First Thursdays of the month
4:30-6:00pm | Cook County Higher Education
Drop in any time to talk about our book selection of the month, or simply for a lively, thoughtful conversation about aging.
- We meet in the main level classroom of Cook County Higher Education (room 214).
- Drop in whenever you would like – you are welcome, whether or not you have read the book!
- Book selections can be ordered or purchased at a 15% discount from our friends at Drury Lane Books – contact Care Partners or stop in to Drury Lane for details.
- Our friends at the Grand Marais Public Library will also do their best to have copies of our selections available to borrow.
Upcoming 2025 Reframe Aging Book Selections
May 1 – Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. In his bestselling books, Atul Gawande, a practicing surgeon, has fearlessly revealed the struggles of his profession. Here he examines its ultimate limitations and failures―in his own practices as well as others’―as life draws to a close. Riveting, honest, and humane, Being Mortal shows how the ultimate goal is not a good death but a good life―all the way to the very end.
June 5 – This Chair Rocks by Ashton Applewhite. Lively, funny, and deeply researched, This Chair Rocks traces Applewhite’s journey from apprehensive boomer to pro-aging radical, and in the process debunks myth after myth about late life. Whether you’re older or hoping to get there, this book will shake you by the shoulders, cheer you up, make you mad, and change the way you see the rest of your life.
July 3 – The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson. This best-selling little book is the basis for a “wonderfully funny and moving ” TV series of the same name. With Scandinavian humor and wisdom, Margareta cheerfully helps her readers think about the process of decluttering as an uplifting – instead of overwhelming – journey.
August 7 – The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly by Margareta Magnusson. We’ll continue to enjoy the company of this delightful Swedish artist who shares her discoveries about aging – some difficult to accept, many “rather wondrous.” This light and lovely read includes both reflections on the author’s life and, as she puts it, “life wisdom from someone who will (probably) die before you.”
Watch for more 2025 book selections coming soon!
Past Book Selections
January & February 2025 – Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long and Well You Live by Yale professor Dr. Becca Levy. , a leading expert on the psychology of successful aging. Dr. Levy draws on her own ground-breaking research to show how age beliefs can impact all aspects of the aging process (even how genes operate!) – and how a positive view on aging may extend life expectancy by up to 7.5 years!
March 2025 – The Virtues of Aging by Jimmy Carter. Former president Jimmy Carter reflects on aging, blending memoir, anecdote, political savvy, and practical advice to truly illuminate the rich promises of growing older. The Virtues of Aging is a personal and practical book written with gentleness, humor, and love.
April 2025 – Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It by Tracey Gendron, PhD. This bold account of the history and present-day realities of ageism by a nationally recognized gerontologist and speaker uncovers ageism’s roots, impact, and how each of us can create a new reality of elderhood.