No matter your age, most of us reach a point in life when we wonder: What’s this all about? Why am I here and what’s the meaning of it all? And as we enter our later years, it’s natural to wonder, is there anything more to life? Have I lost my ability to experience something new or meaningful? And to look for meaning in your life is not only a philosophical or spiritual quest but it’s also critical to our physical and mental well-being as we get older.

Fortunately, there at 2 recently published books that pull back the curtain on finding life’s meaning as we enter “the Fourth Age” (generally thought to be life after age 80), and both reveal inspiring insights. First, consider Old Man Country: My Search for Meaning among the Elders, a new book of interviews by Dr. Thomas Cole, a philosopher and historian at the University of Texas, who has spent his career focused on issues of aging. Himself now in his 70s, Dr. Cole set out to interview 12 men (including Paul Volcker and Hugh Downs) at a late stage of their lives to probe the meaning they found and the challenges they faced. With each, Cole discovered that they were coping with frailties yet able to find paths of personal growth despite their age. You can read a review of the book here and read more about Cole’s findings here.

On a somewhat lighter note, consider the new book by German journalist Heike Faller, Hundred: What You Learn in a Lifetime. Faller set out to interview people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s to find out what they still experience and find themselves newly learning, despite their age. With humor and charm (and some delightful accompanying illustrations), Faller presents poignant and authentic insights and observations from her interviewees, confirming that no matter the age, there’s always more to learn and wisdom to share (which should give us all hope as we enter our later years). Want to learn some real-life lessons? Read more here.