The Delany Sisters' Book of Everyday Wisdom

by Sarah L. Delany, Amy Hill Hearth

Since the Delany Sisters took America by storm with their national bestseller, Having Our Say, they have been besieged by requests for readers for more. In their new book the ladies provide a lifetime of wisdom and examples designed to enlighten every person seeking to live long and well.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, African American, Autobiography, History, Inspirational

133 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1994

About the author

Sarah Louise "Sadie" Delany (September 19, 1889 – January 25, 1999) was an African-American educator and civil rights pioneer who was the subject, along with her younger sister Elizabeth "Bessie" Delany, of the New York Times bestselling oral history, Having Our Say, by journalist Amy Hill Hearth. Sadie was the first Black person permitted to teach domestic science at the high-school level in the New York public schools, and became famous, with the publication of the book, at the age of 103.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest, it deserves five stars, because it is "amazing." Read it for the humor, the love, the recipes, the photos of the ladies doing yoga, as well as for the wisdom. Live the way these women suggest you do, and you'll live longer *and* healthier and happier.

[Connie D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely little book of advice from two centenarian sisters who are still living happily together.

As I age, I wonder even more about the secrets of life and what constitutes happiness. This is sweetly reassuring and gave me lots of warm fuzzies (and smiles) during rather stressful times.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pleasant read on the living of life by the centenarian siblings and what they believe helped along the way. The first was family and the involvement of both parents in their lives; second their faith in God; their trust of their siblings; the ability of the parents to educate them as best they could within the confines of the Southern Jim Crow system; their faith in knowing that their education had gone as far as it could in the southern system and they became part of the Great Migration to North, settling in New York City, Harlem, where blacks were mainly located in Manhattan.

Bessie became a Columbia University educated dentist and Sadie became a schoolteacher. A lot of advice that they offer is timeless --- toward the end of the book, Bessie talks about clean living advice given by her Mother, with the biggest being wash your hands as soon as you enter your home from outdoor. In the age of COVID-19, people are being reminded yet again to wash your hands (before you eat, after spending time in the bathroom, etc). Old advice.

Other advice included, keep your mouth shut about your money; cut back on possessions; don't live above your income; pay yourself 10% and God 10%; teach children early to save money.

They also had advice young people, including being married before having children. The children stand a better chance with two parents. Finish school! There is no real starting point for employment without a high-school diploma; nothing to be afraid of failure --- take a chance on yourself; stay away from drugs and people who use and sell them.

Eat healthy and exercise. Stay as far away from a hospital as your health will allow. Don't take elderly people for granted.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just adored this little book and fell in love with these sisters. What a wonderful gift to read their tidbits of honest wisdom. It was so refreshing and uplifting to hear Sadie and Bessie just tell it like it is after each living over a century. I loved their positive attitudes, moral standards, good humor, simplicity, creativity, strong work ethics and focus on education. I love how they lived their lives a little off the beaten path of what's considered "normal" and reveled in it every step of the way. May we all follow our own drummer, love others, live for God and be happy. They are inspirations.

[Sterlingcindysu · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I were to compare this to other short "wisdom" books, it'd be a much higher score. I never know if I'm to compare these Goodreads ratings to all books.

I picked this up at a library book sale (bag day!) and the inscription inside says, "April 1995, to my good friend Mary, I hope you enjoy this book. It is one of my all-time favorites--just like you! In friendship, Rose". Now I'd like to think that Rose and Mary were older at the time (based on their names) and wondering if they're still kicking.

Of course the Delany sisters have passed long ago (the oldest at 109). When you read that they have never bought a bar of soap (always made it) with things like fat (and included a receipe for it), well, that's putting historical time lines in perspective. (On the other hand, when I saw a recent show for This is Us and the mother was shopping in this little grocery in the early '80s that looked like it was from the 1950s, that had the opposite effect on me--they were much more updated than that because I was there!)

The usual complaints of grandmas everywhere are here--"no one eats dinner together anymore", etc. (haha, one comment was that their mother "kept the girls busy"--well, sure they were making soap for a family of 12!)

[Rayni · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I said in my comments while reading the book, this is one I would love to have. There are recipes in this book. Some I would love to try.

I loved it when Sadie says, "It's as if we've become America's grandmas." Sadie also said, "Maybe all older people should be asked about their lives."

People don't seem to be interested in other people's stories. Everyone has a story to tell. And the longer you live, the more stories there are to tell. We need to write our stories down, share them.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this for my gerontology class and LOVING it! Full of wisdom and knowledge from the sisters. Easy read. Recommend this book for everyone!

[Lori Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

How could I not give this book 5 stars?! Such a sweet read about life advice from two sisters both lived over 100 years. I always believe you should respect your elders and take their advice. These two ladies sure lived a long life and learned many things along the way!

[Hydee Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun, one-sitting (one hour?) read about the Delaney Sisters. Both women are over 100 years old and have awesome bits of wisdom to share. It was refreshing to read something so positive. The book also emphasized the importance of working for what you want rather than feeling that sense of entitlement. A good reminder for all ages.

[Leah Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at a Little Free Library on my walking trail. I was familiar with the book, Having Our Say, about these two wonderful 100+ year old ladies, but had never read it. This is a follow up book of their thoughts on life. In this quick, easy, read, I got to experience a bit of what these women were like. Glad I decided to take a peak at what was in the Little Free Library that day.

[Larisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Delany sisters write with such warmth and care for others. I thoroughly enjoyed and looked forward to seeing what they would say next. What a Blessing that they can share their over 100 years of living on this earth with all of us, if we would but listen!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book - true story. Written by two sisters 103 and 105 years old. About a large black family in America raised in the early 1900s and how they dealt with the many problems facing them. I bought this book and love to share it!

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the "real" wisdom and history that these lovely ladies possessed. We should all live this long and this healthy; they reminded me of all the history and knowledge they had and made me smile because they sounded a lot like my grandma and words of wisdom she used to share.

[Rita Quillen · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my non-fiction loving friends, an all-time favorite. If you don't know the magic of the Delany sisters, you need to read this book...There are several others, I think, which I haven't read yet but will at some point. They are inspiring.

[Pat evert · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Don't actally have the large-print version.) Wonderful, sweet thoughts from 2 delighful sisters. Lots of food for thought!

[Cws]

920

[HÒÓtie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet book of autobiographic anecdotes.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

great great great

[Kimberlyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

light book with commentary on life. no big revelations...

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to forget a book full of wisdom from two women near 100 years old. Oh, to be that clear-minded at that age!

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book by the Delany sisters and just as good as the first. Another smile!!

[Jim · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very interesting book. Two sister's.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming, a peek into the past. Quick read.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

It;s wonderful that these ladies lived so long and it's fun to read the how and why they feel they did. Fast read of general ideas of life.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I'll keep this one at least until my next purge of bookshelves, especially after flipping through and seeing "DON'T SCRIMP ON MAMA" and the recipe for watermelon rind pickles.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a a wonderful book . You will fall in love with these old ladies and learn a lot about history and life along the way ! They could easily be the grandmothers of the world . Loved it !!

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a must-read for me, because I enjoyed the first book about their lives so much. I was not disappointed!

[Chanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Reading their stories reminds me of spending time with my grandmother.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great follow-up book to Having Our Say.