: A Neo-Luddite Treatise on High Tech, Artificial Intelligence, and the True Art of Thinking, 1994 004 R739c
Shields, David. The Thing About Life is That One Day You'll Be Dead, 2008 Biography Shields, David (also on CD)
Small, Gary W. iBrain: Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind, 2008 612.82 Sm18s
Small, Gary W. The Longivity Bible: 8 Essential Strategies for Keeping Your Mind Sharp and Your Body Young, 2006 613.2 Sm18L
Small, Gary W. The Memory Bible: An Innovative Strategy for Keeping Your Brain Young, 2002 153.14 Sm18m
Small, Gary W. The Memory Prescription: Dr. Gary Small's 14-Day Plan to Keep Your Brain and Body Young, 2004 153.12 Sm18m
Thomas, William H. What Are Old People For?: How Elders Will Save the World, 2004 305.26 T368w
Wolfe, David B. Ageless Markeing: Strategies for Reaching the Hearts & Minds of the New Customer Majority, 2003 658.8348 W832a
Past Club Readings
April 5:
Topic: Politics of Aging
Essays:
- Politics of Aging Reborn: Insecurity and Anxiety (page 37) - discussion leader, Pat Hornbeck
- Medicare's Not-So-Hidden Virus: Healthcare Costs (page 44) - discussion leader, Alice O'Connor
Supplemental Reading Suggestions:
March 1:
Topic: Affordable Care Act: How Do the Changes Affect You? -- presentation by Mike Sebastian, Gerontology Network
Essays:
- No essay readings this month.
Supplemental Reading Suggestions:
- Affordable Care Act Benefits for Senior Citizens
- Health Reform for American Seniors
- Provisions of the ACA, Michigan Consumers for Healthcare
February 2, 2012
Topic: Choices in Living Arrangements As We Age: What's Right for You?
Essays:
- Who Will Be Imaginative and Flexible? (page 121) - discussion leader, Pat Hornbeck
- The Future is in Agritopia, or Swampscott (page 136) - discussion leader, Lori Vos
Supplemental Reading Suggestions:
- Changing Choices -- Aging in Place in the 21st Century Athan G. Bezaitis, AgingWell, 2008
- Understanding Senior Housing Options Joanna Saisan & Monika White, helpguide.org, 2011
January 5, 2012:
Topic: Positive Aspects of an Aging Society
Essays:
- Eldertopia (page 149) - discussion leader, Jean Schmuker
- Benefits of an Aging Society (page 175) - discussion leader, Helen Kinsworthy
Supplemental Reading Suggestions:
- Eldertopia Dr. William Thomas, The Journal AARP International, 2011
- David Wolfe on Jung's Seven Tasks of Aging posted by Ronni Bennett on Time Goes By, 2007
December 1:
Topic: Overcoming Ageism and Rediscovering Life Purpose -- discussion led by Mike Faber
Essays:
- No essay readings this month.
Supplemental Reading Suggestions:
- No supplemental readings this month.
November 3:
Topic: Caregiving
Essays:
- Caregiving's Transformative Influence on an Aging America (page 107) - discussion leader, Pat Hornbeck
- Exploiting Technology and Collaborative Innovation to Enable Quality Aging (page 113) - discussion leader, Pat Hornbeck
Supplemental Reading Suggestions:
- How to Help a Caregiving Family Teresa Youn, Caregiver Resource Network
- Navigating Community Resources for Family Caregivers Barbara Beerthuis, Caregiver Resource Network
- Recognizing Caregiver Stress Hanni Epp, Caregiver Resource Network
October 6:
Topic: Productive Retirement / Aging Workforce
Essays:
- The Great Retirement Divide (page 49) - discussion leader, Alice O'Connor
- Our Workforce is Aging; Grow With It (page 54) - discussion leader, Helen Kinsworthy
Supplemental Reading Suggestions:
- Poverty Risk Six Times Greater for Older Americans Lacking Pensions National Institute on Retirement Security, July 30, 2009
- Retirement: Working Longer is Plan A. But Where's Plan B? Reuters Money, May 17, 2011
September 1:
Topic: Marketing and Technology
Essays:
- Marketing: Age is More Than Just a Number (page 142) – discussion leader: Pat Hornbeck
- Is Google Making Us Smart or Stupid? (page 71) – discussion leader: Jean Schmuker
Supplemental Reading Suggestions:
- How Baby Boomers Think Coming of Age Incorporated, 2010
- How Seniors Think Coming of Age Incorporated, 2010
- Is the Internet Warping Our Brains? LiveScience February 24, 2009
August 4:
Topic: Aging -- Pro and Con
Essays:
- Why Do Anti-Aging Doctors Die? (page 91) – discussion leader: Roger Meyer
- How Can We Ensure Quality with Extended Life Expectations? (page 100) – discussion leader: Andrea Darling
Supplemental Reading Suggestions:
- Longevity: Do You Want to Live Forever? Express Tribune, July 5, 2011
- Secrets to Longevity: It's Not All About Broccoli NPR, March 24, 2011
July 7:
Topic: The Lighter Side of Aging
Essays:
- I'm Old (p. 185) – discussion leader: Helen Kinsworthy
- The Thing About Life Is That One Day You'll Be Dead (p. 212) – discussion leader: Pat Hornbeck
Supplemental Reading Suggestions:
- Humor, Laughter, and Aging University of Arkansas, LaVona Traywick
June 2:
Topic: Intergenerational Conflict
Essays:
- Can Intergenerational Conflict Be Avoided? (page 33) – discussion leader: Jean Schmuker
- Affirmative Aging at Every Age (page 131) – discussion leader: Alice O'Connor
Supplemental Reading Suggestions:
- “Debate Over Taxing Pensions in Michigan Splits Along Generational Lines” Grand Rapids Press April 13, 2011
- Intergenerational Conflict Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology
- Intergenerational Conflict? Think Again! AARP 2004 Study
