--- title: "The Countdown by Dr. Harley Rotbart | Official Book Page" description: "A lighthearted, insightful, and emotionally resonant look at the strange, funny, and surprisingly meaningful experience of growing older. Get your copy of The Countdown by Dr. Harley Rotbart today." lang: en json-ld: | { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Book", "name": "The Countdown", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dr. Harley Rotbart" }, "publisher": "Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing", "description": "A lighthearted, insightful, and emotionally resonant look at the strange, funny, and surprisingly meaningful experience of growing older.", "image": "/assets/the-countdown-cover-wWvd3SLk.webp" } --- [Harley Rotbart, M.D. Author • Pediatrician • Grandfather ](/) [Books](/books) [Blog](/blog)[About](/about) [Contact](/#contact) [Back to All Books](/#books) New Release ![The Countdown](/assets/the-countdown-cover-wWvd3SLk.webp) Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, August 11, 2026 # The Countdown Cursive Is Dead, and Other Realities of Aging By Dr. Harley Rotbart The Countdown – Cursive Is Dead and Other Realities of Aging is a lighthearted, insightful, and emotionally resonant look at the strange, funny, and surprisingly meaningful experience of growing older. With humor, personal vignettes, fond nostalgia, keen observation, and hard-earned wisdom, Dr. Harley Rotbart explores the realities of aging that unite us all: the physical changes, the shifting expectations, the family dynamics, the evolving role we play in our communities, and the astonishing cultural and technological transformations we have witnessed along the way. From artificial intelligence to artificial joints; from Zoom to Zen; from “senior moments” to “senior storage;” and from memories and milestones to morbidity and mortality, The Countdown finds grace, absurdity, and humanity in the years that accumulate behind us – and the uncertain but still promising and hopeful road ahead. Written in Dr. Rotbart's warm, conversational, and deeply relatable style, The Countdown will feel familiar to readers of his beloved “No Regrets” books, while venturing into new candid, comic, and poignant territory. In fact, he had considered calling this book "No Regrets Aging," but we all know some regrets inevitably creep in as we get older. This book meets them with perspective, wit, and heart. In this new book, Dr. Rotbart expands upon his widely-read, "viral" pieces on aging for the New York Times and other publications. As millions of Baby Boomers enter their seventies and eighties – and younger generations try to understand the weird things we say and do, fear and forget, curse and cherish – The Countdown offers a multigenerational roadmap and a conversation starter for families everywhere. Aging may be inevitable; losing our sense of humor isn't. ### Get Your Copy [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Countdown-Cursive-Other-Realities-Aging/dp/B0HF6VXX84) ### A Few Words on Aging > "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." > > — Mark Twain > "You can live to be a hundred if you give up all the things that make you want to live to be a hundred." > > — Woody Allen > "I've learned that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes." > > — Andy Rooney > "Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it." > > — Will Rogers > "By the time you're 80 years old you've learned everything. You only have to remember it." > > — George Burns ### Full Wrap Cover ![The Countdown full wrap cover](/assets/the-countdown-wrap-DZCuupmN.jpg) More Books ## You Will Also Enjoy [ ![101 Lessons From The Dugout](/assets/book-101-lessons-BedXHD0N.webp) ### 101 Lessons From The Dugout Hidden behind the game's fundamentals are subtle real-world messages and meanings that help lead to success off the field just as much as on it. ](/books/101-lessons) [ ![No Regrets Parenting (Updated and Expanded)](/assets/cover-no-regrets-parenting-DldndpO0.webp) ### No Regrets Parenting (Updated and Expanded) The quintessential, open-to-all parenting guidebook, guaranteed to help you find more—and better—time for your kids and yourself. ](/books/no-regrets-parenting) [ ![No Regrets Living](/assets/cover-no-regrets-living-bzaWEXSa.webp) ### No Regrets Living A proactive, 7-step plan to help us better appreciate what we have in our lives, and take greater pride in what we've done with our lives. ](/books/no-regrets-living) [ ![Miracles We Have Seen](/assets/cover-miracles-we-have-seen-DBtAUJNv.webp) ### Miracles We Have Seen Spectacular serendipities, impossible cures, breathtaking resuscitations, and extraordinary awakenings—written by leading physicians who witnessed them. ](/books/miracles-we-have-seen) [ ![Germ Proof Your Kids](/assets/cover-germ-proof-your-kids-DRXHuHK4.webp) ### Germ Proof Your Kids The one-stop shop for all of parents' germ questions—from prevention to treatment of childhood infections. ](/books/germ-proof-your-kids) [ ![No Regrets Parenting (First Edition)](/assets/cover-no-regrets-parenting-first-BswiduwL.webp) ### No Regrets Parenting (First Edition) Time management magic for busy parents with kids from crib through college — a book about intimacy with your kids, not efficiency. ](/books/no-regrets-parenting-first-edition) [ ![940 Saturdays](/assets/cover-940-saturdays-CF1Gxv4p.webp) ### 940 Saturdays There are 940 Saturdays between a child's birth and the day he or she turns 18. This beautiful package helps you make the most of these fleeting moments. ](/books/940-saturdays) [ ![The On Deck Circle of Life](/assets/cover-on-deck-circle-XFo3fkUt.webp) ### The On Deck Circle of Life A game plan for happiness and success in the major leagues of school, friendships, and family life. ](/books/on-deck-circle-of-life) Harley Rotbart, M.D. Nationally-renowned pediatrician, parenting expert, and author. An archive of his books, essays, and writing. [](https://www.facebook.com/harleyrotbartmd/)[](https://www.linkedin.com/in/harley-rotbart-m-d-4817a66/)[](https://www.harleyrotbart.com/youtube-features/) #### Explore - [About](/about) - [Books](/books) - [Blog](/blog) - [Contact](/#contact) #### Books - [The Countdown](/books/the-countdown) - [101 Lessons From The Dugout](/books/101-lessons) - [No Regrets Parenting](/books/no-regrets-parenting) - [No Regrets Living](/books/no-regrets-living) - [Miracles We Have Seen](/books/miracles-we-have-seen) #### Connect - [Blog Archive](https://www.harleyrotbart.com/blog/) - [Reviews & Appearances](https://www.harleyrotbart.com/reviews/) © 2026 Harley Rotbart, M.D. All rights reserved. Parenting Expert • Pediatrician • Author • Educator Made With [](https://heardmarketing.io)by [HEARD](https://heardmarketing.io)