The Second Innings - Book Review

 

"The Second Inings" authored by Neerja Bhatnagar discusses in detail the challenges associated with life after 60, when you have retired and still have a fairly long innings of life. A few decades back, life expectancy was a lot less and many people bid goodbye to this world  within a  few years of retirement. These days with better medical facilities a person can hope to live for another twenty years. This means he or she needs to be prepared in terms of a number of factors, be it financial independence or emotional stability to smoothly face the 'second innings' of life. 

In this connection Neerja's book discusses aspects such as planning for retirement, appropriate eating including the inclusion of  'super foods packed with many nutrients in one's diet, dealing with the generation gap, tips for remaining mentally and physically fit , health insurance plans,  preparing for death including making a will,  having a "Senior safe home" and information on Government initiatives and schemes available for senior citizens. 

What I loved most about the book is that it gives sufficient tips to ensure that your life after 60 is engaging and exciting by taking care of the various aspects that particularly the senior citizens have to contend with. As for example in chapter 4, the author discusses in detail about the importance of "Bone health" as you age. Often, this subject does not get its due importance while dicussing health issues. The author has suggested incorporating vital vitamins and minerals like calcium into one's diet. She has also given tips to help keep 'forgetfullness' at bay, dealing with depression and the importance of expressing gratitude.  I also liked her  suggestion to share the areas of  your expertise with your partner so that he/she will have "the basic knowledge to deal with it" when you have left for your heavenly abode.

As a senior citizen myself, the first 8 chapters for me were breezy and inspirational while the latter was instructional. The initial chapters were heady and spoke of the possibilities and even gave links to how senior citizens have made a mark at ages 80 and 90 plus. The author also mentions the English movie "The intern" in which protagonist rejoins corporate as an employee long after retirement and makes a mark. I could relate to this as I had loved the movie when first released and had even written a poetic review of it in my blog ( https://rajeevianlinesandverses.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-intern-2015-movie-review.html ) . There is some Sound advice in the book on accepting and giving recognition to the younger generation so as to win their interest and engagement. There is also advice to give up the habit of being a 'constant complainer'.

The chapter on "Being independant in Golden Years" exhorts the reader to be practical and take help wherever required like cleaning a ceiling fan. It also gives tips like timing (Smart watch tracking) your daily physical activity, engaging in mental activities such as taking classes for students, learning a new skill, being social since friends keep us young and volunteering for social causes. As I was reading the first half of the book, I was feeling elated. I was patting myself on my back on the belief that I was already doing the right things after retirement through blogging and other activities. 

However, as I came to the latter half , I realized that lot of practical matters needed to be attended to such as having good and suitable insurance plans, ensuring bank nominations, writing a will, modifications in the house that may be necessary to make it safe for senior citizens as you age. The latter half also discusses how the modern gadgets like a smart phone and Echo show (Smart gadget with built in Alexa) can be be a big help in eliminating loneliness among the elderly. 

Finally, I would like to suggest that some of the inspirational tone and tenor in the first part of the book can be incorporated  appropriately in the latter part to alleviate a pall of gloom that a reader may experience of the impending sickness, loneliness, depression and death. In the early part of the book, links have been shared to inspirational stories of senior citizens like Ravi Bala Sharma ( Dance dadi & internet senzation), Harbhajan Kaur ('Besan ki barfi' entrepreneur at 90) and Poonam Sapru (  signs/messages of motherly wisdom on Instagram). A couple of such motivational stories could be included in the latter part of the book  with a suggestion that adhering to the tips discussed in the book in terms of health and motivation would ensure a zestful life and keep at bay loneliness and depression.

To sum up " The Second Innings" holistically covers all aspects and challenges that senior citizens face post their formal years of work. As a senior citizen, I for one, would keep it at arms distance as a short reference manual to consult for 'anything'  that may come up. I would recommend it to all my friends and readers similarly placed as also to everyone who has a loved one who is a senior citizen.  

NB: (1) This review is part of the Blogchatter's E book carnival. You can download the book for free here. 

(2) My book " 26 Verses and 26 Prose notes on 26 Lofty Topics" is also part of the carnival: can  Access  here.