This is very encouraging. I’m looking forward to reading some of these authors. I really enjoy reading Miller’s book review regularly. I hope to continue reading it into my 90s. I’m I my 60s now
Thoroughly entertaining. Subject of interest to all mortals, an authorial voice like a like a steady and bright companion as we walk along. I feel better, and heartened at 78, having read it! Thank you Joel!
Great and inspiring piece, thank you. You should chat to Henry Oliver about this as his book Second Act explores Late Bloomers who flourish later in life, and continue to do their best work long into their later years. Petition for a podcast interview or shared post?
Very encouraging. Yeah, the old ones, scribblers, the cranks and the poets, who have lived, not just watched, know a few things. Now... if the pups would just allow us to have a voice...
"Then there’s philosopher Charles Taylor, age 94. I plowed through A Secular Age—twice, to ensure I understood what I’d read—and his Sources of the Self sits on the shelf, staring down at me accusingly for not having finished it. A few books like that would be an ample contribution for most. But no. Taylor’s written or cowritten something like thirty-six books over his career, and he’s still going at it.
Taylor cowrote Reconstructing Democracy in 2020 and published his most recent book in 2024—Cosmic Connections: Poetry in the Age of Disenchantment—when he was 92! (I’ll wear out my exclamation key if I keep that up through this whole piece, so please just mentally insert the mark yourself going forward.)"
He's Canadian-born and has been based in Canada for the majority of his academic career. He comes out of the same intellectual era and movements in the country that produced Northrop Frye, Harold Innis, Marshall McLuhan and George Grant.
Reminds me of Clint Eastwood's quote: "Don't let the old man in." I'd be curious to see their general sense of satisfaction compared with those who retire and put themselves out to pasture, so to speak. Seems like engaging, difficult work is tough to beat at any age.
I write to stay alive, but not because of any cognitive benefit, more a philosophical one. You can see my reasoning here: https://clairelaporte.substack.com/p/the-unwritten-end-when-authors-die-5c3. You'll note that the subtitle of the piece is: "Can a writer stave off death by writing?" So I'm finding this a very encouraging piece!
Hello there! I am Jerome Charyn's partner-in-crime and I do have to add to your list. Jerome still writes every single day and since the Salinger novel he's published "Big Red: A Novel Starring Rita Hayworth & Orson Welles" (Liveright 2022) and then "Ravage & Son" in 2023 and "Maria La Divina" (about Maria Callas) in 2025. His very first Young Adult novel "Silver Wolves" is out in a few weeks - on March 24th! Jerome's play about Toots Shor is in development for Broadway and he has another graphic novel out in Europe this year - Resurrection Hill (the third in a trilogy with famed illustrator Francois Boucq.) A lifelong ping-pong wiz, Jerome was best friends with Marty Reisman and has articles about the film Marty Supreme in the current issues of Le Monde and Die Zeit. Any reader can write him at JCPress@writemail.com
Very inspiring. At 70 I look at aging very differently now. What will I work hard at? I suspect it will be a variety of things over the years. But, I'm determined to work hard at something, all the time. Thanks for the push. Here's to the next thirty years!
This is very encouraging. I’m looking forward to reading some of these authors. I really enjoy reading Miller’s book review regularly. I hope to continue reading it into my 90s. I’m I my 60s now
Delightful! Thanks for reading Miller’s Book Review 📚! Means the world to me.
Thoroughly entertaining. Subject of interest to all mortals, an authorial voice like a like a steady and bright companion as we walk along. I feel better, and heartened at 78, having read it! Thank you Joel!
Grateful you enjoyed it. It was fun to research and write.
Great and inspiring piece, thank you. You should chat to Henry Oliver about this as his book Second Act explores Late Bloomers who flourish later in life, and continue to do their best work long into their later years. Petition for a podcast interview or shared post?
Henry’s great! I interviewed him here a couple years back. You can find it in Conversations in the main navigation menu.
You left out Wendell Berry, I believe. 91 just published a new novel and multiple poems.
I did! Shouldn’t have. Ruth Gaskovski corrected me on that point too!
Very encouraging. Yeah, the old ones, scribblers, the cranks and the poets, who have lived, not just watched, know a few things. Now... if the pups would just allow us to have a voice...
You’ll have to fight for it, I’m afraid.
I do. Every day.
"Then there’s philosopher Charles Taylor, age 94. I plowed through A Secular Age—twice, to ensure I understood what I’d read—and his Sources of the Self sits on the shelf, staring down at me accusingly for not having finished it. A few books like that would be an ample contribution for most. But no. Taylor’s written or cowritten something like thirty-six books over his career, and he’s still going at it.
Taylor cowrote Reconstructing Democracy in 2020 and published his most recent book in 2024—Cosmic Connections: Poetry in the Age of Disenchantment—when he was 92! (I’ll wear out my exclamation key if I keep that up through this whole piece, so please just mentally insert the mark yourself going forward.)"
He's Canadian-born and has been based in Canada for the majority of his academic career. He comes out of the same intellectual era and movements in the country that produced Northrop Frye, Harold Innis, Marshall McLuhan and George Grant.
Taylor is a treasure!
So thoughtful and thought provoking. Thank you
My pleasure, Susan!
Great article. Just excellent writers still producing great work. Let's keep thriving. I am doing my crosswords to keep myself mentally agile 😆👍
Reminds me of Clint Eastwood's quote: "Don't let the old man in." I'd be curious to see their general sense of satisfaction compared with those who retire and put themselves out to pasture, so to speak. Seems like engaging, difficult work is tough to beat at any age.
I bet that’s right. From all the various interviews and reports I’ve heard from many of these authors, they get a kick out of their work.
How can you write so ably about author codgers when you're just a young whippersnapper of 50?? 🤔
Chutzpah.
I write to stay alive, but not because of any cognitive benefit, more a philosophical one. You can see my reasoning here: https://clairelaporte.substack.com/p/the-unwritten-end-when-authors-die-5c3. You'll note that the subtitle of the piece is: "Can a writer stave off death by writing?" So I'm finding this a very encouraging piece!
That’s great! Thanks for sharing your piece.
Hello there! I am Jerome Charyn's partner-in-crime and I do have to add to your list. Jerome still writes every single day and since the Salinger novel he's published "Big Red: A Novel Starring Rita Hayworth & Orson Welles" (Liveright 2022) and then "Ravage & Son" in 2023 and "Maria La Divina" (about Maria Callas) in 2025. His very first Young Adult novel "Silver Wolves" is out in a few weeks - on March 24th! Jerome's play about Toots Shor is in development for Broadway and he has another graphic novel out in Europe this year - Resurrection Hill (the third in a trilogy with famed illustrator Francois Boucq.) A lifelong ping-pong wiz, Jerome was best friends with Marty Reisman and has articles about the film Marty Supreme in the current issues of Le Monde and Die Zeit. Any reader can write him at JCPress@writemail.com
Amazing. I’m so glad for the correction. I’ve underestimated Charyn’s incredible output! He’s an inspiration.
He tells me he has been an apprentice his entire life.
What a great post -- definitely a keeper! I love the "work hard at something" advice. And at 72, I'm feeling young!
Very inspiring. At 70 I look at aging very differently now. What will I work hard at? I suspect it will be a variety of things over the years. But, I'm determined to work hard at something, all the time. Thanks for the push. Here's to the next thirty years!
At 45, I feel like I’m just getting started with my writing life. I hope to keep reading and writing, well into older age.