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Fifty Is the New Fifty: Ten Life Lessons for Women in Second Adulthood
A follow-up to Inventing the Rest of Our Lives outlines ten lessons for maximizing creativity and personal satisfaction after the age of fifty, in an anecdotal guide that shares counsel on such topics as confronting change, renegotiating one's relationships, and setting boundaries.
- GenresSelf HelpNonfiction
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
18 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Braun Levine
13 books5 followersSuzanne Braun Levine’s recent book, How We Love Now: Women Talk About Intimacy After Fifty, continues her exploration of a new stage of life for women that began with Inventing the Rest of Our Lives and Fifty Is the New Fifty. Levine was the first editor of Ms. magazine and editor of the Columbia Journalism Review.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 28, 2011
A book filled with conventional advice about moving through midlife. It's a bit chatty and filled with anecdotes from middle-class women of some priviledge. Because I volunteer at a retirement center, I cringe a little when I read all the examples of finding oneself through travel, graduate school, and expensive hobbies.
Nevertheless, there are some pieces of advice that cut across social classes. Here are the chapter titles (most of which are self-explanatory). These form the 10 lessons of the book: 1) Fifty Is the new fifty. 2) Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes. 3) No Is Not a Four-Letter Word. 4) A "Circle of Turst" Is a Must 5) Every Crisis Creates a "New Normal." 6) Do Unto Yourself as You Have Been Doing Unto Others. 7) Age Is Not a Disease 8) Your Marriage Can Make It 9) You Do Know What You Want to Do with the Rest of Your Life. 10) Both Is the New Either/Or.
The Bibliography is filled with a few thought-provoking titles, but she transforms the style to fit the register of magazine writing / pop psychology. She writes in a very accessible style, but it waters down the power of some of her sources: Maya Angelou, Carol Gilligan, Audre Lorde, Margaret Meade, etc. She brings in quite a bit of the material from _This is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Heat Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down_ (Stephens et al. San Francisco: Conari Press, 2007), which seems to be written in about the same register as Levine's own book.
If you don't have a circle of agemates to talk with, Levine brings in the experience of dozens and dozens of women, so that you can sit at their feet and maybe learn something from their heartaches and triumphs. Grab the book and a cup of tea and hang out with Levine and her many gal pals.
Nevertheless, there are some pieces of advice that cut across social classes. Here are the chapter titles (most of which are self-explanatory). These form the 10 lessons of the book: 1) Fifty Is the new fifty. 2) Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes. 3) No Is Not a Four-Letter Word. 4) A "Circle of Turst" Is a Must 5) Every Crisis Creates a "New Normal." 6) Do Unto Yourself as You Have Been Doing Unto Others. 7) Age Is Not a Disease 8) Your Marriage Can Make It 9) You Do Know What You Want to Do with the Rest of Your Life. 10) Both Is the New Either/Or.
The Bibliography is filled with a few thought-provoking titles, but she transforms the style to fit the register of magazine writing / pop psychology. She writes in a very accessible style, but it waters down the power of some of her sources: Maya Angelou, Carol Gilligan, Audre Lorde, Margaret Meade, etc. She brings in quite a bit of the material from _This is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Heat Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down_ (Stephens et al. San Francisco: Conari Press, 2007), which seems to be written in about the same register as Levine's own book.
If you don't have a circle of agemates to talk with, Levine brings in the experience of dozens and dozens of women, so that you can sit at their feet and maybe learn something from their heartaches and triumphs. Grab the book and a cup of tea and hang out with Levine and her many gal pals.
November 4, 2019
I had been saving this book to read when I turned 50 and I could finally read it this fall. I wish I had read it sooner, as I was already experiencing many of the challenges and feelings that come with midlife. Lesson 1 put me at ease right away with its description of this time period as "the fertile void." I'm still figuring out the fertile part, but the void I can relate to. There are so many changes, which are different for each woman, from kids leaving the nest, leaving or starting a job, beginning or ending a relationship, taking on or giving up a hobby, etc. All these changes can leave you feeling zapped. This book does a great job of reassuring you that it's all normal and life only gets better. Older women are more confident, daring, passionate, wise, and more!!
January 17, 2015
I've read more interesting books of advice geared toward women my age (50s and beyond). I found this book a bit disorganized and derivative, but I did enjoy the many anecdotes Levine included. The most important idea I gleaned from this book is "You are not who you used to be, only older." In other words, our basic identity changes as we grow and age. Reading this was a pleasant way to pass some down time during the holidays, but I found no great revelations or inspiration here.
May 16, 2009
So glad this one is behind me. What was I thinking? Not sure what possessed me to slog through this, I had the impulse to toss it around the 50 page mark, but the subject is so poignant for me right now, I kept waiting for some illumination to make it worthwhile. The writing is very magazine-like and laden with unremarkable advice. I might develop a new category...'it gave me a headache'.
Want to read
December 5, 2011After fifty pages, I am putting this on the abandoned reading shelf. I got suckered in by the clever title, but the book was going nowhere. If this is an insight into how to weather your fifties, I'll have to pass. The author and those she quoted were pretty angry and expressed it with a lot of f- bombs. Who knew it was the filthy mouthed fifties. Just when I was trying to give it up...
March 14, 2011
Not profound, really, and nothing startling or new. But it was a good starting point to remind me to think about these things.
December 18, 2012
There are a few useful lessons to be learned as you enter into your fifties. I just didn't understand or feel a connection to the "Fertile Void" references. But it's worth a read.
November 22, 2020
A good, general perspective on aging. It probably felt edgy when it was first published in 2009, and clearly some of the issues women face in aging them are STILL prevalent now. I didn’t glean many new insights but did appreciate the shared point of view and wise woman counsel.
June 1, 2023
Mumbo jumbo. Gather various fortune cookies 🍪 together for similar, yet more delicious results. It's what u get from those who are "spiritual, " rather than religious.
October 18, 2020
A keeper!!! I would like to re-read this again next year. =)
September 19, 2009
I gravitate toward self-help books and found this to be an encouraging (and quick) read. I keep a journal of inspirational thoughts and some of the things I picked up from this one include:
The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been. We are at a point where are lives are finally beginning to add up.
You are NOT who you were (at a younger age), but rather who you are NOW (and will be someone else in for the future).
The question "...what am I going to do with the rest of my life?" finally starts to answer itself in your fifties and should be answered with "...I'm getting on with it!" (rather than letting this great time pass me by).
A hard body and a fresh face is not worth the struggles the 20's, 30's, 40's bring. The self-doubt, the constant comparisons, the need to fit in/measure up doesn't matter as much. What I lose on the outside (physical appearance) I gain on the inside.
Nothing changes if nothing changes. (If you keep doing the same thing you can't expect different results)
I care less & less about what others think and more & more about what I think
There is no future in anticipating the worst. There is no virtue in being miserable.
If you can't be a good example then you'll have to be a terrible warning
Holding on and letting go are part of the rhythm of life.
Expect C-R-A-F-T moments (Can't-Remember-A-Fucking-Thing) and laugh at them
Anyhow if you are pursuing soul searching over the next few months, I always find the library to be a good friend and far more inspirational than a church. Enjoy the journey!
The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been. We are at a point where are lives are finally beginning to add up.
You are NOT who you were (at a younger age), but rather who you are NOW (and will be someone else in for the future).
The question "...what am I going to do with the rest of my life?" finally starts to answer itself in your fifties and should be answered with "...I'm getting on with it!" (rather than letting this great time pass me by).
A hard body and a fresh face is not worth the struggles the 20's, 30's, 40's bring. The self-doubt, the constant comparisons, the need to fit in/measure up doesn't matter as much. What I lose on the outside (physical appearance) I gain on the inside.
Nothing changes if nothing changes. (If you keep doing the same thing you can't expect different results)
I care less & less about what others think and more & more about what I think
There is no future in anticipating the worst. There is no virtue in being miserable.
If you can't be a good example then you'll have to be a terrible warning
Holding on and letting go are part of the rhythm of life.
Expect C-R-A-F-T moments (Can't-Remember-A-Fucking-Thing) and laugh at them
Anyhow if you are pursuing soul searching over the next few months, I always find the library to be a good friend and far more inspirational than a church. Enjoy the journey!
May 18, 2012
My midlife crisis hit this year, and this is the third or fourth book I've read in this genre.
I'd recommend this book if you're interested in how other women have successfully dealt with some of the big issues that face many of us at a certain age: Family, relationship, workplace, etc. I like the no-nonsense approach Suzanne Baun Levine brings to the topic, as well as the many perspectives she shares. She acknowledges there are no simple answers to some of these issues, and each solution is intensely personal. Levine presents many voices, offers many paths, and gives the reader some tools for finding a path of her own.
This is a thoughtful book salted with humor. Age means something different to our generation, and that makes the path a little more difficult. I walked away from it with a renewed appreciation for the possibilities ahead of me and gratitude for those who have blazed new paths ahead of mine.
I'd recommend this book if you're interested in how other women have successfully dealt with some of the big issues that face many of us at a certain age: Family, relationship, workplace, etc. I like the no-nonsense approach Suzanne Baun Levine brings to the topic, as well as the many perspectives she shares. She acknowledges there are no simple answers to some of these issues, and each solution is intensely personal. Levine presents many voices, offers many paths, and gives the reader some tools for finding a path of her own.
This is a thoughtful book salted with humor. Age means something different to our generation, and that makes the path a little more difficult. I walked away from it with a renewed appreciation for the possibilities ahead of me and gratitude for those who have blazed new paths ahead of mine.
April 24, 2009
I have known Suzanne Levine for more than 30 years, from our days working together at Ms. Magazine. I was really thrilled that she tackled this topic - so little is said about this stage of life. Not enough is said aobut how women are reinventing themselves afer fifty and what an empowering time this is for women. It was time to bring together the research and real experiences of women in our age group - into a book. Suzanne includes a lot of personal stories in her books - the interviews are very personal, honest and a joy to read because Suzanne is such a good journalist and an expert on women's issues. I especially love her Lesson No. 3 - NO is not a four-letter Word. Lots of humor in this chapter...because for many women the fun begins when they hear themselves say things like: "I don't care what poeple think anymore."
February 14, 2014
I'm going through all of these feelings. I was looking for this type of explanation to understand what's going on inside of myself. I'm not losing my mind it's all a process of my second adult hood. The one thing I didn't read is how longtime friendship can slowly slip away. Either we grow a pop apart or lose interest in one another's beliefs. I'd recommend this to several friend's. I enjoyed it tremendously!
I'm going through all of these feelings. I was looking for an explanation to understand what's going on inside of myself. it's all a process of my second adulthood. the one thing I didn't read is how longtime friendships can slowly slip away. we grow apart or have no interest in one another's beliefs. I'd recommend to friend's I enjoyed tremendously!
I'm going through all of these feelings. I was looking for an explanation to understand what's going on inside of myself. it's all a process of my second adulthood. the one thing I didn't read is how longtime friendships can slowly slip away. we grow apart or have no interest in one another's beliefs. I'd recommend to friend's I enjoyed tremendously!
December 29, 2015
Rarely has a non fiction book kept me up all night. I can't ever recall putting down a non suspense or non thriller and being shocked at the time that had passed during reading. I started at 9 pm and set the book down at 4 a.m.. I didn't have to work so it was worth the time. What a wonderful pick me up and way to look at my coming half century mark staring me in the face. I have been leary of it. But thanks to this gem I say, bring it on.
January 3, 2022
Re calibrating your place in the world.
A reconsideration of what matters going forward shuffles the deck.
I do not need to act my age, I need to act my stage.
Nothing changes if nothing changes.
Tell your demons to shut up.
Unplan.
Scale down. Discard. Give.
Do unto yourself as you have been doing unto others.
You do know what you want to do with the rest of your life.
The rest of my life is here.
Both is the new either/or.
A reconsideration of what matters going forward shuffles the deck.
I do not need to act my age, I need to act my stage.
Nothing changes if nothing changes.
Tell your demons to shut up.
Unplan.
Scale down. Discard. Give.
Do unto yourself as you have been doing unto others.
You do know what you want to do with the rest of your life.
The rest of my life is here.
Both is the new either/or.
February 12, 2010
Terrific book by my friend Suzanne Levine - we are celebrating the book in New York on Monday, June 1 with a panel at B&N, Lincoln Center. A panel of remarkable women - Suzanne, Gloria Steinem, Isabella Rossellini, Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-MD), More magazine editor, Lesley Jane Seymour...Join us if you live in New York!
September 17, 2010
This book came highly recommended by a friend for new empty nesters like me... I liked a great deal of the life lessons in the book. Especially her not so tongue-in-cheek reference to this decade as the "F-You Fifties".
August 23, 2011
A few interesting tidbits, fun quotes and examples of "real women" over 50. Perhaps a birthday gift but at $15 for such a thin paperback, pricey.
December 16, 2012
It was helpful.
September 20, 2015
I think this book is a must read for all women in their 50's. Lots of wisdom and hopefulness for the next chapter in our lives.
January 31, 2016
Full of inspiring quotes, interesting stories and useful info.
May 30, 2016
Usually avoid this type of book, but stumbled across it at library. Not too bad! Feel like I can use all the advice I can get lately.
September 6, 2016
Got this as a birthday gift-was a bit resistant to read it. It had some nice advice and reminders. Well written and I liked all the stories/examples
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews