Reclaim Your Right To Grow Old

Shortly before author Kathleen O’Brien turned sixty, the former copywriter, TV broadcaster and university lecturer became intrigued by the aging process. She wondered why Western societies encouraged older people to fight old age, while indigenous and Eastern cultures accepted and celebrated their later years. With the enthusiasm of an investigative journalist, O’Brien delved into ancient philosophy and modern gerontologic science, interviewed countless experts, and after a decade of research, developed a blueprint for successful aging. 

In Reclaim Your Right to Grow Old How to immerse yourself in, be curious about, and celebrate life’s most important stage, O’Brien shares the startling similarities between the findings of cutting-edge gerontologists and the advice of ancient philosophers: growing old has a purpose. 

Reclaim Your Right to Grow Old is filled with references and data but crafted in light, often humorous, clear and direct writing. It’s loaded with anecdotes, quotes from interview subjects, illustrations, gerontologic research, and O’Brien’s memories. The book invites readers to take an eye-opening journey into the meaning of aging—and to discover for themselves why growing old could be the most important thing they ever do.

Kathleen O’Brien has researched aging for over 13 years and teaches classes on her aging philosophy through the University of Denver’s continuing education program.

She began her career as an advertising copywriter at a large agency, working on national accounts (the first woman hired to write radio, TV and print on the Chrysler account). She was a television broadcaster in three major markets and owned her own video production company serving Fortune 100 companies. Kathleen also taught media relations at the University of Michigan and Indiana University graduate schools of business.

She lives in Denver with her husband, a retired physician, and writes regular blogs on her ground-breaking blueprint for aging at growoldbehappy.com