• 30 Lessons for Living

  • Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans
  • By: Karl Pillemer Ph.D.
  • Narrated by: Sean Pratt
  • Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (299 ratings)

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30 Lessons for Living  By  cover art

30 Lessons for Living

By: Karl Pillemer Ph.D.
Narrated by: Sean Pratt
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Publisher's summary

More than 1,000 extraordinary Americans share their stories and the wisdom they have gained on living, loving, and finding happiness. After a chance encounter with an extraordinary 90-year-old woman, renowned gerontologist Karl Pillemer began to wonder what older people know about life that the rest of us don't. His quest led him to interview more than one thousand Americans over the age of 65 to seek their counsel on all the big issues- children, marriage, money, career, aging. Their moving stories and uncompromisingly honest answers often surprised him. And he found that he consistently heard advice that pointed to these thirty lessons for living. Here he weaves their personal recollections of difficulties overcome and lives well lived into a timeless book filled with the hard-won advice these older Americans wish someone had given them when they were young. Like This I Believe, StoryCorps's Listening Is an Act of Love, and Tuesdays with Morrie, 30 Lessons for Living is a book to keep and to give. Offering clear advice toward a more fulfilling life, it is as useful as it is inspiring.

©2011 Karl Pillemer Ph.D. (P)2011 Gildan Media Corp

Critic reviews

"As he dispenses concrete, practical advice on how to make the most of our lives, Cornell gerontologist Pillemer turns for answers to our elders. Giving familiar advice a new spin by mining the rich resource of older Americans, Pillemer offers a refreshing, smart wakeup call about getting your priorities straight and living right." ( Publishers Weekly)
"The author skillfully weaves a prevailing theme (e.g., parenting, aging fearlessly) with self-disclosing statements from interviewees to create a compelling, inspirational book." ( Library Journal (starred))

What listeners say about 30 Lessons for Living

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Solid advice, however memory may bias it

The author has done an excellent job of consolidating 1,200 interviews from elderly people into meaningful stories and advice. There were many things you would expect, however there was some like those on aging that were eye opening. I do believe what they have to say has value, however I challenge his logic that they are experts (which he says way to often) thus everything he writes is true. For example, his editing can sway the truth and their advice is based on experiences that they remember. Memory is not as accurate as we think it is and advice is always easier to give to others than to follow ourselves. That said this audio give plenty of food for thought.
http://legacyproject.human.cornell.edu/
http://www.collaborativejourneys.com/looking-back-30-lessons-for-living-from-the-wisest-americans/
http://www.glendahaskell.com/steppingstones/9.pdf

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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What Everyone Wished They Knew Before 50

If you could sum up 30 Lessons for Living in three words, what would they be?

Worth Sharing, Practical, and high-quality audiobook!

What other book might you compare 30 Lessons for Living to and why?

none, one of the firsts of its kind!

Have you listened to any of Sean Pratt’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no, sorry but I don't mind listening to his other stuff

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I'm just so grateful I came across this audiobook!

Any additional comments?

As a picky self-help listener, this is a buy and you won't return this audiobook!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

LOVE the narrator as well as the book ofc

I personally felt the narrator had a voice full of compassion, which fits the sentiment of the book, and I had the impression that the narrator read with the audience in mind - he read slow enough for me to take in the words but fast enough so there's flow. Thank you!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

This is book full of wisdom to live by

The book itself had simple and valuable lessons that were articulately and succinctly laid out. Narrator was easy to listen to and kept my attention.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Recommended!

recommended to anyone. anecdotes were relevant and the message was clear. take advice for life from those who have lived it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I live by This Book Now.

Love the stories, it totally change my life! just get it, promise, you won't regret.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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STRUONG MD

Love it. Your time, every second, is greatly appreciated for writing this book. Great work.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Extremely insightful

All my life I've learned from others mistakes as best as I could. T
This book gives you wisdom and experience and how to prevent some of those mistakes

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great book for discussion!

Any additional comments?

My husband & I listened to this book during our 30 minute commute to work. Listening to the various sections 1 at a time, we found ourselves discussing what we had listened to that day and sharing our new found knowledge with friends and family. I am hoping '30 Lessons for Living' will be one of my book group's reads this year.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent advice for the many aspects of living.

Would you consider the audio edition of 30 Lessons for Living to be better than the print version?

I think it is easier to absorb when listening.

What about Sean Pratt’s performance did you like?

He was very clear and easy to follow.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was interesting in hearing the thoughts on all of the subjects in the book.

Any additional comments?

I felt that 30 Lessons for Living is a good book for all ages. Lessons for all of us.

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