Though Ellis intended to write about the centenarians' memories of the past, she found that these insightful and wise men and women preferred to talk about the present and the future. Their words contain the formula for living well. This is a must-read for anyone who wishes to live fully or wishes to become a better journalist.

Based on the title, I was truly expecting to read the "wisdom of the ages." Unfortunately, other than a few snippets and a couple of generalizations, the majority of this book is centered on the frustrations of obtaining the knowledge being sought and the process by which the author was able to acquire some patience with the elderly. To the author's credit, she mentions that this is how the book will transpire early on. To the author's discredit, she never changed the title appropriately. Kudos to the power of marketing and a lesson for those considering this title, "Read the reviews."

I work in healthcare; specifically with geriatric patient's, so this book was of great interest to me when I heard it was coming out. Neenah Ellis worked for NPR News in the past, and this was the other reason I wanted to read this book. It's basically a compilation of stories about 100 year olds, their lives, and what makes them "tick". Overall, I really enjoyed this book and Ms. Ellis' writing style. But, I was hoping for a bit more of "how" these people got to be 100. What was their secret for longevity? She was able to ascertain this from some of the centenarians, but not everyone. I also thought she covered a wide variety of individuals, from a very funny lesbian to a conservative Christian. Still, it was an inspiring read that gives anyone hope for life after retirment.

Ellis produced a program for National Public Radio for which she interviewed people who were a hundred years old or older. She interviewed a wide variety including Margaret Rawson (a world-renowned expert on dyslexia), Ruth Ellis (the oldest living lesbian), Sadie and Gilbert Hill (married for over eighty years). At first, Ellis is focussed on the historical aspects of their lives, but soon finds herself on a personal journey of her own, where she connects to them as individuals alive in the world and begins to see how looking forward, not backward, is a secret to longevity, as is living in the here and now. More of a story of Ellis herself than the centenarians she met, "If I Live to Be 100" is a surprisingly luminous memoir that charms the reader and opens the mind to what it means to be really alive.