Now that age 40 is the new 30, the publishing industry has responded with a glut of books intended to make 50 the new 35.

The new offerings include “Positively Ageless” and “Redesigning 50: The No-Plastic-Surgery Guide to 21st Century Age Defiance.”

The first comes from Prevention magazine and is authored by Cheryl Forberg, a registered dietitian and chief. She is also the nutritionist for the NBC reality series The Biggest Loser. The second was written by Oz Garcia, described on the book jacket as “one of the world’s leading authorities in progressive nutrition and anti-aging.” Someone’s also apparently dubbed him “nutritionist to the stars.” As a life-long member of the non-star camp, the book nearly passed unopened from my life.

Halfway through both books, I am still unsure if reading them qualifies as time well spent.

“Positively Ageless” has plenty of good, practical information. It covers everything from the importance of calcium and the evils of smoking to the magic of a balanced diet and why age increases the importance of strength training. It is packed with recipes and meal plans promising to rejuvenate skin, fight free radicals, bolster energy and strengthen my disease fighting immune system.

Reading it late at night, I occasionally find myself shaking my head and thinking either tell me something new or who has time to make their own breakfast sausage.

“Redesigning 50″ is written with so many asides and digressions built into each chapter it reads like Cliff Notes, rather than a book. There are lots of personal testimonials from individuals who are identified by name, age, professional and marital status. I found the book’s overall design distracting, rather than a reader-friendly way to communicate about a subject - aging and how to slow it - that is complex and fraught with controversies.

For now, I am still working my way through both books and trying not to be too put off by complex dietary regimesm, Botox testimonials and plugs for nutritional supplement.

Are there book I should be reading instead? If you have suggestions, please take a minute to post the title along with the book jacket blurb that reflects your take on the author’s message.