Encore Reading Club

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Are you interested in joining a different type of book and discussion club? If so, consider joining the Encore Reading Club, a partnership between Grand Rapids Community College's Older Learner Center and the Grand Rapids Public Library.

The first meeting was held at the Main Grand Rapids Public Library on Thursday, May 5, 2010, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., and for the first year and a half we focused on reading and discussing aging-related topics from essays found in the book, Longevity Rules.

A new session began on September 6, 2012. We will continue to meet on the first Thursday of each month from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the 4th floor VanderVeen Center of the Main Library, unless otherwise noted. The next year will be spent reading and discussing various articles on topics of interest to club members, supplemented by outside speakers.

Registration is required. Phone 234-3400 or e-mail continuingeducation@grcc.edu, put "Encore Reading Club" in the subject line, and add a request to register with your name and contact information in the text section.

Questions? Contact Jane DeVries (GRPL) at 988-5402, ext. 5465 or Mike Faber (GRCC) at 234-3483.


Essay and Topic Schedule:

The following is the essay reading schedule for the next few months. Supplemental readings are noted with links when available. Please feel free to bring in any books or articles pertaining to the discussion topics that may be of interest.

May 2:

Topic: Driving Issues As We Age -- discussion led by Mike Faber

Readings:

April 4:

Topic: Simplifying Our Lives: How to Get Organized - discussion led by Sue Marsh, Professional Organizer from Susie's Organization Solutions, LLC


Encore Reading Club Resources

Organizations and Online Web Sites: Access to online publications is available through many of these web sites.

Michigan:

[Advocates for Senior Issues] affiliated with the Area Agency on Aging of West Michigan 1279 Cedar NE Grand Rapids MI 49503 616-456-5664 www.advocates4seniors.org

Michigan Offices of Services to the Aging P.O. Box 30676 Lansing, MI 48909 517-373-8230 www.michigan.gov/miseniors/


National:

AARP 601 E Street NW Washington DC 20049 888-687-2277 www.aarp.org

Administration on Aging One Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 20001 202-619-0724 www.aoa.gov

American Society on Aging 71 Stevenson Street, Suite 1450 San Francisco, CA 94105 800-537-9728 www.asaging.org

Generations United 1331 H Street NW, Suite 900 Washington DC 20005 202-289-3979 www.gu.org

Gerontological Society of America 1220 L Street NW, Suite 901 Washington DC 20005 202-842-1275 www.geron.org

International Longevity Center – USA 60 E. 86th Street New York, NY 10028 212-288-1468 www.mailman.columbia.edu/academic-departments/centers/international-longevity-center

National Academy on an Aging Society 1220 L Street NW, Suite 901 Washington DC 20005 202-408-3375 www.agingsociety.org

National Council on Aging 1901 L Street NW, 4th Floor New York, NY 10028 212-288-1468 www.ncoa.org

National Institute on Aging Building 31, Room 5C27 31 Center Drive, MSC 2292 Bethesda, MD 20892 301-496-1752 www.nia.nih.gov


Books written by the essay authors from Longevity Rules:


The Longevity Prescription: The 8 Proven Keys to a Long, Healthy Life, 2010 by Robert N. Butler 612.68 B978Lp

The Longevity Revolution: The Benefits and Challenges of Living a Long Life, 2008 by Robert N. Butler 612.68 B978L

False Hopes: Why America's Quest for Perfect Health is a Recipe for Failure, 1998 by Daniel Callahan 362.10973 C13f

Taming the Beloved Beast: How Medical Technology Costs are Destroying Our Health Care System, 2009 by Daniel Callahan 338.433621 C131t

The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life, 2000 by Gene D. Cohen 305.244 C66c

The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain, 2005 by Gene D. Cohen 155.6713 C66m

If I Live to Be 100: Lessons from the Centenarians, 2002 by Neenah Ellis CD 305.26092 EL59i

Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility, 2009 by Ellen J. Langer 306.4613 L262c

Mindfulness, 1989 by Ellen J. Langer 153 L262m

The Five Stages of the Soul: Charting the Spiritual Passages That Shape Our Lives, 1997 by Harry R. Moody 291.44 M772f

The Art of Aging: A Doctor's Prescription for Well-Being, 2007 by Sherwin B. Nuland 305.26 N912a

How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter, 1994 by Sherwin B. Nuland 616.078 N912h

The Quest for Immortality: Science at the Frontiers of Aging, 2001 by Jay S. Olshansky 612.68 OL8q

The Cult of Information: A Neo-Luddite Treatise on High Tech, Artificial Intelligence, and the True Art of Thinking, 1994 by Theodore Roszak 004 R739c

The Thing About Life is That One Day You'll Be Dead, 2008 David Shields Biography Shields, David (also on CD)

iBrain: Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind, 2008 by Gary W. Small 612.82 Sm18s

The Longevity Bible: 8 Essential Strategies for Keeping Your Mind Sharp and Your Body Young, 2006 by Gary W. Small 613.2 Sm18L

The Memory Bible: An Innovative Strategy for Keeping Your Brain Young, 2002 by Gary W. Small 153.14 Sm18m

The Memory Prescription: Dr. Gary Small's 14-Day Plan to Keep Your Brain and Body Young, 2004 by Gary W. Small 153.12 Sm18m

What Are Old People For?: How Elders Will Save the World, 2004 by William H. Thomas 305.26 T368w

Ageless Marketing: Strategies for Reaching the Hearts & Minds of the New Customer Majority, 2003 by David B. Wolfe 658.8348 W832a


Past Club Readings

March 7:

Topic: Creating a Life Story - discussion led by Mike Faber

Readings:

February 7:

Topic: Family Communication

Readings:

January 3:

Topic: Brain Health / Mental Challenges

Reading:

  • Class Handouts: Brain Exercises and Brain Health Resources List

2012 December 6:

Topic: You're Only Old Once! a Dr. Seuss Rendering and Elderspeak Discussion

Reading:

November 8:

Topic: Caregiving: Stresses, Benefits, and Where to Turn for Help with Dr. Henry Holstege

October 4:

Topic: Book Talk

Members will do a short book talk on any book of interest.

September 6:

Topic: Our initial meeting will focus on planning the next year's topics, choosing from the topics suggested in the group survey done last year. Time will be spent engaging in icebreaker exercises.

August 2:

Topic: Intergenerational Cooperation

Essay:

  • Generational Nonsense (page 180)

Reading:

July 12:

Topic: Mindful Aging / Brain Health

Essays:

  • Combat Ageism to Fight Age-Related Neurodegeneration (page 95)
  • Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility (page 159)

Supplemental Reading Suggestions:

June 7:

Topic: Death, Dying, and Bereavement -- discussion led by Mike Faber

Essays:

  • No essay readings this month.

Supplemental Reading Suggestions:

  • No supplemental readings this month.

May 3:

Topic: Images of Aging: Positive and Negative -- What Can We Do to Change the Negative into Positive?

Essays:

  • Will Generational Coverage Survive the Media Meltdown? (page 60) - discussion leader, Helen Kinsworthy
  • Listen, Learn and Live to Be 100 (page 154) - discussion leader, Roger Meyer

Supplemental Reading Suggestions:

  • Please bring in examples you find of both positive and negative portrayals of aging.

April 5:

Topic: Politics of Aging

Essays:

  • Politics of Aging Reborn: Insecurity and Anxiety (page 37) - discussion leader, Pat Hornbeck
  • Medicare's Not-So-Hidden Virus: Healthcare Costs (page 44) - discussion leader, Alice O'Connor

Supplemental Reading Suggestions:

March 1:

Topic: Affordable Care Act: How Do the Changes Affect You? -- presentation by Mike Sebastian, Gerontology Network

Essays:

  • No essay readings this month.

Supplemental Reading Suggestions:

February 2, 2012

Topic: Choices in Living Arrangements As We Age: What's Right for You?

Essays:

  • Who Will Be Imaginative and Flexible? (page 121) - discussion leader, Pat Hornbeck
  • The Future is in Agritopia, or Swampscott (page 136) - discussion leader, Lori Vos

Supplemental Reading Suggestions:

January 5, 2012:

Topic: Positive Aspects of an Aging Society

Essays:

  • Eldertopia (page 149) - discussion leader, Jean Schmuker
  • Benefits of an Aging Society (page 175) - discussion leader, Helen Kinsworthy

Supplemental Reading Suggestions:

December 1:

Topic: Overcoming Ageism and Rediscovering Life Purpose -- discussion led by Mike Faber

Essays:

  • No essay readings this month.

Supplemental Reading Suggestions:

  • No supplemental readings this month.

November 3:

Topic: Caregiving

Essays:

  • Caregiving's Transformative Influence on an Aging America (page 107) - discussion leader, Pat Hornbeck
  • Exploiting Technology and Collaborative Innovation to Enable Quality Aging (page 113) - discussion leader, Pat Hornbeck

Supplemental Reading Suggestions:

October 6:

Topic: Productive Retirement / Aging Workforce

Essays:

  • The Great Retirement Divide (page 49) - discussion leader, Alice O'Connor
  • Our Workforce is Aging; Grow With It (page 54) - discussion leader, Helen Kinsworthy

Supplemental Reading Suggestions:

September 1:

Topic: Marketing and Technology

Essays:

  • Is Google Making Us Smart or Stupid? (page 71) – discussion leader: Jean Schmuker

Supplemental Reading Suggestions:

August 4:

Topic: Aging -- Pro and Con

Essays:

  • Why Do Anti-Aging Doctors Die? (page 91) – discussion leader: Roger Meyer
  • How Can We Ensure Quality with Extended Life Expectations? (page 100) – discussion leader: Andrea Darling

Supplemental Reading Suggestions:

July 7:

Topic: The Lighter Side of Aging

Essays:

  • I'm Old (p. 185) – discussion leader: Helen Kinsworthy
  • The Thing About Life Is That One Day You'll Be Dead (p. 212) – discussion leader: Pat Hornbeck

Supplemental Reading Suggestions:

June 2:

Topic: Intergenerational Conflict

Essays:

  • Can Intergenerational Conflict Be Avoided? (page 33) – discussion leader: Jean Schmuker
  • Affirmative Aging at Every Age (page 131) – discussion leader: Alice O'Connor

Supplemental Reading Suggestions:

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