An inspiring celebration of aging, discovery, and acceptance of change for women.
Roberts’s debut pulsates with warmth as she examines women’s roles in their later years, characterizing her writing as “a radical reconsideration of what it means to grow old.” She’s as direct as she is compassionate, balancing her criticism of the West’s treatment of aging populations—“ in contemporary America… older members are often forgotten or placed in retirement homes,” she decries—with tender encouragement for female readers to treat “aging [as] so much more than the gradual decline toward death.” Roberts urges women to consider transforming into an “elder” rather than just becoming “older”: elders, she contends, use the crises of aging as catalysts for new beginnings, whereas those who choose to simply grow older count the years but miss the magic along the way.
The guide functions as a self-help/workbook fusion, with moments for guided reflection at the end of each chapter. Those introspective prompts are invaluable, as Roberts asks readers to contemplate a host of topics, ranging from the fear of losing youthful attractiveness[20] to cultivating their small, inner voice as a life guide. In seeking new paths, Roberts contends that old identities must fall by the wayside to allow maturing women to experience a fresh way of being—essentially becoming “pilgrims without a home.” Roberts contends that the start of women’s blossoming comes when they learn to ask less of themselves in favor of discovering more about their true nature.
Though the book is aimed primarily at women, Roberts offers all readers indispensable advice on aging. Elders possess a distinct, priceless gift, she writes: they’re the storytellers, awash with wisdom and “the memories of what happened before.” She shares interviews of different women to illustrate the lessons they learned along the way, and leaves readers with her own sage advice, both stating directly and demonstrating through her life and work that “becoming an elder is a dynamic process that both redefines one’s sense of self and requires an open acceptance of change.” — Booklife Reviews
