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Zalman Schachter-Shalomi
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From Age-ing to Sage-ing: A Revolutionary Approach to Growing Older Kindle Edition

by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (Author), Ronald S. Miller (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 375 ratings
“Medical science has added years to our lives. Reb Zalman's warm and wise book arrives just in time to add life to those years.” —Rabbi Harold Kushner, national bestselling author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Over two decades ago, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi felt an uneasiness. He was growing older, and fears about death and infirmity were haunting him. So he embarked on mission to get to the bottom of his fears. Through a series of events that included a vision quest in a secluded cabin and studying with Sufi masters, Buddhist teachers and Native-American shamans, Reb Zalman found a way to turn aging into the most meaningful and joyous time in his life.

In this inspiring guide, Reb Zalman shares his wisdom with readers. Using scientific research—both neurological and psychological—Reb Zalman offers techniques that will expand horizons beyond the narrow view of “the present” into a grand and enduring eternity. By harnessing the power of the spirit, as well as explaining exactly how to become a sage in their own community, he gives readers a helpful way to use their own experiences to nurture, heal, and perhaps even save a younger generation from the prison of how we typically regard aging.

In this updated version, Reb Zalman has added a brand new introductory chapter that provides insight into the shifts that have taken place in our culture since the first edition of this book came out in the 1990s. He provides new inspiring ideas about the importance of an elder's role in shaping society.

“As in his teaching, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi put in this volume much warmth, human compassion, and necessary wisdom.” —Elie Wiesel, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize
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  1. Print length
    303 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Balance
  4. Publication date
    December 2, 2008
  5. File size
    3.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In the next 20 years 75 million Americans will be reaching retirement age. To deal with this sea change, Rabbi Schachter-Shalomi (Paradigm Shift, Jason Aronson, 1993) introduces the concept of "eldering," or mentoring, each other in the years ahead. He contends that we are at the cutting edge of the next stage in our evolution and that elders will bring us into this more compassionate, intuitive, and caring era. In Part 1 of the book, Schachter-Shalomi recommends meditation, exercise, and spiritual healing to help individuals enter their later years, while in Part 2 he speaks to our limited perceptions of death. Creating ceremonies and learning to forgive help ease the transition into death, according to Schachter-Shalomi, who believes in the certainty of life after death. Adding a personal dimension, the rabbi compassionately relates his own mental crisis as he approaches the age of 60 to help readers understand the process. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries with gerontology collections.?Lisa Wise, Univ. of Southern Colorado, Pueblo
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Schachter-Shalomi, a rabbi dreading retirement, realized that he must "recontextualize aging as the anticipated fulfillment of life, not its inevitable decline." So he devised Spiritual Eldering--a social activism, awareness, and mentoring program. The rabbi provides instructions on selecting people to mentor and how to go about doing so. He supples advice on helping individuals, family, community, and the planet. In his analysis of how elderly people can learn conscious dying (or the acceptance of death), the author pulls concepts from multiple religious traditions: Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, among others. A worthwhile, multicultural look at the value of aging individuals and the work they could have in store for them. Denise Perry Donavin

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B001MT5N9G
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Balance (December 2, 2008)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 2, 2008
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 303 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 375 ratings

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Zalman Schachter-Shalomi

Zalman Schachter-Shalomi

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
375 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book inspirational, with one noting it provides tools for living a meaningful second half of life. Moreover, they appreciate its thought-provoking content, describing it as a spiritually rich guide to harvesting life. Additionally, the book receives positive feedback for its readability and writing quality, with customers finding it well written and easy to read. However, the pacing receives mixed reviews, with several customers finding the content too long for the subject.

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63 customers mention "Inspirational content"63 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspirational and full of wisdom, with one customer noting it offers tools for living a meaningful second half of life, while another describes it as a precious map to growing wiser.

"...This book gathers a lot of wisdom from a lot of people about the purpose and power available to older adults...." Read more

"...This book provides a precious map to growing wiser and more alive rather than becoming a burden as we go into the final chapters of our life...." Read more

"This is an inspiring book which invites those of us entering retirement (or later years) to see ourselves as generative, as people who have gained..." Read more

"Good topic, but boring read." Read more

26 customers mention "Thought provoking"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, describing it as a profound and spiritually rich guide to harvesting life.

"...has interviewed a lot of people, read a lot of material, and led many workshops...." Read more

"...final score of years in his life, his work lives on in this seminal treatise. This is the one book that you will not regret having and reading...." Read more

"...religion; instead he clearly speaks to a kind of universalist spiritual perspective, in which we are all connected with one another, in which we can..." Read more

"...all seniors have developed over the years but it also offers a path to healing and dealing. I was thankful for that...." Read more

19 customers mention "Readability"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and well-written, with one customer noting it as a foundational resource on the subject.

"...Our group is made up of spiritual women of various faiths. Joan's book was great because though she is Christian her book spoke to all of us...." Read more

"...Many excellent other books and resources are offered." Read more

"A must read. Very practical. Offers tools to living a meaningful second half of life...." Read more

"Awesome and much needed book. Provides us baby boomers with a new concept of growing older and what to do in our next phase of life...." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read.

"...It is easy to read and so encouraging to those who despair about growing older...." Read more

"This is a must for any Baby Boomer who wants to age wisely and gracefully...." Read more

"Definitely one of the classic, foundational books on the subject. Well written, insightful, inspiring." Read more

"Thoughtful, insightful, well-written. On the front end of today's conscious aging movement. A pacesetter!" Read more

9 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it too long for the subject matter.

"I found, as far as I have read, a lot of repetition and really not anything revelatory or "new." The basic notion is the rethinking of the..." Read more

"...profound book about how to make the last third of one's life vital, vibrant and meaningful...." Read more

"Inspiring information especially for older readers. A bit repetitious at times; but it is good to be reminded that baby boomers are now the majority..." Read more

"...It's a very interesting look at the possibility we all have of being a sage -- a wise elder -- to young people...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Karen D. Austin
    5.0 out of 5 stars I like to reread this
    Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2018
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    I checked this out from the library and loved it so much, I bought my own copy. And I bought a copy for my in-laws. And I like to reread this once a year. The general culture in the US is so AGEIST that I have to actively work to resist messages that I'm useless. The author has interviewed a lot of people, read a lot of material, and led many workshops. This book gathers a lot of wisdom from a lot of people about the purpose and power available to older adults. I've read over 300 books about aging in the last 10 years, and this book is in my TOP 5!
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Donald W. Adams, Ph.D.
    5.0 out of 5 stars It is easy to read and so encouraging to those who despair ...
    Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2014
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    This is THE profound book about how to make the last third of one's life vital, vibrant and meaningful. It is easy to read and so encouraging to those who despair about growing older. This book provides a precious map to growing wiser and more alive rather than becoming a burden as we go into the final chapters of our life. This book, when I read it in 1997 changed my orientation to aging. While the author finally died this year after an extraordinary final score of years in his life, his work lives on in this seminal treatise. This is the one book that you will not regret having and reading. It will change the rest of your life.
    17 people found this helpful
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  • Stephanie
    4.0 out of 5 stars excellent reading for those of entering retirement
    Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2013
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    This is an inspiring book which invites those of us entering retirement (or later years) to see ourselves as generative, as people who have gained knowledge, perspective, and wisdom during our years of working, raising families, and being members of communities, and who can now give back to our families and communities and be guardians of the earth. Rabbi Schachter-Shalomi envisions a shift in our consciousness whereby we no longer see aging as either a time of growing uselessness, nor as a time when we have to prove that we can continue to work and compete with younger people. Instead he encourages us to take on the mantle of elderhood, a role in which we use our wisdom, perspective, and care in a variety of ways -- it could be simply being present for our grandchildren; it could be as advocates for the earth and the environment, it could be as mentors to younger people in our fields -- there are many possibilities. At this time, when there is about to be a wave of baby boomers entering older age, he proposes that rather be a drain on society, we take on this task of caring for society and the world -- not in a busy, compulsive way, but in a way where we can share our wisdom and perspective. In contrast to a reviewer who complained that this book was "religious," I would say that there are strong spiritual underpinnings to Rabbi Schachter-Shalomi's perspective, but they are not religious in the sense of adhering to a particular religion; instead he clearly speaks to a kind of universalist spiritual perspective, in which we are all connected with one another, in which we can each call upon whatever values and/or sense of the sacred that inspires us, in order to contribute with wisdom and compassion to our world.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Grandma Bee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Joan's book was great because though she is Christian her book spoke to ...
    Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2017
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    I am searching for a book to be used for our women's discussion group which meets monthly in our 55 ad over community. We just finished The Gift Of Years, Growing Older Gracefully by Joan Chittister. Our group is made up of spiritual women of various faiths. Joan's book was great because though she is Christian her book spoke to all of us. From Aging To Saging rang true to me from the moment I read the title. I certainly think this book might touch some raw nerves which all seniors have developed over the years but it also offers a path to healing and dealing. I was thankful for that. I am still not sure that this book will be our selection as it delves into the area of death. Our group is not led by a professional so talking about death might be more than we could handle. Several of our neighbors have died recently. Having said that I myself have gained a great deal from this book. In fact it has been life changing. Rabbi gives voice to so much of what I have been thinking over the last few years. I am grateful for this book and only wish that his Institute was still viable as I would gladly travel to attend one of his workshops....Thank you Rabbi
    18 people found this helpful
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  • Broker Deb
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2017
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    Good topic, but boring read.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Mary J. Dawe
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wide ranging topics that make you think positively.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This book reviews our society's attitudes toward aging and what our longer life spans can mean. It brings forward a very positive outlook about ageing and then proceeds to show an "agenda" we can embrace to make our 2nd half of life productive and satisfying. There are very practical sections--planning our final years and our preferences for our care, and reminding us of how to reduce the trauma for our next of kin. There are uplifting and challenging sections that ask us to consider being a contributor to our society, in a way we could not do when we were in previous stages of responsibility.
    I would consider this book one of the most helpful books for anyone facing their 50th or 60th birthday.
    This book is written with a faith perspective, but addresses issues comfortably that need to be recognized by everyone in our secular society.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Roz Fitch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ageing to Sage-ing. Inspired look at growing older.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2012
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    In 2011 I joined a discussion group who met once a month for a couple hours each time for a year to discuss this book among others. It's a very interesting look at the possibility we all have of being a sage -- a wise elder -- to young people. It's worth a read to anyone, but especially those over 55.

    The 25 of us who discussed it came away with a feeling that we have a role to play as we age. It's not about trying to re-capture our youth, or
    re-invent ourselves, but to use our knowledge and wisdom to give the younger generation. Made me feel like I have a lot to contribute !
    One person found this helpful
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  • Paul Hardt
    5.0 out of 5 stars A much needed new approach to age-I got
    Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Other books in this genre seem to have a “reverse ageism” bias....”Now, you can do all those things on your bucket list.” This book takes a much more thoughtful approach. It invites readers to go inside, to meditate and contemplate one’s life and legacy. Many excellent other books and resources are offered.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • woelalin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sehr ansprechend
    Reviewed in Germany on March 22, 2009
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    Man sollte schon ganz gut Englisch können, dieses Buch ist ziemlich anspruchsvoll, aber wenn man sich erstmal eingelesen hat und mit den Vokabeln vertraut ist, auch sehr ansprechend, nicht nur für "die Alten". (Ich bin noch nicht ganz durch.) Manchmal ein bißchen pathetisch, das ist wohl der amerikanische Stil, aber insgesamt sehr ermutigend und einfach schön zu lesen, macht ein gutes Gefühl......., unbedingt empfehlenswert, eigentlich schade, daß es keine deutsche Übersetzung gibt, dann könnte man es mehr Leuten weiterempfehlen...
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  • DandL
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book
    Reviewed in Canada on August 23, 2023
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    Highly recommend this book for anyone of any age to enjoy
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  • Richard Chalapa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile, how to get the most from our elder years.
    Reviewed in Mexico on December 1, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    We live longer and healthier lives. But how to get what we really need? The book talks about the need for meditation, and reviewing, repairing and harvesting your life. This way you know what special thing you have to give, so can better offer service to your family, the community and the world.
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  • Mrspatriciacherry
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ageing with Vitality and Consciousness
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 19, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    An excellent book, opening up the mysteries of how to age gracefully, using our advanced years and wisdom to help younger people, and in turn the future of humankind, and the planet.

    Looking at how it actually feels to be older, and how you can face the Autumn of life with an open and positive attitude. Instead of avoiding the issues, embracing them as an important phase of a journey.
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  • Herbert Bernard Elsky
    5.0 out of 5 stars From Age-ing to Sage-ing
    Reviewed in France on February 12, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This is an excellent book about how to age in an inspired way. It is well thought out and comes from real experience. This is a wonderful book and I am recommending it to all my friends
    Report

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