Growing old gracefully is something to which we all aspire. But just “staying on the right side of the grass” for a long time is most assuredly not good enough. In the Cleveland Clinic’s guide to aging well, we are told, “You can age haphazardly and meet every age-related health and function change in crisis mode, or you can plan for them the way you plan financially for retirement.” This book, by Robert Palmer, M.D., head of the Clinic’s Section of Geriatric Medicine, and writer Eileen Beal, helps you follow the latter, more constructive course. Palmer’s gentle but authoritative approach is both productive and comforting, and we can all learn something from it. Actively planning for the aging process is vital to growing old gracefully. Knowing how the body ages, including what is normal and what isn’t, will benefit people seeking to protect and preserve their health and the health of aging loved ones. • The biology of aging • Eating for life • Watching your weight • Pumping iron • The aging brain and nervous system • Making sense of your senses • Senior sexuality • Taking care of the caregiver