30 Lessons for Living

A chance meeting with a remarkable woman of ninety led gerontologist Karl Pillemer to set out to learn what older people understand about life that the young do not. He interviewed more than a thousand Americans older than sixty-five, seeking their counsel on children, marriage, money, career and aging. Their candid answers often surprised him, and their advice kept converging on thirty lessons for living. The book weaves their memories of hardships overcome into the advice these elders wish they had received in their own youth. Its subjects include happiness, the conduct of life and attitudes to old age. It was published in 2011.

Morgan Housel described it as life advice gathered from very old people who have seen everything.