Aging well : surprising guideposts to a happier life from the landmark Harvard study of adult development / George E. Vaillant

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Harvard Medical School has spent more than fifty years studying the basic elements of adult development, looking at life choices, health, and happiness in hundreds of individuals. Now, for the first time ever, the results of this unprecedented study are being made public, and they reveal an extraordinary set of conclusions about how men and women can lead a happier, more fulfilling, healthier life -- into their sixties, seventies, eighties, and beyond. Using these studies and the subjects' individual histories, George E. Vaillant, M.D., the director of the study, shows why some people turn out to be more resilient than others. His extraordinary conclusion is that individual lifestyle choices play a greater role than genetics, wealth, race, or other factors in determining how happy people are in their later life. And Aging Well reveals for the first time which lifestyle choices truly make a difference. Dr. Vaillant explores: the importance of marriage and the impact of divorce. New friends for new life situations. The role of play. Alcohol and other mood elevators. Making contact with new people. And dozens of other factors that can make a huge difference in life. Dr. Vaillant offers step-by-step advice about how we can change our lifestyle and live a more fulfilling, satisfying, and rewarding life in the later years. His definitive and inspiring book is the new classic account of how we live and how we can live better. Book jacket.