Celebrating the Rest of Your Life: A Baby Boomer's Guide To Spirituality
by David Yount
Published by Augsburg Books
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Reviewed by Connie Anderson
This, the tenth book by David Yount, offers spiritual and practical insights about aging and retirement. When did this happen, this rushing headlong toward retirement? Yount's book says that every eight seconds an American reaches the age of 50 and American Baby Boomers will enter retirement years with 77 million others born after World War II.
The average man can now expect to live 27.5 years after 50; women will live 31.6 years. Most books for boomers are about extending life; planning financially; and preparing for decline and death. Yount talks about each, but with a positive Christian viewpoint.
Each chapter starts with a relevant Bible verse and another quote. In the "Time to be courageous" chapter, he focuses on Ephesians 4:23-24, "Be made new in the attitude of your mind ... put on the new self, created to be like God."
Most of us wish for a clear mind and healthy body as we move to live comfortably in retirement. In the "For richer, for poorer" chapter, Yount prompts us with, "A feast is made for laughter, and wine make life merry, but money is the answer for everything." -- Ecclesiastes 10:19.
The book has many statements about aging and stages of wellness. Reading and reflecting on Greg Anderson's "22 Laws of Wellness," in the chapter on "In sickness and health," is worth the price of the book.
Where does God and spirituality came into this book? In every chapter, reminding us that we are made in God's image -- and it's our job to take care of ourselves -- to reeducate ourselves to living life fully. Death does not hurt; life does, as the author wrote in his earlier book, Ten Thoughts to Take into Eternity. In the words of psychiatrist/author Scott Peck: ... "Ultimately we have to hand ourselves over to God."
Armchair Interviews says: Well-written, jam packed full of thought-provoking ideas that jab you in the ribs, hopefully to positive action.