Reviews

How to Age by Anne Karpf

trippalli's review

hopeful informative inspiring reflective

5.0

Inspiring positive perspectives and texts on aging. The ideas and history of old age as an idea or expectation vs reality and diversity of experiences

cat3's review

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

Read it for my own journey with ageing but it has helped me enormously with understanding my 80 year old father who is depressed and physical giving up

nithou's review

4.0

Je me suis senti un peu ridicule à lire ce livre à l'approche de ma trentaine, et pourtant je dois admettre qu'une certaine peur de vieillir s'installe (accentuée par ma démographie forcément). Ce petit livre est venu me rassurer doucement sur beaucoup de points. Certes on ne calme pas une anxiété en quelques pages, mais l'on peut apercevoir certaines pistes et commencer à se rassurer, et finalement parfois c'est tout ce qu'on a besoin, une main tendue qui nous emmène doucement vers le chemin qui s'annonce devant nous. Et pouvoir se dire que beaucoup de choses nous attendent encore et qu'avoir peur de vieillir n'a au final aucun fondement réel si ce n'est l'image que la société veut forcer en nous, alors que ce n'est qu'un long voyage où l'on ne cesse au final de grandir. Et que l'on aura toujours éternellement 18 ans. Et 25. Et 27. Et 29...

"If we're able to give ourselves the permission to grow older but at the same time resist the myths about ageing, then the gift we receive in return is invaluable: the ability to position ourselves in a whole lifespan, and see the integrity of a human life, however short or long it might be."

nickolette's review

How to Age explores the preconceptions of and prejudices against old age and is concerned with the social aspects (historical, economic, cultural). The author explains how we got to where we are in terms of assumptions as a society. I was expecting the advice section (influenced by another book from the School of Life series I just finished) but it never came. The pieces of advice are there but they are very subtle and spread throughout. Overall How to Age is an intelligent and informative read that offers a healthy change of perspective. The main point it argues - Aging is a process, and not a crisis.

http://slpssm.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-to-age.html

galateadoesbooks's review against another edition

4.0

thanks I know how to grow old now. yesterday I was 4 years old but now I'm 35.

8little_paws's review

4.0

#readharder self-help pick.

This was pretty interesting--about how we view aging in our society, and how aging has been viewed over the years. It also talks about how to feel better about getting older. I liked it and I would read others in this series.

robram's review

5.0

Really interesting essay into ageing, how society views older people and how to 'reprogramme' our brains and attitude

wordlover's review

3.0

Pleasant, meandering tour of the idea of how to live a good life and not be upset about aging and decay. Lots of quotes from literature and philosophy, nicely woven together. A very light read.