For many Americans, the transition to retirement offers a chance to imbibe as much information as possible. Yet reading tends to decline as people age. Data from the Pew Research Center found that in 2015, 69 percent of seniors reported having read at least one book in the past year, compared to 80 percent of people ages 18-29 years old. Finding the right book can be a challenge, especially for seniors who have not read in a while. Check out our roundup of the best books for seniors.
Easy Reads
Seniors who have taken a long break from reading may need some help when getting back into it. Select easy reads at first. Young adult fiction often tackles complex topics in digestible ways. Books like Lois Lowry’s The Giver are timeless and easy to get into. Some other easy starter novels include:
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- J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series
- Judy Blume’s adult offerings, including Summer Sisters
Anything funny and lighthearted. Check out Hyperbole and a Half for comic strip-style depictions of familiar experiences, or Furiously Happy, which offers a hilarious take on some of life’s biggest miseries. Lewis Grizzard’s many books are funny without being mean, and are especially popular among Southerners.
Revisiting History
Many seniors feel a sense of nostalgia for bygone eras. Help them explore the past from a new perspective with these great picks:
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- Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale
- Gore Vidal’s United States
- Daniel James Brown’s The Boys in the Boat
- Kathryn Stockett’s The Help
Sometimes a senior’s reading habits depend on their political ideology. Conservative-minded seniors may enjoy Bill O’Reilly’s Killing Series, which starts with Killing Lincoln. Liberals and those who prefer to look at history through a critical lens may enjoy Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States.
Learning Something New
Learning something new can open the door to new worlds. These books offer seniors a chance to explore without ever leaving the house:
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- The Canon by Natalie Angier
- A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
- A Short History of Nearly Everything and The Body by Bill Bryson
- How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
- Your Default Settings by Rad Wendzich
- How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell
Planning for the Future
Contemplating the future can be scary for many seniors. These books take the sting out of the process, and inspire deep philosophical reflection:
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- Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
- The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by David Brooks
- Mortality by Christopher Hitchens
- When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
- The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee
- Dementia Reimagined by Tia Powell
Incredible Fiction
Finding the right work of fiction can be tough, because everyone’s seeking something different. These breathtaking works cater to a variety of tastes:
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- East of Eden by John Steinbeck
- A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
- Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
- I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb
When selecting books for seniors, consider any cognitive or physical limitations. Many seniors prefer to listen to books on tape, or find large print volumes more enjoyable. Those with advanced dementia may prefer picture books. The goal should be to make reading as fun and accessible as possible. After all, with a little commitment, reading really can be fun for everyone.
