From America's Gerontologist, a practical guide that offers a radical and optimistic approach to longevity.
Dr. Kerry Burnight--known to her many followers as "Dr. Kerry"--is sparking a revolution to make older better. Fed up with the fear driven, anti-aging hysteria, hundreds of thousands of people turn to Dr. Kerry for her practical, effective and uplifting approach to navigating longevity--our parents' and our own.
In Joyspan, Dr. Kerry shares her popular philosophy and tools in a comprehensive resource that moves readers from fear to peaceful confidence. Dr. Kerry's insights, along with those of her inspiring 95 year-old mother Betty, are based upon a profound truth: the key to good longevity isn't the length of your life, it's the quality of your life. Books that advance lifespan and "healthspan" don't address the whole picture. Dr. Kerry introduces readers to the critical concept of "joyspan" based on the science of well-being, contentment, connection, meaning, growth, choice, and purpose.
Part manifesto, part how-to guide, Joyspan proves that internal strength is as critical as external fitness.Filled with both perspective-shifting strategies and troubleshooting for the specific challenges of aging--including caregiving, dementia, unexpected diagnoses, isolation, uncoupling via death or divorce, financial concerns, and more-- this book is an essential resource for a generation looking for a better way to grow older--and to help our aging parents do the same.
Reviewed by The Center for Wellbeing at St. John's Cathedral in September 2025
Kell Brown Owen, PhD Candidate
"Dr. Kerry Burnight’s Joyspan is a refreshing and uplifting book that reminds us that life should not just be about how long we live (lifespan) or how healthy we stay (healthspan). Just as important is our joyspan—the amount of time we spend experiencing joy, connection, and meaning in everyday life.
What makes this book stand out is that it speaks to every generation. While many conversations about aging focus on older adults, Burnight shows that cultivating joy is something that benefits people of all ages. College students, mid-career professionals, parents, retirees—everyone can use the tools and insights in Joyspan to create more vibrant, fulfilling days.
Burnight writes with warmth and practicality, blending stories with research to help us see that joy is not just a fleeting emotion but a skill we can nurture. She makes the case that joyspan should be considered just as essential as healthspan and lifespan when thinking about our overall well-being.
Joy is more than a feel-good emotion—it is a powerful antidote to helplessness. Dr. Mary Catherine McDonald wisely states that ”joy pulls us out of chronic stress responses and rewires our brains for resilience... Joy acts as an antidote. Neuroscience shows that experiences of positive emotion, even small ones, can downregulate the fear response and restore access to higher‑order thinking”. That means joy isn’t frivolous—it gives us back agency, lifts us out of survival mode, and helps us think, create, and connect. Joyspanteaches just how accessible joy can be across all generations. You can buy a copy today at the St. John’s Cathedral Bookstore—whether you visit in person or shop online—and begin to grow your joyspan."
