
Member Reviews

Joyspan is a refreshing and uplifting guide to aging well—focusing not just on living longer, but on living better. I appreciated the relatable writing style and how clearly the author explained ideas that you can easily apply to your own life and use to support those around you. With practical advice and heartfelt stories, the author offers us simple tools to stay connected, curious, and fulfilled as we age. This book was right up my alley, getting me to really think about my life and how I want to live it. It’s an empowering read that I’ll be recommending to friends. It changed how I see aging—both for myself, others around me and my parents. Great Read!

Thank you to the book’s publisher and NetGalley for the ARC digital copy. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.
I truly appreciated the message of this book. Living a happy and healthy life is becoming more important to me as I age. The topics shared were helpful.
Unfortunately, I did not like the audiobook narration and could not finish. I likely will pick up a print copy, and will update this review at that time.
3 out of 5 stars and my respects to the author and narrator.

I love the premise of this book. Within the first two pages, Dr. Burnight puts it right in front of us. “What’s the point of a long healthy life if we’re not enjoying it.” Using her own mother as her first example, she tells us that enjoying your life is not a matter of genetics or luck. There are many upsides, and things I needed to be reminded of. The only downside is that it has struck me as a little repetitive.
Burnight uses her own mother for many examples. That’s fine. I wish I still had my mother to look to as a source of wisdom. She has developed a kind of chart that people can use to analyze what they do in four areas and what they would like to do. Give, connect, adapt and grow are the key words for her. It is by being honest with ourselves about how we are doing in those key areas, and being open to what we would like to be doing that we achieve joyspan.
I would highly recommend this book to those who are feeling bored or dissatisfied with their life, especially older people. I have known many people who have been unable to retire (by which I mean quit working) because they could not imagine what to do. These are the folks who will find help and hope in Dr. Burnight’s book. It’s probably time to retire the word “retire” and replace with another word (but I haven’t thought of one yet.) Burnight is a step in the right direction.

YES, please! This book is an absolute must-read! I'm enthusiastically recommending it to all my friends as we navigate what "Act 2" of our lives could truly look like. The author does a magnificent job of exploring the genuine benefits of aging, offering practical advice on how to adapt, and emphasizing the power of small, cumulative steps.
What sets this apart from other self-help books is its refreshing honesty: it doesn't over-promise, and even includes a valuable chapter on navigating moments when your "joyspan" dips. I found myself highlighting extensively throughout, particularly the powerful "Joy Practice" segments.
I strongly recommend purchasing this book in print. Readers will undoubtedly want to engage with the exercises, jot notes in the margins, and highlight countless meaningful passages. This book truly flips the script on aging, and it will absolutely transform how I approach my own aging journey. My thanks to NetGalley for an early copy.

We continue to push away the possible (aging with hope, joy, resilience, connection and confidence) to flounder and grasp at the impossible (not aging/staying young forever). This theory offers a total overhaul and remodel of our aging attitude framework, it’s broken down into clear and concise methods, and has all the science to back it up. I really connected with the visual diagrams of overlapping healthspan, lifespan, and joyspan. I truly feel like human experience is meant to have an equal joyspan and lifespan. We all have that one person we can think of who embraced every year/decade of their life with curiosity, humor, and enthusiasm. We also all know someone who vitally needs to discover joy, purpose, connection, and love.

As a lover of self-help books and Mel Robbin’s book “The Let Them Theory,” I was thoroughly pleased and in awe of “Joyspan.” While it is a book about having a longevity of joy later in life, at the ripe age of 25, I loved it and learned a lot. It was a pretty quick read and I learned so much. I also loved the aspect of applying it your life with prompts as well as real life examples. If you want to live a long and joyful life, READ THIS BOOK (you won’t regret it).

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘰𝘧 𝙅𝙤𝙮𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙣 𝘣𝘺 𝘒𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘉𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵
“𝘑𝘰𝘺 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦; 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵.”
I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of Joyspan by Kerry Burnight, and I cannot express how grateful I am for the opportunity. This book was so much more than I expected; it’s one of those rare non-fiction reads that doesn’t just inform you, but truly transforms the way you see yourself, your relationships, and the world around you.
From the very first chapter, I felt an instant connection to Burnight’s warm, insightful voice. The writing is clear, compassionate, and deeply authentic. What struck me most was how Kerry weaves personal stories, research, and actionable wisdom into something profoundly moving and practical at the same time. It’s not often that a book can simultaneously make you tear up, nod along in agreement, and want to jot down notes on every other page.
Joyspan is an exploration of what it means to live meaningfully, embrace aging, foster connection, and cultivate joy; not just in fleeting moments, but as a sustainable part of everyday life. Burnight draws on her rich background in gerontology and human connection to deliver a book that feels like both a science-backed guide and a conversation with a wise, kind friend.
I learned so much while reading this. Some sections left me reflecting on my own life in ways I didn’t anticipate, while others gave me practical, actionable advice that I’ve already started implementing. It reminded me of the importance of relationships, the underrated power of gratitude, and how small shifts in mindset can lead to expansive changes in quality of life.
I can confidently say this is one of the best non-fiction books I’ve read in years. It’s beautifully written, emotionally resonant, and endlessly insightful. I think this book will resonate with anyone looking to live a more intentional, joyful, connected life, no matter your age or stage.
I cannot recommend Joyspan enough. Whether you’re seeking to enrich your life, navigate challenges with grace, or simply soak up a little more everyday joy, this book belongs on your shelf.
I learned so much, felt so seen, and finished it feeling hopeful, grateful, and inspired to live more meaningfully every single day.
Huge thanks to Kerry Burnight and the team for the opportunity to read this early, I’ll be recommending this one to literally everyone I know. 💛📚

We all, if we are lucky, age. Dr. Kerry Burnight’s Joyspan is a guide to thriving as we grow older, to living with gratitude, purpose, connection, and joy. Joyspan offers common sense, practical tools to improve our quality of life, focusing on learning, community involvement and other tools to add joy into daily life. I especially appreciated Dr. Burnright’s clear and concise treatment of the realities of aging, which could include loss of friends or partners, health scares and setbacks, and diminishing capabilities — it’s good to know what might be coming and to begin to strategize how to live the life we want, rather than the life we might otherwise default into.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Joyspan by Dr. Kerry Burnight is a warm and encouraging read that promotes a hopeful, empowering outlook on aging. Dr. Burnight’s compassionate tone and positive messaging shine through, making this a comforting book for readers who are looking to shift their mindset and embrace this stage of life with intention and grace.
While I appreciated the overall message and found several moments of insight, the book tended to stay on the surface and repeated many of the same ideas throughout. I was hoping for a bit more depth or practical guidance to balance out the inspirational tone.
That said, Joyspan could be a great starting point for readers who are new to thinking about aging in a more positive light. It offers a gentle push toward reflection and perspective, and Dr. Burnight’s voice feels like that of a trusted friend cheering you on.
Thank you NetGalley and Worthy Publishing for my ARC!

I found this book very interesting. It was a good exploration into wellbeing and it presented an actionable way to increase your wellbeing. The science explored a variety of information and it was backed up with real life examples. I found the information hopeful and uplifting. I felt it was written very reader friendly and not dumbed down. A well thought out book

Everyone can benefit from reading Joyspan. Dr. Burnight does a wonderful job of explaining how we can live healthier, longer lives in simple ways. With her expertise as a gerontologist and real-life stories that have proven much of the science involved, you are sure to learn what it takes to accept the changes and challenges in your life and to have joy throughout. This book is for all age groups; it is useful as you age or as you deal with aging parents.
“Give me a soul that knows not boredom, grumblings, sighs and laments, nor excess of stress, because of that obstructing thing called ‘I’. Grant me, oh Lord, a sense of good humor. Allow me the grace to be able to take a joke, to discover in life a bit of joy, and to be able to share it with others.” ~Thomas More, 1498
I've enjoyed this book so much that I will be purchasing a hard copy for my library. It's full of wisdom that I want to reflect on for the rest of my life.
Thank you to Worthy Books for this ARC of Joyspan and for allowing me to read it and publish my honest review. This review is entirely my own, and I was not influenced in any way.

An intelligent and practical look at making the last part of your life as meaningful as the first.
I was happy to receive this advanced reading copy, and eagerly dug into this, both for myself and for perspective for my 84-year-old mother, who has been living in assisted living for the last two years. While her Joyspan has improved, I felt she could use some practical steps to expand it even further.
Practical is indeed the best word to describe this book. Broken into four sections (using action words like Give, Grow, Adapt, Connect), the author provides a functional framework that is accessible to anyone at any age:
I appreciated the exercises as well as the case studies for each point. I did find it a tad dry, especially in the first chapter or two.
Overall an important book for our ever aging civilization.

Brilliant read!!! As a woman navigating perimenopause and feeling the weight of getting older resting on my shoulders- this book could not have come along at the perfect time for me to read.
First of all, thank you Dr. Kerry Burnight for such a wonderful and inspiring read. The possibility of aging with confidence, positivity, purpose, and dare I say, grace is exciting!! The strategies laid out in the book to aid in living my best life until the end are thought provoking. This is a must read for everyone- young and old 😊
Thank you to Taylor Peterson and the Hachette Book Group for offering me this early read opportunity 💜

Joyspan
Not enough people are talking about this concept on the journey of aging. I have known people who have aged well and people who have not aged well. As a psychologist I have wondered if it involves a person’s locus of control. Some people just do not seem motivated to embrace aging. But if you are picking up this book you likely want to make the most of aging. It is Most encouraging to hear psychological wellbeing can be changed.
To thrive in old age means to live a fulfilling purposeful and satisfying life despite the challenges that accompany aging. it involves maximizing physical health, cognitive functioning, emotional wellbeing, social connections, and a sense of meaning. Thriving doesn’t mean being free of all health problems or challenges. Rather it emphasizes resilience, adaptability, and the ability to find joy and value in life. People don’t thrive in longevity by mistake or luck. People who thrive in longevity actively maximize the quality of their lives. But how?
Seeing aging as the opportunity to do
More living. She always saw her value and knew she had more to offer. Why do you want to live longer? For whom? For what?
Like physical fitness your psychological fitness- joyspan- takes effort and attention.
Your genes are not your destiny.
Empowering individuals to influence their aging journey is at the heart of joyspan.
Results showed that people expressing gratitude, enthusiasm and joy Lived seven to ten years longer than those with neutral or negative emotions.
Strong social connections is a key predictor of joyspan.
Gratitude practice
Exercise and play
Mindfulness and meditation
Meaningful work and hobbies
Acts of kindness
Laughter
Reduce stress
Keep learning
Exercise
Good nutrition
Sleep
Encouraging lifelong learning, community involvement, and inter generational interactions can mitigate feelings of loss. Lack of social connection does greater harm than obesity and high blood pressure.
Four essentials of the Joyspan Matrix
To Grow- explore and try new things
To Adapt- continually adjust to new situations
To Connect- invest time and effort into relationships
To Give- by sharing of yourself
If you enjoyed this book you might also enjoy the Wiser Than Me podcast too
Create a list of physical mental emotional tasks you can do when you feel off
- stretch
- Lift weight exercises
- Eat nutritious snack
- Journal
- Read
- Text a friend
- Write a letter
- Create -?
- Go outside
- Visitor a museum
- Cook a new dish
- Find a new hobby

I really like the idea behind this book. I am quickly approaching an age where planning for my future years is something I think about.
I appreciated the real life comparisons between those who approach these years as an opportunity to continue learning, growing and being grateful versus those who feel that these are the bad times. As someone who has done a lot of "work" on herself over the years, the self-tests were something I easily skipped over although I can see the value for many.
Overall, I thought this was a worthwhile book.