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Material Type | Library | Call Number | Item Barcode | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book | Searching... North Andover - Stevens Memorial Library | 305.2609 THOMAS | 31478010180363 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Amesbury Public Library | 305.2609 THO | 32114002590272 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Andover - Memorial Hall Library | 305.26 THO | 31330008928131 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Burlington Public Library | 305.262 THO | 32116003735012 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Carlisle - Gleason Public Library | 305.26 THO | 32117002025397 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Chelmsford Public Library | 305.26/THOM | 31480011375901 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Haverhill Public Library | 305.2609/THOMAS E | 31479007387854 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Lowell - Pollard Memorial Library | 305.2609 THO | 31481005471219 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Merrimac Public Library | 305.26 THO | 32125001419933 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... North Reading - Flint Memorial Library | 305.26 THO | 31550002424726 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Rockport Public Library | 305.26 THOMAS | 32129002409570 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Salisbury Public Library | 305.2609 MAR | 32131000880497 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... West Newbury - G.A.R. Memorial Library | 305.26 THO | 32135001490248 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Westford - J.V. Fletcher Library | B THOMAS | 31990004891003 | Searching... Unknown |
| Book | Searching... Wilmington Memorial Library | 305.26 THO | 32136003532243 | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
From the revered author of the bestselling The Hidden Life of Dogs, a witty, engaging, life-affirming account of the joy, strength, and wisdom that comes with age.
Elizabeth Marshall Thomas has spent a lifetime observing the natural world, chronicling the customs of pre-contact hunter-gatherers and the secret lives of deer and dogs. In this book, the capstone of her long career, Thomas, now eighty-eight, turns her keen eye to her own life. The result is an account of growing old that is at once funny and charming and intimate and profound, both a memoir and a life-affirming map all of us may follow to embrace our later years with grace and dignity.
A charmingly intimate account and a broad look at the social and historical traditions related to aging, Growing Old explores a wide range of issues connected with growing older, from stereotypes of the elderly as burdensome to the methods of burial humans have used throughout history to how to deal with a concerned neighbor who assumes you're buying cat food to eat for dinner.
Written with the wit of Nora Ephron's I Feel Bad About My Neck and the lyrical beauty and serene wisdom of When Breath Becomes Air, Growing Old is an expansive and deeply personal paean to the beauty and the brevity of life that offers understanding for everyone, regardless of age.
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Octogenarian Thomas (The Hidden Life of Dogs) tackles old age in this clever and astute memoir. From her home in rural New Hampshire, the widowed great-grandmother looks back upon her life and offers advice for readers approaching old age--"a venture to the unknown." Thomas, who claims to have cheated death four times (once in Namibia when a lion charged at her), isn't afraid of dying, and she doesn't mince words when describing funerals, burial procedures, or facilities for the aged. She finds her failing memory fascinating--particularly how she can't always recall people's names, but the Finnish word for sugar, which she learned from childhood caregivers, unexpectedly surfaces. Thomas touches on the challenge of technology, losing her hearing, and breaking a hip as she shares some of her unusual experiences, among them living among the San in South Africa and treasuring a tiger turd she keeps in the freezer. She offers practical tips, such as scoping out retirement communities before it's time to relocate, maintaining social ties, and keeping busy "with something you like." Marshall is an inspiring example of a life well lived, and her sense of humor, honesty, and curiosity will resonate with aging readers. (Apr.)
Kirkus Review
The 88-year-old author offers an honest take on what old age is really like.In her latest, anthropologist Thomas (The Hidden Life of Life: A Walk Through the Reaches of Time, 2018, etc.) turns her curiosity about all things natural toward a subject that many choose to ignore, willfully or not: "Why write a book about old age? Nobody wants it. Nobody likes it." However, she writes, "the aging process is an essential part of the human story, and it's not for the faint-hearted. It's as strange as it is captivatinga venture to the unknown." In a plainspoken narrative, the author covers a variety of topics, including gravesites and cemeteries, the pros and cons of cremation and burial, the physical changes her body has gone through during her long life, independent living, assisted living, home health aides, and the benefits and pitfalls of living alone, as Thomas does on a farm in New Hampshire. The author encourages everyone, old and young, to properly prepare for death and to leave your final wishes in written form so they can be carried out efficiently. With each age-related topic, Thomas writes candidly and with occasional dark humor, sharing both the good and the bad, which includes such expected ills as memory loss and the slow decline of her physical abilities. Given her experiences, the author is insightfulif not groundbreakingon most topics. In some of her more meandering prose, Thomas shares snippets of information about her previous adventures, which might lead readers to search out her other books. In this one, the author provides readable, forthright discussions of aging that will resonate most with older readers. Though not earth-shattering in any way, the narrative shows all readers that "death is the price we pay for life."A straightforward and sometimes humorous analysis of the pros and cons of old age. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Library Journal Review
Octogenarian Thomas (The Hidden Life of Dogs) has discovered that old age comes with benefits, along with some surprises and unwelcome events and conditions. Recounting various awakenings over the course of her life (e.g., learning about death at an early age), the author marvels that her heart is still beating while at the same time her bones are deteriorating. Thomas relates to the experience of feeling invisible and living in a senior community, yet finds many things for which to be thankful. VERDICT With wit and humor, Thomas thoughtfully conveys the realities of aging. This fully absorbing memoir will especially resonate with readers over 65 and those who work with geriatric populations, yet all readers should find much wisdom to be gained from this warm offering.