“Old age: the crown of life, our play’s last act.” So said Cicero, the Roman orator and philosopher, whose opinion might have been penned with the remarkable men and women of Young at Heart in mind. Crosman, inspired by her own parents’ graceful aging, interviewed hundreds of elderly people, each of whom continued to lead vibrant lives. She spoke with the famous and non-famous, those born in this country and those who had immigrated, some who had endured a difficult life, others who had known a life of privilege. To each she posed the same question: What was their secret of living long and well? The answers she received were as individual as the interviewee–sometimes contemplative, often funny, occasionally cantankerous, always insightful. These elders shared one common attribute: an unsentimental attitude toward longevity. Their no-nonsense outlook offers a bright, realistic look at aging for the rest of us headed down that path.
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