Patricia A. Farrell Ph.D.

Somewhere along the way, our culture decided that getting older was something to apologize for. Every birthday after a certain number is treated as a loss. The message, repeated often enough, is that the best version of you was younger. That message is wrong. And the research is clear about that. In this grounding, evidence-based short read, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Farrell lays out what studies on happiness and aging actually show, explains why older adults consistently report stronger emotional well-being than younger adults, addresses the real questions about purpose and meaning when familiar roles change, identifies the specific factors the research links to cognitive health in later life, and gives you three questions worth sitting with before you write off what comes next.
Dr. Farrell has worked with people across every stage of life. She knows the difference between the culture's story about aging and what her patients actually experience. The good years are not behind you. This book helps you see why and what to do with that understanding.