Back in 2015, New York Times reporter John Leland set out to spend a year with one of the fastest-growing age groups in America--the oldest old, those 85 and up.

He expected the stories that would emerge would be fairly morbid, if not downright depressing. He did not anticipate that he would end up with a book titled, "Happiness Is a Choice You Make."

If you are looking for emotional support, call 988 to speak with a counselor.

This interview originally aired on January 31, 2018.

Back in 2015, New York Times reporter <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/john-leland">John Leland</a> set out to spend a year with one of the fastest-growing age groups in America--the oldest old, those 85 and up.
He expected the stories that would emerge would be fairly morbid, if not downright depressing. He did not anticipate that he would end up with a book titled, "<a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374538194/happinessisachoiceyoumake">Happiness Is a Choice You Make.</a>"
If you are looking for emotional support, call <a href="https://988helpline.org/">988 </a>to speak with a counselor.
This interview originally aired on <a href="https://www.wypr.org/show/on-the-record/2018-01-31/happiness-is-a-choice-you-make-lessons-from-a-year-among-the-oldest-old">January 31, 2018</a>.

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Catch On the Record, hosted by Sheilah Kast, weekdays from 9:30 to 10:00 am, following NPR's Morning Edition. We'll discuss the issues that affect your life and bring you thoughtful and lively conversations with the people who shape those issues -- business people, public officials, scholars, artists, authors, WYPR reporters and other journalists who can take us inside the story. If you want to share a comment, question, or an idea for an interview you?d like to hear, email us at <a href="mailto:ontherecord@wypr.org" target="_blank">ontherecord@wypr.org</a>

On The Record

Catch On the Record, hosted by Sheilah Kast, weekdays from 9:30 to 10:00 am, following NPR's Morning Edition. We'll discuss the issues that affect your life and bring you thoughtful and lively conversations with the people who shape those issues -- business people, public officials, scholars, artists, authors, WYPR reporters and other journalists who can take us inside the story. If you want to share a comment, question, or an idea for an interview you'd like to hear, email us at ontherecord@wypr.org

Catch On the Record, hosted by Sheilah Kast, weekdays from 9:30 to 10:00 am, following NPR's Morning Edition. We'll discuss the issues that affect your life and bring you thoughtful and lively conversations with the people who shape those issues -- business people, public officials, scholars, artists, authors, WYPR reporters and other journalists who can take us inside the story. If you want to share a comment, question, or an idea for an interview you'd like to hear, email us at <a href="mailto:ontherecord@wypr.org">ontherecord@wypr.org</a>

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