Author event! Debra Whitman x Joanne Griffith

Zibby's Bookshop is excited to welcome Debra Whitman and Joanne Griffith to celebrate the release of Whitman's The Second Fifty!

About the book:

Expert guidance for living a longer, healthier, more meaningful second half of life.

As she approached her fiftieth birthday, Debra Whitman, a globally recognized expert on aging, wanted to delve deeper into why so many Americans struggled to live well as they aged. And she began to wonder what was in store for her own second fifty. Suddenly, the questions she’d been studying for years became personal: How long will I live? Will I be healthy? Will I lose my memory? How long will I work? Will I have enough money? Where will I live? How will I die?

Americans are now living decades longer than previous generations. These added years offer exciting possibilities but also raise crucial questions. In her groundbreaking book, Whitman provides a roadmap for navigating, and celebrating, the second half of life. Drawing on compelling stories from her own family and people across the country, interviews with experts, and cutting-edge research, she shares insights on brain health, the contributions and concerns of an older workforce, caregiving, financing retirement, and more. Her findings are often surprising: Americans over fifty are a boon to―not a drain on―the economy. Dementia rates have actually been declining as more people achieve higher levels of education and adopt healthier lifestyles. And while we’ve long known that staying connected to others is critical to mental health, it turns out it is also linked to a stronger immune system, lower blood pressure, and a longer life.

Whitman presents practical steps we can take to help create a better second fifty for ourselves. But we can’t do it alone. Whitman also calls for urgently needed changes that would make it easier for every American to enjoy a vital and meaningful second half of life.

Whether you are approaching fifty, into your later years, or caring for someone who is, you’ll find a wealth of wisdom in these pages. Informed by Whitman’s unmatched expertise and her deep passion, The Second Fifty is an indispensable guide for living well in the twenty-first century.

About the authors:

Debra Whitman is the author of The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond. She is an economist and expert on aging issues with an extensive background in policymaking and research.

As Chief Public Policy Officer for AARP, Debra leads global policy and research to help communities, lawmakers, and the private sector improve our lives as we age.  

Previously, as staff director for the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, Debra worked across the aisle to increase retirement security, lower health care costs, protect vulnerable seniors, make the pharmaceutical industry more transparent, and improve
our long-term care system.

Debra is a writer and public speaker, mom, and an advocate for those whose voices need to be heard.

Joanne Griffith is the Chief Content Officer at APM Studios, the podcast division of American Public Media Group. In this role, she oversees the editorial vision, business strategy and brand voice for APM Studios, and has creative oversight on original and acquired podcasts.
In addition to her work in public media, Joanne is the author of Redefining Black Power: Reflections on the State of Black America and was the lead producer for The King of Crenshaw, a podcast from ESPN’s critically-acclaimed 30 for 30 Podcasts, exploring the intersection of hip-hop and basketball through the lens of LA rapper, Nipsey Hussle.

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