Publisher's Weekly Review
In this lively, entertaining book, Applewhite mixes her personal experiences and opinions about growing old with an exploration of society's attitudes about age, debunking myths and exposing ageism. Author (Cutting Loose) and blogger (Yo, Is This Ageist?) Applewhite uses an enormous number of sources, including books, interviews with experts, and research studies, to examine aging in America. She uncovers quite a few problems-"I see ageism everywhere"-and tempers them with recommendations for changing the conversation and inciting social change, suggesting ways to "push back" against, for example, antiaging rhetoric. She covers topics of all kinds, such as isolation (a fertile environment for disease), sex and intimacy, and the role of work and how companies can better accommodate older workers. She works hard to discuss and correct common misperceptions about aging. Her humor, high-energy writing, and emphasis on positive ways to view and experience age contribute to making this a valuable resource, an agent for social change, and an enjoyable read. (BookLife) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
A satisfying exploration of how growing older offers significant, rich new experiences.Applewhite (Cutting Loose: Why Women Who End Their Marriages Do So Well, 1997, etc.), cited by Forbes as one of Forty Women to Watch Over 40, in 2017, argues convincingly that ageismlike racism and sexismis a form of demeaning prejudice, inaccurately generalizing the experiences of older adults and promoting the idea that old age is repulsive and lonely. Drawing on abundant studies and interviews, she exhorts readers "to wake up to the ageism in and around us, embrace a more nuanced and accurate view of growing older, cheer up, and push back." Stereotypes of old agegeezer, biddy, codger, etc.convey negativity. "Those stereotypes," she writes, "are ours to reject or subvert on the way to more compelling and accurate aspirational identities." But rejecting such stereotypes should not lead to strategies such as dying hair, applying creams and potions, and taking pills that promise "to erase the trace of time." Applewhite debunks many prevalent assumptions about aging, including failing memory, weakened physical ability, and overall lack of attractiveness and competence. She notes that forgetfulness "is not Alzheimer's, or dementia, or even necessarily a sign of cognitive impairment"; rates of dementia are falling, she has discovered, even as the population is aging. Moreover, especially "in the emotional realm, older brains are more resilient," better able to deal with negative emotions and change. Everyone ages at a different rate, she writes: "There is no line in the sand, no crossover between young and old after which it's all downhill." Viewing 60 or 70or even 40as the beginning of the end necessarily has an impact on self-image and outlook. Among the author's suggestions for creating "an all-age-friendly world" are creating increased opportunities for older people to contribute "socially, civically, and economically" to the community; improving research into the biology of aging and the social implications of longevity; and expanding the training of geriatric medical practitioners as well as resources for older learners and workers.An upbeat, empathetic, and practical guide to becoming "an old person in training." Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
In a youth-obsessed culture, growing old is the ultimate indignity. One is made to feel invisible, with nothing left to contribute. Like other such pejorative isms that negatively define society, ageism joins racism and gender biases as a way to divide and marginalize demographic groups. But what criteria are used to define someone as old? While ageism may be narrowly defined as discrimination and stereotyping on the basis of a person's age, this prejudice goes beyond mere chronology to encompass mental acuity, physical agility, and even sexual attractiveness. Relegated to the sidelines, older members of society rail against being prematurely set out to pasture. How might older people reverse this diminution of their perceived worth? A singular activist for changing prejudicial attitudes, Applewhite offers a fierce and funny yet practical and thoughtful manifesto on how such negativity can be combated on individual and societal levels. Offering much food for thought and abundant realistic steps to engender positive change, Applewhite's guide is an essential tool for enjoying healthy and happy aging.--Carol Haggas Copyright 2010 Booklist
Library Journal Review
In this entertaining, informative, and thought-provoking book, activist Applewhite takes on what she calls the last socially acceptable prejudice: ageism. In exposing the ways that popular culture perpetuates myths and stereotypes about "olders" that are used to legitimize inequalities, the author analyzes the relationship among age and identity, self-image, and the physiology of the aging body, skillfully combining personal experience with extensive research to explore the contributions of older workers, the importance of sex and intimacy, and issues related to death and dying. She also writes about caregiving, independence, and the joy that can be found by asking for help. With each topic, Applewhite includes ways to "push back" against ageism through activism and using knowledge to fight against stereotypes. Previously published in the UK, this work boasts extensive notes, the U.S. publication seeing minor changes in formatting and a few textual additions, including updated references. VERDICT This enjoyable read provides a positive view of aging that is sorely missing in today's popular culture. Appealing to a wide audience, it might even serve as a spark for positive social change. [See Editors' Spring Picks, p. 22.]-Theresa Muraski, Univ. of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Lib. © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
