Books on Aging & Spiritual Growth

Photo by King of Monks.

After spending decades journeying through life, many people end up gaining great spiritual insight. The cliche about elders being wise holds true for many older adults.

Because the generations are more isolated from each other in industrialized nations than they are in traditional cultures, this hard-won wisdom isn't always present in every home.

Fortunately, a number of insightful people in midlife and late life are writing books that offer thought-provoking commentary on how to respond to life's challenges--including challenges that are often correlated with late life: illness, death of loved ones, loss of employment. 

But advanced age is not all decay.  Our youth-obsessed culture often reads it as such, missing out on the strengths of a half-century-plus view of life. 

Here are a few books that I have read that contain insight found after 50--listed in reverse chronology by publication date.

(Last Updated April 2018)

Palmer, Parker  J. (2018). On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity, & Getting Old. Review

Hoblitzelle, Olivia Ames (2017). Aging with Wisdom: Reflections, Stories, and Teachings. Review

Sigloh, Jane (2017). Gracious Uncertainty: Faith and the Second Half of Life. Review. 

Moore, Thomas (2017). Ageless Soul: The Lifelong Journey Toward Meaning and Joy. Review

Singh, Kathleen Dowling (2014).  Grace in Aging: Awaken as You Grow Older.   Review

Rohr, Richard (2011). Falling Upwards: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life.  Review

Chittister, Joan (2008). The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully. Review

Plotkin, Bill (2007). Nature and the Human Soul: Cultivating Wholeness and Community in a Fragmented World. Review

Thomas, Bill. (2004). What Are Old People For? How Elders Will Save the World. Review

Dass, Ram (2000). Still Here: Embracing Changing, Aging and Dying. Review

Carter, Jimmy (1998). Virtues of Aging. Review

Albom, Mitch (1997). Tuesdays with Morrie. Review

Schachter-Shalomi, Zalman and Ronald S. Miller. (1995) From Age-ing to Sage-ing: A Profound New Vision of Growing Older. Review

Women Writers and Spirituality

Books on Aging
Robert G. Peck's Tasks for Older Adults
Grateful for Aging