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Women Rowing North: Navigating Life’s Currents and Flourishing As We Age
by
A New York Times Bestseller
The New York Times bestseller from the author of Reviving Ophelia--a guide to wisdom, authenticity, and bliss for women as they age.
Women growing older contend with ageism, misogyny, and loss. Yet as Mary Pipher shows, most older women are deeply happy and filled with gratitude for the gifts of life. Their struggles help them grow into the authen ...more
The New York Times bestseller from the author of Reviving Ophelia--a guide to wisdom, authenticity, and bliss for women as they age.
Women growing older contend with ageism, misogyny, and loss. Yet as Mary Pipher shows, most older women are deeply happy and filled with gratitude for the gifts of life. Their struggles help them grow into the authen ...more
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Hardcover, 262 pages
Published
January 15th 2019
by Bloomsbury Publishing
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Start your review of Women Rowing North: Navigating Life’s Currents and Flourishing As We Age

I have mixed emotions about this - essentially a Chicken Soup for the Soul for older women. Each reader’s perspective may well be based on how she’s doing with aging. If you’re faced with challenges from loss of spouse to loss of dexterity, and aging feels like a punishment, this book is for you. Personally I found it a downer. I had no idea there were so many things to be unhappy about.
The book is well written, many inspirational stories, and a big dose of the author’s value judgments.
If you’v ...more
The book is well written, many inspirational stories, and a big dose of the author’s value judgments.
If you’v ...more

"Getting old is such a freaking privilege!"
When it comes to getting older, attitude is everything. Well, attitude, and friends . . . and excellent healthcare, some discretionary income, and the time to sit around thinking deep thoughts like:
We are adrift on a little boat rocked in the river of time, part of a long line of women who have lived in caves, swum in rivers, foraged for food. We are the daughters of time, the children of mothers who fed us, rocked us, sang us songs, and kept us safe. ...more
When it comes to getting older, attitude is everything. Well, attitude, and friends . . . and excellent healthcare, some discretionary income, and the time to sit around thinking deep thoughts like:
We are adrift on a little boat rocked in the river of time, part of a long line of women who have lived in caves, swum in rivers, foraged for food. We are the daughters of time, the children of mothers who fed us, rocked us, sang us songs, and kept us safe. ...more

Even the subtitle of Mary Pipher's latest bestseller, Women Rowing North: Navigating Life's Currents and Flourishing as We Age, doesn't really do an adequate job describing how fascinating this book is. If you're a woman over sixty, you might want to read this. If you're a woman approaching sixty, Pipher provides hints as to how to live a successful, happy life after that age.
Successful does not mean what so many people think when they see that word - "having achieved popularity, profit, or dist ...more
Successful does not mean what so many people think when they see that word - "having achieved popularity, profit, or dist ...more

This book was well-reviewed on the radio, and seemed written just for me: it’s about how women navigate the transition from middle age to old age. But, I mostly found it disappointing.
There was no wisdom in this book that I didn’t already have, and I think that would be true of most readers. The typical reader of this book will be a well-educated, middle to upper-middle class woman in late middle age who is probably already pretty self-aware. We already know that yoga and meditation are good ide ...more
There was no wisdom in this book that I didn’t already have, and I think that would be true of most readers. The typical reader of this book will be a well-educated, middle to upper-middle class woman in late middle age who is probably already pretty self-aware. We already know that yoga and meditation are good ide ...more

This book made the bestseller lists which, I suspect, has a great deal to do with our hunger for some form of guidance through the crowning decades of life. How best do we age? What can we expect to encounter? Any wisdom to offer? Any resources to share? I wouldn't be at all surprised to find Women Rowing North is but the first of a score of publications on the subject, considering more of the world's population is reaching retirement than ever before. So kudos to Mary Pipher for spotting the cu
...more

I'm on the downward side of my 60's - heading straight for my '70's. Luckily, I've had family and friends who have hit the milestone ages before I have and I can see how they've dealt with aging. Of course, hitting 70 ain't like hitting 50, so I've seen different reactions from those who've gone before me. I have also just finished reading Mary Pipher's new book, "Women Rowing North: Navigating Life's Currents and Flourishing as We Age". (That's such a long title that I could almost feel myself
...more

This book aims to encourage older women to approach aging in a positive and growth-enhancing way. I happen to be older but not a woman, so why did I read it? Well, aging is a universal experience, and if there are ways to enhance the experience they are likely to apply to both men and women. The fact that I'm a member of a book group that selected this book is another reason for me to read the book.
The book is full of real stories from a variety of women’s lives. The author also shares stories f ...more
The book is full of real stories from a variety of women’s lives. The author also shares stories f ...more

Though I'm only in my late twenties, I really loved this book. Reading Mary's writing is like talking to a wise older friend, and I loved the glimpses she gave us into the lives of the people she knows. Her points about resilience, building families (found and biological), and choosing happiness apply to everyone.
As a wlw, I really appreciated how many wlw she included in the story. As she writes, it's time to reclaim the narrative of older generations from cultural stereotypes, and I realized t ...more
As a wlw, I really appreciated how many wlw she included in the story. As she writes, it's time to reclaim the narrative of older generations from cultural stereotypes, and I realized t ...more

Gave up about a third of the way in. Really disappointed. Too many platitudes. Friend said it left her with the impression that how you fare when you get older is mostly a function of having made "Good Decisions" numerous decades ago.
This one won't count toward my Book Challenge, but not sure how to make that clear. May just end up deleting it entirely. ...more
This one won't count toward my Book Challenge, but not sure how to make that clear. May just end up deleting it entirely. ...more

If you are new to aging this is a good place to start. There are a lot of anecdotes which makes the book a quick read, but I found the most interesting passages tended to be the author's own reflections on her aging experience. Piper's perspective has a Buddhist flavor which I appreciated, I only wish her profiles were deeper or that this had been a memoir.
...more

This is a worthy self-help book on getting old. It's geared for women, but the suggestions and approach offered are useful to anybody. Lots of interviews and interesting quotes are pulled into the narrative. The writing style is casual and often humorous. Good stuff.
...more

I enjoyed this one; it was like listening to a wise friend sharing her experience. There was nothing I hadn't read before and there were times, because of this, I questioned whether I was spending my reading time in the best way possible. But then I relaxed. As I age, it's good to spend time just listening to others, either in person or from the pages of a book.
The best parts for me of this book were all the stories. I love to read about other people's lives and this provided plenty of that plea ...more
The best parts for me of this book were all the stories. I love to read about other people's lives and this provided plenty of that plea ...more

3.5 rounded up: I'm a fan of Pipher and had high hopes for this book. It didn't live up to my expectations: as a psychologist, she is trained to avoid self disclosure and the rare times she did disclose, the comments were fascinating: "My marriage has been a struggle." "I've always wished my life was larger." Wow, compared to the vignettes that didn't resonate deeply, these comments begged for further exploration. I think the book was worthwhile, but tended to repeat advice of seize the day, cre
...more

Pipher tried not to whine too much in this book about aging. But she also was rather preachy about her political and activist views that really weren't relevant to the topic - so that was annoying. She mainly discussed different topics and had interviewed the same group of women throughout the book - sharing their personal experiences. Think she could've broadened her base of women a bit more. Parts were good, but nothing really substantial on the subject.
...more

Women Rowing North: Navigating Life's Currents and Flourishing As We Age by Mary Pipher is a highly recommended examination of the issues facing aging women.
Pipher tackles the cultural, personal, social, and developmental issues and challenges women face as they age and explores ways women can cultivate happiness through their responses. She shares stories from women in a variety of circumstances, backgrounds, and economic circumstances, and demonstrates how their struggles result in them becomi ...more
Pipher tackles the cultural, personal, social, and developmental issues and challenges women face as they age and explores ways women can cultivate happiness through their responses. She shares stories from women in a variety of circumstances, backgrounds, and economic circumstances, and demonstrates how their struggles result in them becomi ...more

To be honest, I wasn't able to finish this before it was due at the library. In my experience, it's best to read it in small doses in order to absorb the narrative fully. From what I was able to read, it's a 4 star book.
I found myself putting post-it notes on numerous pages that resonated strongly. Many passages offered insight and clarity about society's views of older women. For example, the author offers up a story about two older Athabaskan women in Alaska who are left behind in a brutal win ...more
I found myself putting post-it notes on numerous pages that resonated strongly. Many passages offered insight and clarity about society's views of older women. For example, the author offers up a story about two older Athabaskan women in Alaska who are left behind in a brutal win ...more

Back in the 90's when I was raising my young daughter, I greatly appreciated the author's advice in a book called "Reviving Ophelia" which reminded me to raise my daughter to be the hero of the story, not the victim or the rescued one, as in all the fairy tales. Believe it or not that was back before the days when we had "Mulan" or any of the female lead characters in the Disney cartoons.
So I looked forward to reading this "how-to-age" book of hers. While it was satisfying on several levels, I ...more
So I looked forward to reading this "how-to-age" book of hers. While it was satisfying on several levels, I ...more

Feb 10, 2019
Jeanne and The Brown Paper Book Club
rated it
really liked it
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review of another edition
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When I highlight a book frequently, I know I am onto a good thing. I have 182 highlights in this book, this is one of them
“The great gift of our life stage is authenticity. We have reached a point in our journey when, at least for a moment, we can put down our canoe paddles and look around us. We lose our fears and discover within ourselves a deep well of strength. We can appreciate everything we see.” Mary Pipher
For women of age, whatever that may be, but lets say 50+...you will enjoy this boo ...more
“The great gift of our life stage is authenticity. We have reached a point in our journey when, at least for a moment, we can put down our canoe paddles and look around us. We lose our fears and discover within ourselves a deep well of strength. We can appreciate everything we see.” Mary Pipher
For women of age, whatever that may be, but lets say 50+...you will enjoy this boo ...more

I borrowed this book from the library. After I finished it, I ordered a copy because I am going to want to reread it at intervals. This is the only book I've read about being a women who is age 65+ that is truly useful in a psychological way. What drew me to it initially is that Mary Pipher, who is in her 70's herself, does not discount that, in some ways, it's a difficult period because one's life is coming to an end. However, for me, it is also one of the best times of my life and she focuses
...more

Not a bad book, just not my cup of tea.
Parts of the book are broken out on the boat metaphor (Challenges of the Journey, Travel Skills, People on the Boat, The Northern Lights). Each part has several stories in it meant to illustrate the part of the story being told.
I have a hard time with books like this because the stories always feel forced or not on point. Crafted to make the reader "see" what the author is purporting to teach at the moment.
Some people find books like this very helpful.
I bro ...more
Parts of the book are broken out on the boat metaphor (Challenges of the Journey, Travel Skills, People on the Boat, The Northern Lights). Each part has several stories in it meant to illustrate the part of the story being told.
I have a hard time with books like this because the stories always feel forced or not on point. Crafted to make the reader "see" what the author is purporting to teach at the moment.
Some people find books like this very helpful.
I bro ...more
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“A woman is like a tea bag—you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” —Eleanor Roosevelt “Nobody will protect you from your suffering. You can’t cry it away or eat it away or starve it away or walk it away or punch it away or even therapy it away. It’s just there, and you have to survive it. You have to endure it. You have to live through it and love it and move on and be better for it and run as far as you can … across the bridge that was built by your own desire to heal.” —Cheryl Strayed”
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