Newsletters
Sign In
Subscribe
Ancient Wisdom
How to find late-life romance. How to deal with fading looks. How to know when to pack it in at work. If you're lucky, you're going to get old. What's the best way to do it? Our most seasoned writers offer their advice.
Subscribe +
Latest
Top
Ancient Wisdom: Why I’m Dancing at 80
Dancing the cha-cha is the best later-life decision I’ve ever made.
January 23, 2026
Susie Kaufman
Ancient Wisdom: I’m an Old Man with an Old Mom
Even at my advanced age, I fear my mother’s disapproval over something small-minded or unkind that I’ve done—because rarely has she done such things…
January 16, 2026
David Margolick
Ancient Wisdom: Retire Like a Libertarian
A group of friends, work I care about, my belief in free markets—and beach volleyball—all help me deal with aging.
January 9, 2026
John Stossel
Ancient Wisdom: I Want to Die with a Book in My Hands
We read differently in old age. After a lifetime of living, we have a different perspective on the things we read, often holding authors to a higher…
January 2, 2026
Joseph Epstein
Ancient Wisdom: Getting Christmas Right, At Last
I got my kids too many presents—until I realized, less is more.
December 19, 2025
Joe Nocera
Ancient Wisdom: Make a Plan, and Stick to It
In old age, you’re freed from old responsibilities. A new routine helps give meaning to the days.
December 12, 2025
Jay Neugeboren
Ancient Wisdom: Me, My Kids, and Rock ‘n’ Roll
Having your son or daughter as your rock ‘n’ roll buddy is a wondrous thing. The music we have heard and the memories we have created—like rock ‘n…
November 30, 2025
Larry Gondelman
Ancient Wisdom: Warren Buffett at 95
Greatness does not come about through accumulating vast amounts of money. When you help someone in any of thousands of ways, you help the world…
November 23, 2025
Warren Buffett
Ancient Wisdom: How I Lost My Balance—and How I Got It Back
I always thought I had my life in balance, until I became consumed with trying to help an alcoholic friend. ‘Saving’ her became my addiction—and my…
November 16, 2025
Roberta Rosenthal Kwall
Ancient Wisdom: I Didn’t Expect to End Up in Estonia
Studying the Estonian language requires niche devotion—it’s useless anywhere else. And an extrovert here is someone who looks at your shoes rather than…
November 9, 2025
Jim Heintz
Ancient Wisdom: What Friends Are For
Instead of parents, we have old age to rebel against, so we treasure our old friends, and seek younger friends to divert us from interminable talk of…
November 2, 2025
Rebecca Okrent
Ancient Wisdom: Into the Woods
As a child, I went into the woods to escape a chaotic, sometimes violent home. The beauty I discovered there has become a source of pleasure and…
October 26, 2025
Lou Ureneck
This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please
turn on JavaScript
or unblock scripts