There’s something magical about a book that doesn’t just entertain you, but gently nudges how you see the world. And lately, I’ve been talking about two books that did exactly that. While I realize not everyone loves reading non-fiction, I figured I would review it on my site and give you the lowdown, in Cliff Notes style. Because I think the messages are SUPER DUPER important.
Quote of the day: “Progress is impossible without change; and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” George Bernard Shaw
Both Think Again by Adam Grant and Elderhood by Louise Aronson challenged me in very different ways, but both books were SO eye-opening and informative.
Insider tip: I have a category in my Amazon list for books. You can find it here and bookmark it for later.
I could easily have written a post for each book, but there are enough similar points that I decided to shorten the review into one blog post.
If you Love reading, I have shared other articles about books:
–5 favorite books on aging….I need to update this now because I want to remove Martha Stewart’s book.
–Favorite books from childhood and beyond
–Blind Spots (which really fits in with much of what Elderhood touched upon)
–Menopause book
I hope you join my email Family. It’s the place where I share things even before creating on my blog. It’s also my space for fun and positive content. In addition, you also get my free eBook when you sign up, but that’s not the best part.
The best part is being part of my community, where we inspire and lift each other up.
There’s a certain comfort in feeling sure of ourselves. In believing we’ve figured things out. But Think Again gently (and sometimes boldly) reminds us that certainty can actually hold us back.
One of the most powerful ideas in the book is that we often fall into different “mental roles”:
But what we should be doing more often?
Thinking like a scientist.
“We favor the comfort of conviction over the discomfort of doubt.”
Isn’t that the truth?
We hold onto ideas because they feel familiar, not because they’re necessarily right. And the longer we hold onto them, the harder it becomes to let them go.
Another line that really stayed with me:
“Arguing is not about winning; it’s about learning.”
That one shifted something for me. Maybe because I used to feel the need to preach to people about their dental hygiene and how important it was. But what if I had tried to learn about what was holding them back?
Because how often do we dig in our heels, not to understand, but to prove we’re right?
Grant also introduces the idea of confident humility, believing in yourself while also recognizing that you might be wrong.
“Confident humility is a recognition that we’re flawed and a belief that we can improve.”
That balance feels so refreshing. It’s not about doubting yourself into inaction; it’s about staying open enough to grow.
And here’s one more that I keep coming back to:
“The faster we are to rethink, the better we are at learning.”
Not someday or when it’s convenient. But now.
Because Growth doesn’t happen when we’re right, it happens when we’re willing to reconsider. And you know how much I love growth and evolving in everything.
If these ideas are intriguing to you, there is MUCH more in the book. Like how students perform better and have more self-confidence when they are told their assignment is a first draft. That means they know there will be edits, and it creates a different mindset.
If Think Again challenges how we think, Elderhood challenges how we see Aging, and it’s long overdue. Granted, aging and the thoughts surrounding it have been going on for centuries, but this woman really changes the way you think about it.
Louise Aronson writes not just as an author, but as a physician who has spent decades working with older adults. And what she reveals is both eye-opening and, at times, uncomfortable. She shares the details and the nitty-gritty.
One of the most striking ideas is how much language shapes our experience.
“Old age is not a diagnosis.”
Such a simple statement, yet it carries so much weight.
Because in Western medicine, aging is often treated like a problem to solve rather than a stage of life to understand. Aronson explains how older adults are frequently underrepresented in medical research, which means treatments aren’t always designed with them in mind.
And then there’s the distinction between old and elder.
“Old” can feel like a label that diminishes.
“Elder,” on the other hand, suggests something earned like Wisdom and experience, which is a different kind of authority.
Aronson emphasizes that elderhood is not just about decline, it’s about transformation. We may consider it a decline, but it’s like any change…something different.
“We are all aging from the moment we are born.”
That line stopped me.
Because it reframes everything. Aging isn’t something that suddenly begins at a certain number; instead, it’s a lifelong process. And yet, we tend to resist it, fear it, or try to ignore it altogether.
Another important point is about changing our mindset about aging.
“Elders are not failed versions of our younger selves, but the continuation of who we have always been.”
That one hits deep, doesn’t it?
It shifts the narrative from loss to continuity, reminding us that aging isn’t about becoming less, but about becoming more of ourselves, just with more layers, stories, and perspective.
Aronson also doesn’t shy away from pointing out the gaps in care and understanding using real-life examples everyone can relate to.
“Medicine has added years to life, but not always life to years.”
I believe that it also raises the question: what does it really mean to live well as we age?
What I appreciated most about both of these books is that they didn’t demand immediate action. They didn’t say, “Change everything right now.”
Instead, they invited reflection.
They encouraged me to sit with ideas like:
And maybe the biggest one:
What if growth isn’t about becoming someone new, but about allowing yourself to evolve? I may speak about this quite a bit when it comes to style and fashion, but I haven’t always been ready to accept it with aging.
Yes, we slow down. Sure, we can’t do everything we used to do. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t important.
Reading Think Again and Elderhood felt huge to me. Very inspiring, and I’m sure it’s because it was all close to home.
As a Type A person and professional, I am one of those who enjoys being “right.” Although in the last couple of years, while practicing dentistry, I was more comfortable saying “I don’t know.” Sure, I was knowledgeable, but no one person knows everything.
Even in Elderhood, the author explains the process how doctors get to be doctors…and it’s not always pretty. I knew much of what she shared, but most non-medical people don’t. And it fits in with what I tell all my friends, “your doctor doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.” That doesn’t mean they are bad, but we all have different experiences.
It’s the same with people, and it’s very important to remember.
What I do know is that none of us is finished. We can all change in how we think and grow if we’re willing.
I would call that the real takeaway.
There’s always more to learn, especially when we’re willing to rethink what we thought we already knew.
Jodie Filogomo is a retired cosmetic dentist and fashion blogger behind Jodie’s Touch of Style, where she has been helping women over 50 experiment with style in fun, creative ways for over 12 years.
Find out more about the crew, because I love to showcase all ages, body shapes, and women who love different styles.
The post Rethinking Aging: Best Books About Aging And Mindset appeared first on Jodie’s Touch of Style.
