Breaking the Age Code

How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long and Well You Live

By: Becca Levy

Narrated by: Courtney Patterson

Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Yale professor and leading expert on the psychology of successful aging, Dr. Becca Levy, draws on her ground-breaking research to show how age beliefs can be improved so they benefit all aspects of the aging process, including the way genes operate and the extension of life expectancy by 7.5 years.

The often-surprising results of Levy’s science offer stunning revelations about the mind-body connection. She demonstrates that many health problems formerly considered to be entirely due to the aging process, such as memory loss, hearing decline, and cardiovascular events, are instead influenced by the negative age beliefs that dominate in the US and other ageist countries. It’s time for all of us to rethink aging and Breaking the Age Code shows us how to do just that.

Based on her innovative research, stories that range from pop culture to the corporate boardroom, and her own life, Levy shows how age beliefs shape all aspects of our lives. She also presents a variety of fascinating people who have benefited from positive age beliefs as well as an entire town that has flourished with these beliefs.

Breaking the Age Code is a landmark work, presenting not only easy-to-follow techniques for improving age beliefs so they can contribute to successful aging, but also a blueprint to reduce structural ageism for lasting change and an age-just society.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Becca Levy (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Important book everyone should read

I thought the author’s message and findings on ageism were very important for everyone to know. However, I felt the book was a little long, and I could’ve done with less stories about individuals. 

Reminder of how fall beliefs shape us

This is an interesting easy listen. Enough qualitative science to give it some backing but not too much to bore you. A reminder that you can continue to thrive regardless of your age and how you are treated by society. Motivation to engage in life not just for well being but also longevity. Not another “program” book selling you a diet or exercise miracle, research showing how you treat yourself and the beliefs you hold are some of your healthiest tools for positive aging.

Enlightening!

Very enlightening. I am 74 and thankfully have not personally encountered the ageism discrimination presented. But now, I cannot help but see it. Thank you Becca Levy for the lessons and guidance to counter this pernicious societal ill.

An important and overlook social issue

As the world continues to grow older
We need to recognize it as an opportunity rather than us close minded area of decay and drain on society

Too much is devoted to ageism

While I am listening to this audiobook, my wife is also reading the hardcopy version. We have both come across the same opinion that way too much of the book concentrates on age discrimination, or ageism. I really wish this knowledgeable author would have given more solutions than problems.

Very intriguing

This is a very important book, everybody is getting older, and eventually they will be affected by age bias. Everybody’s health, happiness, and well-being depends on it.

The voice, and performance really kept me interested, and I’m going to have to listen to it again.

must listen to this will improve your life

This book breaks apart aging stereorypes and provides an action plan that you and people of all ages can use to improve your health, cognition and social wellbeing. This should be required reading!

Excellent reporting and recommendations for change

As an active, recently retired college professor, 67 year old woman, I was fascinated to learn of ways to participate in changing the age discrimination culture in which we live. The data shared was overwhelming, but the book made it very understandable. Thank you, Dr. Levy for writing such an eye-opening book with concrete proposals for us to work on.

Not what I expected

I love to read books about the science of aging and life expectancy and I thought this would be a great one—a scientific book about aging written by a Yale self-proclaimed scientist. In reality, there is very little science. The basic point is that those “seniors” who think young are healthier, happier, better adjusted and live longer. And the opposite is true. There is some discussion about results of studies, with few details. There are also many references to so-called scientific conclusions derived from unpublished sources, surveys and shows of hands in an audience. This book is predominantly about two things. One, an extraordinary number of stories and anecdotes about the author, her family and older people doing amazing things. Interesting, usually. Inspiring, always. But not science by any stretch. Two, a call to activism to prevent the mistreatment and damaging stereotyping of older people. I admire and appreciate the author’s passion, given I am part of that class, but it was too dominant a theme for a book touted to be about “how your beliefs about aging determine how long & well you will live.” There are many references to racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination and how we need a similar social justice movement to defeat ageism. If those two dominant topics interest you, you will like the book and should buy it. If you are expecting science or anything like a David Sinclair book, don’t bother.

Wow, a toure de force on aging

Comprehensive, loved the Japanese data which leads the way on reducing ageism.
Goes into detail on the USA money trail boosting ageism.
Action is needed!