The music world lost one of its young stars over the weekend when Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London home. The singer was known for her unique vocal style and unapologetic rock star lifestyle. Winehouse was 27-years-old, the same age many of music's legends said goodbye to us far too early. They are known as the "27 Club" and they include Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain.

In her new book, "Never Say Die: The Myth and Marketing of the New Old Age," author Susan Jacoby sets out to debunk the myths that it's possible to avoid the hardships of old age. At the same time, she argues, by accepting death and aging it is easier to retain one's dignity.

What do you think? Is living longer always better? How do you define successful aging?

First it was thousands of red-winged blackbirds falling dead from the sky on New Year’s Eve in Arkansas. Then more bird deaths in Louisiana earlier this week. Now all of a sudden we’re getting reports of mass animal deaths all around the globe: more birds in Sweden, fish-kills in Louisiana and the Chesapeake Bay? Are any of these events related?

We’re considering the life and death of Elizabeth Edwards, today. She was the author of two books, “Resilience” and “Saving Graces.”  She was also a student of literature and politics, a fierce advocate for health care reform, and the former wife of former Senator John Edwards. Over the course of her life she became an increasingly public figure, who surrounded herself with family and friends in the last weeks of her life.

Elizabeth Edwards died of breast cancer yesterday at the age of 61. Whether it was on the campaign trail, during her cancer treatments or on book tours, Edwards connected with a large number of people — even as she split from husband and former Senator John Edwards. 

Paul Miller was an accomplished law professor, graduate of Harvard Law, and advisor and liaison to the Clinton and Obama administrations on disability issues. He accomplished all this and overcame his own disability to become an expert on the intersection of disability law, employment discrimination and genetic science. 

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Lee A. Archer died this week in New York City at age 90. Archer was a Tuskegee Airman and considered to be the only black ace pilot.  The Tuskegee Airmen were America’s first black fighter pilot group in World War II. 

J.D. Salinger, author of "The Catcher in the Rye," died yesterday at age 91. The critically acclaimed novel about teenage angst shocked and inspired the world of literature for decades, while its author refused interviews and eventually withdrew to a small town in New Hampshire.

Three agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and seven soldiers were killed when two NATO helicopters collided in the western part of Afghanistan yesterday. One helicopter was returning from a firefight provoked by an anti-narcotics mission. We speak with Gretchen Peters, author of "Seeds of Terror," a book that traces the links between Afghanistan’s drug trade and the Taliban and al-Qaida insurgents.

Anthony D. Marshall was recently convicted of stealing from his mother, wealthy New York philanthropist Brooke Astor. In most families, questions of inheritance don't result in criminal activity, but families all across the country sometimes face lengthy squabbles over the family fortune — even if the family fortune isn't much. We speak to Lisa Belkin, Takeaway contributor and author of the "Motherlode" blog at The New York Times; and Eve Rachel Markewich, an estate lawyer and partner at Markewich and Rosenstock. They both say it's important to talk with your family, early on, about what you want to happen after you die.