It is no secret that growing old is an acknowledged concern of society in Singapore. Yet for a topic so close to the heart for many, there are surprisingly few books on the subject in local bookstores. One would expect otherwise, but aging as a topic receives far less shelf-space than getting rich, being motivated, growing boy-girl relationships (or picking up girls) or even how to apply make-up to disguise your age gracefully. And when what is available on aging also tends to be written for the Western context by Western authors, it is no surprise that Chuah Tong-Ik’s book comes like a breath of fresh air in a society obsessed with youth and success. 
    From the first, the book impresses with its simplicity and down-to-earth style.  Chuah does not run from the hard facts of life. “An enjoyable and meaningful old age is...not something that happens naturally,” he tells us. “It must be prepared for and worked at.” And help us prepare for it he does, covering areas ranging from physical and mental health down to finances and dealing with loss in life. Such topics could easily become a point of depression – the issues of aging invariably deal with death, and death is never easy to consider. Yet Chuah navigates them with a light-hearted humour that is an inspiration in itself. Caricatures scattered throughout the book help to lighten the mood further while reframing some dark situations into things we can laugh at rather than fear (try the syringe of page 104). Anecdotes lend weight to his suggestions whilst giving us an insight into the perspectives of people in their golden years. We can well believe his advice, coming as they do from someone who seems to have been there, done that, and is enjoying every moment of his senior years.
    Another appeal of this book is its readability.  There are no deep and terrible secrets here; no dark terrors of aging to be addressed and then exorcised in ways too frightening for younger minds to behold. Readers looking for greater depth and theories of aging will have to look elsewhere. For a book written for seniors, Chuah’s work is remarkably understandable for anyone aged 12 to 80, and in some ways just as applicable. People in their senior years will find heaps of useful pointers and advice on how to age gracefully from the inside out. Likewise, younger people who deign to pick up this book will find an easy-to-read perspective of life in the upper age – and for those who note it, even a timely reminder that planning for retirement should begin before retirement.
In summary, a witty yet engaging read, and one that I would highly recommend for anyone aged 40 and above who can read English (and anyone below who is interested in what comes when age grows). --- Christine Yan

Christine Yan is a member of Covenant Evangelical Free Church and a civil servant in the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. Her interests include reading storybooks, writing her own stories, and lamenting the good old days when things were clean and simple and vampires didn’t dominate the teenage fiction. Books aside, she is also a horse-lover, a bird-watcher, and enjoys computer games when she can find time for them.