The Unexpected Adventure of Growing Old Leah Friedman 9780692859698 Books
Download As PDF : The Unexpected Adventure of Growing Old Leah Friedman 9780692859698 Books
The Unexpected Adventure of Growing Old questions attitudes that characterize aging as a time of deprivation rather than a time of enrichment. Drawing on recent research as well as candid accounts of personal experience, Leah Friedman explains that by embracing our aging, adjusting to its challenges, and focusing on its advantages, we can transform ourselves and help demolish the ageism so prevalent in our society. Especially important is realistically facing end of life issues and acknowledging the mystery of life after death, offering unparalleled opportunities to strengthen our character and deepen our emotional and spiritual outlook.
The Unexpected Adventure of Growing Old Leah Friedman 9780692859698 Books
The Unexpected Adventure of Growing Old is an exploration of many of the facets of a subject our culture avoids, primarily out of fear and misunderstanding, but also abetted by a consumer society that rewards youth and ignores the elderly. Add to those factors, a medical mentality and a pharmaceutical industry focused almost entirely on all that is wrong, awry, dysfunctional, and diseased, ageism is the inevitable by-product.Dr. Friedman, in her 89th year, takes on the topic of aging directly and without apology, writing while standing on the shoulders of giants who have lived long and well, and while being attentive to and conscious of her own aging process. She in no way minimizes the issues she and many aging people (a group that includes everyone of us!) encounter but dares to explore with clear eye and warm heart many of the experiences of her last three decades--some enriching, rewarding, life-enhancing; others, vexing, heart-breaking, challenging almost beyond human endurance; all imbued with valuable life lessons.
In my initial read, I was happy to jump from chapter to chapter, engaging the text randomly as the author invites the reader to do. Soon, though, I returned to page one and read straight through, having realized the order of the chapters, like the aging process itself, parallels a growing, deepening understanding.
I am in my eighth decade and was delighted to have many of my own assumptions about aging up-ended, especially the most general one of all, that growing old is difficult, unpleasant, troublesome, and to be postponed as long as possible (an actual impossibility) by every means available. Personal experiences of loved ones entering periods of illness that short-circuited and truncated their lives had cast an unconscious pall over my own ideas of growing old. I found practical benefits in having some of my own implicit assumptions called into question and corrected. I know full well that we often find in life what we expect to find, that we both live our own story and can be seduced into living stories others too-frequently and often eagerly write for us. One's own stories about growing old are important, even life defining.
The Unexpected Adventure of Growing Old is well researched and well written. The author has an engaging and deceptively simple style that makes for a smooth read; there is no stumbling over awkward verbiage or jarring style. There are many occasional delights of sentence structure that help shine a light on unexpected rewards in very trying circumstances, even humor in pathos. A paragraph I particularly noted was the description of the author’s own acquisition of a desirable patience as her husband declined into dementia. “. . . there was one period when he told me hundred of times each day how important it is to have compassion, advice which, due to its tiresome recurrence, greatly tested my capacity to follow his worthy instruction.”
Dr. Friedman has given us a brilliant and uplifting new narrative for growing old in a time of increasing longevity and opportunity, a narrative necessary for a changing reality. In typing the book title, I accidentally wrote “The Unexpected Adventure of Growin Gold.” With an added apostrophe, I think that might well serve as a silent subtitle.
Rose F. Holt
April 19, 2017
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Tags : The Unexpected Adventure of Growing Old [Leah Friedman] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Unexpected Adventure of Growing Old questions attitudes that characterize aging as a time of deprivation rather than a time of enrichment. Drawing on recent research as well as candid accounts of personal experience,Leah Friedman,The Unexpected Adventure of Growing Old,Leah Friedman,0692859691,BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY General
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The Unexpected Adventure of Growing Old Leah Friedman 9780692859698 Books Reviews
This was a spectacular book. Leah Friedman uses wit, sharp intellect and amazing powers of observation in this wonderfully interesting and engaging book.
This book is a must read for anyone at any age. Ms. Friedman is thoughtful, insightful, inspiring and motivating!
This is a wonderful addition to the already large field of aging books. Some personal touches add a good deal of depth and reality to the text. It's also a book which may be read in small chapters, out of order, if one wishes. I've recommended it personally to friends already.
This book reminds me of the books that we read as we tried to understand the growth and development of our young children -- but this is about the growth and development those of us who are 60+ years! It is written by inspirational 88 year-old Leah Friedman who sees this time of life as one of insight, opportunity and adventure.
This is such an important book. Although the number of elderly is growing, we continue to perpetuate narrow stereotypes of what it means to grow old. Friedman does a phenomenal job of countering those misperceptions and instead celebrates the wisdom, life experience, and yes, even the wrinkles, that come with living a long life. Without denying the challenges age can bring, the author reminds us that it also offers unique opportunities for reflection and exploration -- and should be embraced as a joyful adventure. No matter what your age, I highly recommend this thoughtful and compelling book.
Leah Friedman explores the process of aging with dignity and respect and optimism. She is proud to be old and wears it as a badge of honor in a society that denigrates and often overlooks old people. She thoughtfully categorizes decades based on her personal experiences and explores each with a keen eye and an open heart. Her authentic and perceptive insights are encouraging to people of all ages and thought provoking for those of us who are just on the threshold of growing old. She offers an erudite compilation of sources ranging from poets to Carl Jung indicating her broad expanse of research strengthened by her own personal experiences. She helps to diminish the stigmas often attached to the aging process and repositions old people to the status and dignity and respect that they deserve.
A delight to read! Awe-inspiring!
Highly recommend this book. I have gifted this book to many friends of varied age wanting to share and ripple out the message to many. I feel it is a very important researched book on societal values written along with the warmly conveyed experiences and stories of a mindfully seasoned author. There are many noteworthy messages in the book such as being aware of the prejudices of 'aging' in our society such as how it is considered a compliment to hear "you do not look your age" suggesting it is better to look younger. This statement and attitude contributes to our lack of enthusiasm for growing old often felt by old people as not recognizing or honoring the contributive learned experiences of their living and lives. Dr. Friedman's book is very well written in a personal style that is easy to read and digest. She brings our attention to these ongoing damaging attitudes that effect us personally as well as our society in numerous negative ways. Being fully conscious of the privilege of growing old along with recognizing the unique journey of 'individuating' involving many meaningful experiences of treasured memories and appreciated stories are magnificently communicated in Dr. Leah Friedman's book. Truly a book to celebrate 'growing old' adding the attitude of it being an 'adventure' making all the difference. Thank you Leah for writing another significantly contributive generative book!
The Unexpected Adventure of Growing Old is an exploration of many of the facets of a subject our culture avoids, primarily out of fear and misunderstanding, but also abetted by a consumer society that rewards youth and ignores the elderly. Add to those factors, a medical mentality and a pharmaceutical industry focused almost entirely on all that is wrong, awry, dysfunctional, and diseased, ageism is the inevitable by-product.
Dr. Friedman, in her 89th year, takes on the topic of aging directly and without apology, writing while standing on the shoulders of giants who have lived long and well, and while being attentive to and conscious of her own aging process. She in no way minimizes the issues she and many aging people (a group that includes everyone of us!) encounter but dares to explore with clear eye and warm heart many of the experiences of her last three decades--some enriching, rewarding, life-enhancing; others, vexing, heart-breaking, challenging almost beyond human endurance; all imbued with valuable life lessons.
In my initial read, I was happy to jump from chapter to chapter, engaging the text randomly as the author invites the reader to do. Soon, though, I returned to page one and read straight through, having realized the order of the chapters, like the aging process itself, parallels a growing, deepening understanding.
I am in my eighth decade and was delighted to have many of my own assumptions about aging up-ended, especially the most general one of all, that growing old is difficult, unpleasant, troublesome, and to be postponed as long as possible (an actual impossibility) by every means available. Personal experiences of loved ones entering periods of illness that short-circuited and truncated their lives had cast an unconscious pall over my own ideas of growing old. I found practical benefits in having some of my own implicit assumptions called into question and corrected. I know full well that we often find in life what we expect to find, that we both live our own story and can be seduced into living stories others too-frequently and often eagerly write for us. One's own stories about growing old are important, even life defining.
The Unexpected Adventure of Growing Old is well researched and well written. The author has an engaging and deceptively simple style that makes for a smooth read; there is no stumbling over awkward verbiage or jarring style. There are many occasional delights of sentence structure that help shine a light on unexpected rewards in very trying circumstances, even humor in pathos. A paragraph I particularly noted was the description of the author’s own acquisition of a desirable patience as her husband declined into dementia. “. . . there was one period when he told me hundred of times each day how important it is to have compassion, advice which, due to its tiresome recurrence, greatly tested my capacity to follow his worthy instruction.”
Dr. Friedman has given us a brilliant and uplifting new narrative for growing old in a time of increasing longevity and opportunity, a narrative necessary for a changing reality. In typing the book title, I accidentally wrote “The Unexpected Adventure of Growin Gold.” With an added apostrophe, I think that might well serve as a silent subtitle.
Rose F. Holt
April 19, 2017
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