If I Live to Be 100: Lessons from the Centenarians

by Neenah Ellis

Book Overview

If I Live to Be 100 isa remarkable book, beautifully written and elegantly wise, that takes us inside the world of the very old and invites us to learn from them firsthand the art of living well for an exceptionally long period of time. Neenah Ellis always wanted to live to 100, and her fascination led her to interview centenarians from all over the country about what life was like at the very beginning of the century, and how things have changed...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0609608428
• ISBN13: 9780609608425
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

If I Live to be 100

Fantastic collection of stories of men and women who have reached into the 100+ age group. It is both uplifting and inspiring to spend time with them in this book, if we are smart, we'll pay attention!

Inspirational and Entertaining

This book will inspire the reader to think about and plan to model the individuals featured in the book. Reading their stories inspired me to share the book with my father, who is 83. "Here's to another 17 years," I told him. The book reiterated the philosophy and reality of "We only go around once."

A worthy subject

Many people probably think it would be wonderful to live to be 100. That's a nice long span of years and perhaps one could do everything we would like to do. If we're healthy enough. If we're still interested in doing those things. The older we get, however, the less think we can count on being able. In her introduction to this book, Neenah Ellis says she always believed she would live to be 100. Given the opportunity to interview centenarians for the radio, she jumped at it. Learning from the people who know what it's like to be that old and how to get there, should be a wonderful experience. And maybe it was. What Ellis says she did learn was how to listen. At first, she tried to force the conversations. That seems to have rarely worked. She wasn't getting what she wanted from the people. How could she do that? In the end, what she often got wasn't what she expected, but something even more valuable. She gained friends, wisdom perhaps, and a view of the world through older eyes. What the reader gets is much less. It is interesting to hear about what these people have seen in the century of life. But that's a rare commodity. It's interesting to see how some are still clear-headed and even physically capable, but not all are. People who have lived so long should be honored and some of her inteviewees are. Most are taken care of by people who love them, and that's nice to read. However, there is no cohesiveness in this narrative. And no apparent purpose. The stories are badly linked and there's little understandable transition between one story and another. I fear the reader will actually learn very little, either about this group of people or about him or herself. And they will learn even less about what Ellis was trying to achieve in writing this book.

She's captured the "real" Anna Wilmot!

When I met Neenah must have been the morning after she had camped under Anna's window. I too was awake early the August morning, waiting for Anna to come home from her morning row. It was the day after one of her many birthday parties, and I wanted to tell her how nice she looked on the tv. I hopped on my boat just as Anna was nearing the shore and cruised my way over there before she started up her hill. Anna introduced me to Neenah, saying that Neenah was going to share my dear Anna with the rest of the world. And after reading this book, I'm here to tell you that Neenah has truly captured the real Anna. I'll admit I originally only bought this book to read about my friend, but I found myself drawn to all of the Centenarians and the stories they had to share. In the mean time I learned things about Anna that I never knew. I never knew Anna's husband Fred. He had died before I was born! Anna was my favorite babysitter (when she was 70 something, and I was in grade school). She is still in fine health all though her hearing is going and her knees are bad. She often calls me up to find out how my love life is going. Anna has promised to dance at my wedding, and I'm going to hold her to that. But she has told me that she's getting tired so I better get to it!!! And just remember this.... Don't eat the fish!!! Addition: Aug 2005... Anna has just celebrated her 107th birthday, and is still going strong. Addition: May 2009... Anna has lost her battle with old age... She passed away on Mothers Day at age 110. She shall be remembered.

a wonderful book

I enjoyed reading this book very much. It is filled with stories about interesting people who have lived incredible lives Neenah Ellis is a journalist who spent an unforgettable year travelling the country listening to the stories of people who have reached the age of 100 and beyond for a National Public Radio series. I truly believe now that the secret to a long happy life is to stay active either mentally or physically. The people in this book can all attest to that. This book profiles educators like Margaret Rawson who published a book about dyslexia and her work in the field at the age of 96. Abraham Goldstein is a dedicated professor who has taught law for 70 years. I loved the story of Anna Wilmot who stayed active by paddling a rowboat and going skinny dipping.I also enjoyed the story of Ruth Ellis who was the oldest black lesbian. She was an accomplished public speaker and gay activist who made 100 appearances in a 1 year speaking on college campuses and gay functions all over the country. Ruth Ellis achievements have not gone unnoticed as a film has been made about her life. The story of Louisiana Hines is interesting because her grandfather was a slave. She can vividly recall how blacks were lynched for preaching about equality in the early years of the 20th century. Roy Stamper became a successful horse trainer He also developed a love for preaching despite having only 4 years of formal education. Roy Stamper proved that it is never too late to fall in love, because he got married at the age of 101. Sadie and Gilbert Hill were married for an amazing 81 years. The secret to their long marriage can be summed up in one word together. They did everything together from cooking to shopping to dancing. This couple even worked together as farm caretakers milking cows and herding cattle. I loved the story of Harry Shapiro whose life has been prolonged and enriched by his passion to paint. If I live to be 100 is a wonderful book.