Browse our list of recommended books for Spiritual Seniors. Click on the book images for reviews and purchase options on Amazon. Spiritual Seniors editors curate this list, which is updated frequently. Please send us your favorite books on spiritual aging, wellness, grief, loss, or other topics of interest. Your feedback is very important to us!
The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man. —T.S. Eliot
The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul
With extended longevity comes the opportunity for extended personal growth and spiritual development. You now have the chance to become an Elder, to leave behind past roles, shift from work in the outer world to inner work with the soul, and become authentically who you are. This book is a guide to help get past the inner obstacles and embrace the hidden spiritual gifts of age.
Offering a radical reimagining of age for all generations, psychotherapist and best-selling author Connie Zweig reveals how to use inner work to uncover and explore the unconscious denial and resistance that erupts around key thresholds of later life, attune to your soul’s longing, and emerge renewed as an Elder filled with vitality and purpose.
“Aging as a Spiritual Practice: A Contemplative Guide to Growing Older and Wiser”
by Lewis Richmond
Embracing aging as a transformative journey, Richmond guides readers through a contemplative exploration of growing older. He intertwines personal experiences and wisdom traditions, offering practical insights to nurture spiritual growth in the later stages of life. The book encourages readers to view aging not as a decline but as an opportunity for profound spiritual development.
“Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life”
by Richard Rohr
Rohr delves into the spiritual dimension of life’s second half, challenging conventional views on aging. Exploring the concept of a second journey, he discusses the necessary shift in perspective to find deeper meaning and purpose. Rohr’s insightful narrative encourages readers to embrace the spiritual aspects of maturity and the potential for growth and wisdom in the later stages of life.
“Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life: How to Finally, Really Grow Up”
by James Hollis
Hollis explores the psychological and spiritual aspects of midlife, urging readers to confront existential questions. Drawing on Jungian psychology, he navigates the complexities of personal development and the search for meaning in the second half of life. Hollis addresses the challenges and opportunities of this transformative phase, guiding readers toward a profound understanding of self and purpose.
by Dr. Gladys McGarey
Cofounder of the American Holistic Medical Association, Dr. McGarey began her medical practice at a time when women couldn’t even have their own bank accounts. Over the past sixty years, she has pioneered a new way of thinking about disease and health that has transformed the way we imagine health care and self-care around the world.
Mostly What God Does: Reflections on Seeking and Finding His Love Everywhere
by Savannah Guthrie
Guthrie persuasively renders the evolution of a hard-won religious belief that makes room for imperfection and “does not require us to ignore… the sorrows we experience or the unjustness we see but to believe past it.” This openhearted offering inspires.—Publishers Weekly
The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center
by Rhaina Cohen
In The Other Significant Others, NPR’s Rhaina Cohen invites us into the lives of people who have defied convention by choosing a friend as a life partner—these are friends who are home co-owners, co-parents or each other’s caregivers. Based on years of original reporting and striking social science research, Cohen argues that we undermine romantic relationships by expecting too much of them, while we diminish friendships by expecting too little of them.
“The Grace in Aging: Awaken as You Grow Older”
by Kathleen Dowling
Singh navigates the spiritual facets of aging, urging readers to embrace the transformative power of growing older with grace and mindfulness, offering profound insights into the soulful journey of aging.
“The Second Half of Life: Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom”
by Angeles Arrien
In this wise, unique, and beautifully written guidebook, Arriens takes individuals through the wisdom-seeking journey of the later years, emphasizing the potential for personal growth, fulfillment, and a deeper connection to the self.
“Spiritual Wisdom for a Happier Life:
by Mark W. Baker
Licensed as a Psychologist and Marriage and Family Therapist in California, Baker, who has served as an ordained minister, explores the profound impact of key emotions on one’s spiritual well-being, offering insights into how emotions can be harnessed for a more joyful and fulfilling life.
Joan Chittister’s “The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully”
by Joan Chittister
The author reflects on the spiritual and emotional gifts that the aging process bestows, encouraging readers to approach the later stages of life with gratitude and wisdom.
“From Age-ing to Sage-ing: A Revolutionary Approach to Growing Older”
by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Ronald S. Miller
This audiobook introduces a transformative approach to aging, emphasizing the development of spiritual maturity and the role of elders as wisdom keepers in society.
“Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing, and Dying”
by Ram Dass
As many of the boomer generation enter the autumn of their years, the big questions of peace and purpose have returned, demanding answers. Das explores the spiritual dimensions of aging and the potential for growth and enlightenment in the later stages of life.
“The Art of Aging: A Doctor’s Prescription for Well-Being,”
by Sherwin B. Nuland
Nuland provides a medical perspective on aging, offering insights and prescriptions for maintaining well-being and vitality in the later years.
“Aging with Wisdom: Reflections, Stories, and Teaching”
by Olivia Ames Hoblitzelle
Hoblitzelle shares reflections and teachings on aging, weaving together personal stories and spiritual insights to inspire a deeper understanding of the aging process.
“The Spirituality of Age: A Seeker’s Guide to Growing Older”
by Robert L. Weber and Carol Orsborn
The authors explore the spiritual dimensions of aging, offering guidance and inspiration for those seeking a meaningful and transformative journey in their later years.
“The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life”
by Gene D. Cohen
This inspiring volume celebrates the creative potential of the later years, highlighting the opportunities for personal growth, innovation, and fulfillment.
“The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors to Awaken the Sacred Masculine”
by Matthew Fox
Fox delves into the spiritual dimensions of masculinity, exploring metaphors that can help men cultivate a deeper connection to their sacred selves as they age.
“Aging Well: Surprising Guideposts to a Happier Life from the Landmark Harvard Study of Adult Development”
by George E. Valliant
In this important work, Vaillant draws on the Harvard Study of Adult Development to provide insightful guideposts for a fulfilling and joyful life in the later years.
Please note that the links provided will direct you to the Amazon website, where you can purchase the books.
