de John Leland
"[Narrator Robert Petkoff] is a steady performer whose measured pacing allows each subject's story to unfold naturally against the background of Leland's personal inquiry. A particular highlight comes at the very end, when listeners get a chance to hear the actual voices of some of the men and women who have shared the lessons of their lives." - AudioFile Magazine
This program includes original recordings of interviews from the New York Times series
Based on the popular New York Times series, life-changing wisdom from an unexpected source: America's oldest old
In 2015, the award-winning New York Times journalist John Leland set out to meet some of the city's oldest inhabitants for a series on America's fastest-growing age group: those over eighty-five. Leland was at a crossroads in his own life. His marriage had fallen apart, and at fifty-five, he was alone for the first time. He was also caring for his elderly mother, whose main desire was to die. He understood aging, like many of us do, as nothing more than the relentless deterioration of body, mind, and quality of life. He wondered: Is there a threshold at which life is no longer worth living?
But the six elders Leland interviewed took him in a different direction. Beyond illuminating what it's like to be old, physically and materially, they provided a life-changing education in resilience and joy. They had lived long enough to master the art of living, and they shared their wisdom generously. Leland did not anticipate all that he would learn, nor did he anticipate the popularity of the series: Its following grew to nearly half a million online views for the finale, plus print readers.
Happiness Is a Choice You Make, based on the series, is a rare, intimate glimpse into the end of life, and the insight that can enhance the years preceding. What he finds is deeply heartening: Even as our faculties decline, we still wield extraordinary influence over the quality of our lives. Happiness is a choice we make.
Learn how to live from those who have mastered the art
"[Narrator Robert Petkoff] is a steady performer whose measured pacing allows each subject's story to unfold naturally against the background of Leland's personal inquiry. A particular highlight comes at the very end, when listeners get a chance to hear the actual voices of some of the men and women who have shared the lessons of their lives." - AudioFile Magazine
This program includes original recordings of interviews from the New York Times series
Based on the popular New York Times series, life-changing wisdom from an unexpected source: America's oldest old
In 2015, the award-winning New York Times journalist John Leland set out to meet some of the city's oldest inhabitants for a series on America's fastest-growing age group: those over eighty-five. Leland was at a crossroads in his own life. His marriage had fallen apart, and at fifty-five, he was alone for the first time. He was also caring for his elderly mother, whose main desire was to die. He understood aging, like many of us do, as nothing more than the relentless deterioration of body, mind, and quality of life. He wondered: Is there a threshold at which life is no longer worth living?
But the six elders Leland interviewed took him in a different direction. Beyond illuminating what it's like to be old, physically and materially, they provided a life-changing education in resilience and joy. They had lived long enough to master the art of living, and they shared their wisdom generously. Leland did not anticipate all that he would learn, nor did he anticipate the popularity of the series: Its following grew to nearly half a million online views for the finale, plus print readers.
Happiness Is a Choice You Make, based on the series, is a rare, intimate glimpse into the end of life, and the insight that can enhance the years preceding. What he finds is deeply heartening: Even as our faculties decline, we still wield extraordinary influence over the quality of our lives. Happiness is a choice we make.
Learn how to live from those who have mastered the art
Critiques-
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While confronting life and love after divorce and the challenges of caring for an elderly parent, journalist John Leland undertook a transformative assignment on aging and living well. Robert Petkoff capably narrates Leland's close examination of six men and women who have lived long enough--each over 85 years--to offer surprising, and often reassuring, insights to those who are decades behind in their journeys. Though not flashy, Petkoff is a steady performer whose measured pacing allows each subject's story to unfold naturally against the background of Leland's personal inquiry. A particular highlight comes at the very end, when listeners get a chance to hear the actual voices of some of the men and women who have shared the lessons of their lives. A.S. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
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September 25, 2017
New York Times reporter Leland (Hip: The History) delves into the ramifications of an arresting statistic—that more people are living past age 85 than at any other time—by following six individuals from this quickly growing age group. The octogenarians profiled, three men and three women, include a still-active avant-garde filmmaker, a retired civil servant, and a pioneering career woman. Leland skillfully weaves the wisdom gleaned from their experiences into a fascinating chronicle of the joys and difficulties of living into one’s 80s and beyond. The underlying theme conveyed by this varied group is to “spend your dwindling time and energy on the things that you can still do,” not on mourning those now out of reach. It is an uplifting message, one that researchers call “selective optimization with compensation.” By not shying away from the downside of old age—issues discussed here include illness, depression, and isolation, as well as memory and cognitive loss—Leland lends credence to his heartening story of how six seniors have nonetheless made the best of it. He also movingly shows, through his own example, how interacting with those much older than oneself can lead to seeing life in a new light. Leland’s unique, highly readable narrative posits that old age should not be viewed as a dreadful time, but rather as a life stage to embrace and celebrate -
May 28, 2018
Veteran voice actor Petkoff subtly captures the personalities of the six subjects in New York Times reporter Leland’s study of the lives of New Yorkers over the age of 85. Following each of his subjects over the course of a year, Leland counters commonly held assumptions about this growing demographic and addresses the realities of aging. For the audio edition, Petkoff wisely opts outs of full-on characterizations, instead choosing to convey the individual demeanors of the three men and three women who comprise the study. His performance comes alive in the direct quotes and turns of phrases, such as nursing home resident Helen Moses’s feisty refrain “bring me a gin and tonic” when conversing about her active social life and romantic entanglements. Others don’t quite share Helen’s zest for new adventures, and Petkoff adjusts his tone to tackle Leland’s discussions of loneliness, depression, and even the wish to die. Petkoff’s balanced approach nicely complements the complexities of Leland’s research. A FSG/Crichton hardcover.
