Review of Taking Charge: Vol. 2 More Stories on Aging Boldly
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Janelle Frank
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Review of Taking Charge: Vol. 2 More Stories on Aging Boldly
[Following is a volunteer review of "Taking Charge: Vol. 2 More Stories on Aging Boldly" by Herb Weiss.]
Taking Charge: Vol. 2 More Stories on Aging Boldly by Herb Weiss is a compilation of 75 articles published from 2016 to 2021. These articles were published in various Rhode Island newspapers by our author. The book's primary focus is shedding light on the aging population's issues. Armed with statistics and studies, Weiss explores the unique challenges of growing older in a society unprepared for the greying of the nation. Weiss covers various topics, including caregiving, financial issues, relationships, mental health issues, spirituality, and many more. With a strong emphasis on living as well as possible in advanced age, the author adds local flavor to each article by interviewing someone from his home state of Rhode Island.
Weiss excels in taking academic research studies and making them palatable to your average reader. The author clearly has waded through hundreds of research pages to compile this text. One of the great strengths of this book is its foundation of providing both anecdotal stories and well-researched statistics. Weiss relies heavily on research done by AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), which is a well-respected institute on all matters of aging. The aspect of this book that I found the most enjoyable was the Sage Advice chapter. In this section, Weiss interviews several senior citizens and asks them what words of wisdom they would like to share with younger generations. From free-lance authors to Fortune 500 business moguls, each person’s perspective is unique and fascinating.
The only negative aspect was that sometimes it did read as if I was reading a textbook on aging. As someone with a degree in social work, this book was reminiscent of those I studied in college. However, I believe this is easily remedied by reading the book slowly, in bite-sized pieces, rather than sitting down to read it all at once.
I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Weiss is a professional writer, and this book clearly shows that. It is well written, with minimal spelling or grammatical errors, and is easy to read. There were many aspects of this book I liked. I felt that it was exceedingly informative and compelling. I believe that many readers would enjoy this book. I have only read the second volume of this series, but I plan to seek out and read the first. One aspect that I would warn readers about is one section about a woman’s belief in a Christian god. While this was a minor section, I feel it wise to warn potential readers who do not share the same faith in God.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is reaching their senior years. This book is also a good fit for anyone whose parents are getting older and want to learn more about older folks’ specific challenges. In addition, this book is well suited for anyone interested in working with older populations, whether in healthcare, social services, or any other field. They will find an abundance of information in this text. I recommend skipping this book if you get bored with statistics and academic research.
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Taking Charge: Vol. 2 More Stories on Aging Boldly
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Taking Charge: Vol. 2 More Stories on Aging Boldly by Herb Weiss is a compilation of 75 articles published from 2016 to 2021. These articles were published in various Rhode Island newspapers by our author. The book's primary focus is shedding light on the aging population's issues. Armed with statistics and studies, Weiss explores the unique challenges of growing older in a society unprepared for the greying of the nation. Weiss covers various topics, including caregiving, financial issues, relationships, mental health issues, spirituality, and many more. With a strong emphasis on living as well as possible in advanced age, the author adds local flavor to each article by interviewing someone from his home state of Rhode Island.
Weiss excels in taking academic research studies and making them palatable to your average reader. The author clearly has waded through hundreds of research pages to compile this text. One of the great strengths of this book is its foundation of providing both anecdotal stories and well-researched statistics. Weiss relies heavily on research done by AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), which is a well-respected institute on all matters of aging. The aspect of this book that I found the most enjoyable was the Sage Advice chapter. In this section, Weiss interviews several senior citizens and asks them what words of wisdom they would like to share with younger generations. From free-lance authors to Fortune 500 business moguls, each person’s perspective is unique and fascinating.
The only negative aspect was that sometimes it did read as if I was reading a textbook on aging. As someone with a degree in social work, this book was reminiscent of those I studied in college. However, I believe this is easily remedied by reading the book slowly, in bite-sized pieces, rather than sitting down to read it all at once.
I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Weiss is a professional writer, and this book clearly shows that. It is well written, with minimal spelling or grammatical errors, and is easy to read. There were many aspects of this book I liked. I felt that it was exceedingly informative and compelling. I believe that many readers would enjoy this book. I have only read the second volume of this series, but I plan to seek out and read the first. One aspect that I would warn readers about is one section about a woman’s belief in a Christian god. While this was a minor section, I feel it wise to warn potential readers who do not share the same faith in God.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is reaching their senior years. This book is also a good fit for anyone whose parents are getting older and want to learn more about older folks’ specific challenges. In addition, this book is well suited for anyone interested in working with older populations, whether in healthcare, social services, or any other field. They will find an abundance of information in this text. I recommend skipping this book if you get bored with statistics and academic research.
******
Taking Charge: Vol. 2 More Stories on Aging Boldly
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Fox by M. N. J. Butler
