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Changing Shoes: Getting Older--Not Old--with Style, Humor, and Grace
After twenty-six years starring as nurse Lillian Raines on the hit soap opera Guiding Light , Tina Sloan knows a thing or two about surviving the pitfalls of growing older in front of the world. From depleted storylines, to transitioning from sizzling screen diva to a mature grandmother Changing Shoes shows that even TV grandmothers can have style and flair. Drawing from the lessons she has learned in her own life, Tina candidly shares her endearing, sensitive, and often funny, story of crossing into her next phase of her life. And, in doing so, she offers important tips on how to embrace womanhood with ease. Watch a Video
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 16, 2010
About the author
Tina Sloan
4 books47 followersTina Sloan is best known for her 26-year-role on CBS’s soap opera Guiding Light and as the author of Changing Shoes: Getting Older – Not Old – with Style, Humor and Grace, based on her autobiographical one-woman show. Some of Sloan’s most notable on-screen appearances include roles in Law & Order: SVU, Third Watch, Celebrity, The Curse of the Jade Scorpion, The Brave One, Changing Lanes, The Guru, People I Know, and Black Swan. Her latest projects include being part of an all-star cast on the soap web series Beacon Hill and Venice, and she continues to be a sought-after speaker. She divides her time between Florida and Maryland with her husband of 44 years, where they enjoy time with their son, his wife and 2 grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 27, 2025
Changing Shoes: Staying in the Game with Style, Humor, and Grace by Tina Sloan is an engaging, heartfelt exploration of aging, life’s transitions, and the power of reinvention, all told through the lens of an actress’s glamorous yet relatable life. Using shoes as a metaphor, Sloan recounts her journey through youth, middle age, and beyond, detailing her career, family, and personal revelations with humor and vulnerability. She encourages women to embrace the inevitability of change with style, grace, and self-respect.
What struck me immediately was Sloan’s candid voice. Her storytelling feels like a warm conversation with an old friend. In the first chapter, she describes a jarring realization in a Manhattan coffee shop: younger women, not her, were the center of attention. Her vulnerability in admitting feelings of invisibility resonates deeply. She reflects on her glamorous past while candidly confronting aging’s physical and emotional realities. Her balance of humor and poignancy here is nothing short of inspiring.
The book's structure, woven with personal anecdotes and life lessons, is another strength. One particularly touching moment is her memory of Aga Church, a Parisian mentor who taught her to live boldly and stylishly. This tale about shoes as symbols of life’s chapters, some for fun, some for seduction, and others for practicality, adds a whimsical yet profound layer to the narrative. It reminded me of how objects, like shoes, can carry emotional weight and personal history.
Sloan’s honesty about the challenges of aging in a youth-obsessed culture is refreshing. Whether discussing her rejection of plastic surgery or her heartbreak over letting go of youthful clothes, she never sugarcoats. I loved the scene where she reluctantly sends her favorite dresses to her niece after realizing they no longer suit her body. Her wit shines here as she laments, “Watching the UPS man haul my youth away felt like losing a part of myself.”
By the end, Sloan’s message is uplifting: aging doesn’t mean fading away. It means finding new ways to shine. Her advice to “wear your own shoes” to embrace your individuality and authenticity feels both empowering and timeless. Her ability to transform deeply personal struggles into universal lessons makes the book a gem.
I’d recommend Changing Shoes: Staying in the Game with Style, Humor, and Grace to women navigating midlife and beyond or anyone who enjoys reflective yet humorous memoirs. It’s a delightful mix of wisdom, self-deprecation, and inspiration. Sloan reminds us that aging, while challenging, can be a stylish, fulfilling adventure if you wear the right shoes.
What struck me immediately was Sloan’s candid voice. Her storytelling feels like a warm conversation with an old friend. In the first chapter, she describes a jarring realization in a Manhattan coffee shop: younger women, not her, were the center of attention. Her vulnerability in admitting feelings of invisibility resonates deeply. She reflects on her glamorous past while candidly confronting aging’s physical and emotional realities. Her balance of humor and poignancy here is nothing short of inspiring.
The book's structure, woven with personal anecdotes and life lessons, is another strength. One particularly touching moment is her memory of Aga Church, a Parisian mentor who taught her to live boldly and stylishly. This tale about shoes as symbols of life’s chapters, some for fun, some for seduction, and others for practicality, adds a whimsical yet profound layer to the narrative. It reminded me of how objects, like shoes, can carry emotional weight and personal history.
Sloan’s honesty about the challenges of aging in a youth-obsessed culture is refreshing. Whether discussing her rejection of plastic surgery or her heartbreak over letting go of youthful clothes, she never sugarcoats. I loved the scene where she reluctantly sends her favorite dresses to her niece after realizing they no longer suit her body. Her wit shines here as she laments, “Watching the UPS man haul my youth away felt like losing a part of myself.”
By the end, Sloan’s message is uplifting: aging doesn’t mean fading away. It means finding new ways to shine. Her advice to “wear your own shoes” to embrace your individuality and authenticity feels both empowering and timeless. Her ability to transform deeply personal struggles into universal lessons makes the book a gem.
I’d recommend Changing Shoes: Staying in the Game with Style, Humor, and Grace to women navigating midlife and beyond or anyone who enjoys reflective yet humorous memoirs. It’s a delightful mix of wisdom, self-deprecation, and inspiration. Sloan reminds us that aging, while challenging, can be a stylish, fulfilling adventure if you wear the right shoes.
October 28, 2020
If you've ever wondered what it will be like getting older and you need a glimpse into your future self, Tina Sloan's Changing Shoes is surely your plug. Fans of Guiding Lights will also find this piece interesting as the author unwittingly takes the reader into the activities behind the scenes before, during and after the soap was made.
The book is laden with experiences drawn from colleagues on set the soap, her personal family, friends and acquaintances. Employing a simplistic straight forward tone, the author essentially buttress the art of aging gracefully, being you and not doing something simply because others are doing it.
She mixes humour and wits in her write up to not bore off the reader as well as make an important point which in the end makes for a good read. I found lots of quotes in the book and have no doubt come to the conclusion that the author is a keen observer of human interaction and behaviour. As much as we can learn from our own experiences, paying close attention to the experiences of others could also prove to be helpful for us in the long run.
One quote I found interesting was -"I believe that “What do I have to lose?” and “If not now, when?” are the very best attitudes we can have at this point in our lives"-, personally I'll saw something similar to the tone of "what do I have to lose?".
And yet another thing I loved was how she is already making great efforts to not be a draw back when she ages to her son like her parents were to her. And to the aging folks out there wondering if they should give the book a read, ruminate on this:
"Taking an interest in young people is the key to keeping them in our lives without holding them hostage to the past." There are a lot more keys from whence that came from.
The book is laden with experiences drawn from colleagues on set the soap, her personal family, friends and acquaintances. Employing a simplistic straight forward tone, the author essentially buttress the art of aging gracefully, being you and not doing something simply because others are doing it.
She mixes humour and wits in her write up to not bore off the reader as well as make an important point which in the end makes for a good read. I found lots of quotes in the book and have no doubt come to the conclusion that the author is a keen observer of human interaction and behaviour. As much as we can learn from our own experiences, paying close attention to the experiences of others could also prove to be helpful for us in the long run.
One quote I found interesting was -"I believe that “What do I have to lose?” and “If not now, when?” are the very best attitudes we can have at this point in our lives"-, personally I'll saw something similar to the tone of "what do I have to lose?".
And yet another thing I loved was how she is already making great efforts to not be a draw back when she ages to her son like her parents were to her. And to the aging folks out there wondering if they should give the book a read, ruminate on this:
"Taking an interest in young people is the key to keeping them in our lives without holding them hostage to the past." There are a lot more keys from whence that came from.
December 22, 2020
If I may add a subtitle to this book it would be : Changing Shoes, A Distinguished Autobiography of Tina Sloan.
After being impressed by Tina’s fiction work, Chasing Cleopatra, I am truly more impressed with this one. Not only Tina is telling her story through her talent of a story teller, she is guiding the readers through the inevitable phase of anyone’s life : being old.
It is what people used to say that age is just a number. But we will never know when that feeling hits us, the feeling of being old – out of the blue, in a blink of an eye, we start to notice that we are truly fading away. It’s when we realize that the spotlights are being shifted away from us. It’s when age apparently is more than just a number.
This seems harder for the people who have been living their lives to the extraordinary fullest like Tina Sloan. They used to enjoy a lot more extra spotlights than regular common people. But it doesn’t mean we will feel less of it.
Rather than following the common idea about growing old gracefully, Tina guides us how to grow old in dignity, in sanity, and more fun of it, in style. Through the philosophy of a pair of shoes, she is sharing her own experiences with all the wits, humour, and wisdoms that we can take them into our own life.
After all, we know Cinderella is a proof that a pair of shoes can change one’s life and Tina Sloan is teaching us how to do it with our own shoes.
After being impressed by Tina’s fiction work, Chasing Cleopatra, I am truly more impressed with this one. Not only Tina is telling her story through her talent of a story teller, she is guiding the readers through the inevitable phase of anyone’s life : being old.
It is what people used to say that age is just a number. But we will never know when that feeling hits us, the feeling of being old – out of the blue, in a blink of an eye, we start to notice that we are truly fading away. It’s when we realize that the spotlights are being shifted away from us. It’s when age apparently is more than just a number.
This seems harder for the people who have been living their lives to the extraordinary fullest like Tina Sloan. They used to enjoy a lot more extra spotlights than regular common people. But it doesn’t mean we will feel less of it.
Rather than following the common idea about growing old gracefully, Tina guides us how to grow old in dignity, in sanity, and more fun of it, in style. Through the philosophy of a pair of shoes, she is sharing her own experiences with all the wits, humour, and wisdoms that we can take them into our own life.
After all, we know Cinderella is a proof that a pair of shoes can change one’s life and Tina Sloan is teaching us how to do it with our own shoes.
July 18, 2021
This is a very well-written book, and one that will be of interest to many different demographics: someone interested in the lives of celebrities, soap opera (especially Guiding Light) lovers, mothers, wives, women worried about the aging process, and those interested in very useful self-help tips across a variety of subjects. Although Sloan doesn’t spend a lot of time discussing the show that made her famous, we do get the occasional delicious tidbit on that score. The author’s conversational style is breezy and informative. There’s a lot of good advice in this book, designed to help us improve ourselves. Some authors would have been self-congratulatory with such content, but Sloan never makes the reader feel as though she feels that she’s better than we are. She writes self-deprecatingly when the situation warrants it, and is justly proud of her various accomplishments when appropriate. It’s a perfect length at 214 pages, and many people will probably read it in one sitting; it’s that easy to absorb. By the time you’re done with the book, you will no doubt have a very good feeling about life, with some new thoughts about it, and a new appreciation for this glamorous actress who is very handy with a shoe metaphor! Very highly recommended to anyone wishing to fulfil their potential.
June 8, 2021
Tina Sloan, well-known for her role on Guiding Light, candidly shares her story in this wonderful gem. Although I have never seen Guiding Light and don’t know her personally, almost instantly I felt like Tina and I were old friends talking about our lives. This book is so relatable and filled with glorious stories! For example…
1. In one day, I had gotten “old.” My body had gone away and someone else had replaced it.
2. Younger people claim the spotlight and the older people fade into the background. Older doesn’t mean slower or less significant. We are all fighting a war we can’t win.
3. Sugar is a former lover I will never get over entirely (totally agree…my lifelong romance is with plain m&ms).
4. Aging is like running a marathon. There is real glory in discovering the warrior within and making it to the finish line on your own terms. This is how we build courage and stamina.
5. Be brave and try new things! Go and find opportunities. MAKE opportunities. Take a risk every day and help yourself grow.
I was fascinated by the concept of the different shoes we wear throughout the seasons of our lives. It’s as if Tina Sloan read my mind and then wrote it all down (and unintentionally explained all the shoes in my closet!).
1. In one day, I had gotten “old.” My body had gone away and someone else had replaced it.
2. Younger people claim the spotlight and the older people fade into the background. Older doesn’t mean slower or less significant. We are all fighting a war we can’t win.
3. Sugar is a former lover I will never get over entirely (totally agree…my lifelong romance is with plain m&ms).
4. Aging is like running a marathon. There is real glory in discovering the warrior within and making it to the finish line on your own terms. This is how we build courage and stamina.
5. Be brave and try new things! Go and find opportunities. MAKE opportunities. Take a risk every day and help yourself grow.
I was fascinated by the concept of the different shoes we wear throughout the seasons of our lives. It’s as if Tina Sloan read my mind and then wrote it all down (and unintentionally explained all the shoes in my closet!).
December 2, 2020
I confess I am not a fan of soap operas, so it was ironic that I should unwittingly choose to read a book by soap opera celebrity. Tina Sloan [the Lillian Raines of Guiding Light] has a witty and engaging writing style, of which I am a fan. Her descriptions of some of the peccadillos that occurred on the show are hilarious. And the more serious flip side to that coin is her own silent prayer, “please let someone in the audience have an insight tonight.”
Throughout the book, I was particularly struck by the duality of Sloan’s real-time life and the fantasy life she interpreted in front of the cameras over the course of 26 years. The author muses, “When she [Lillian] vanishes, would I disappear, too?”
Shoe styles, of all things, are cleverly used to draw analogies between the stages of life, and underlying the whole narrative she imparts an insightful message to those of us who hope to age with grace … and style.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Changing Shoes and find that I am now a fan of Tina Sloan, author.
Throughout the book, I was particularly struck by the duality of Sloan’s real-time life and the fantasy life she interpreted in front of the cameras over the course of 26 years. The author muses, “When she [Lillian] vanishes, would I disappear, too?”
Shoe styles, of all things, are cleverly used to draw analogies between the stages of life, and underlying the whole narrative she imparts an insightful message to those of us who hope to age with grace … and style.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Changing Shoes and find that I am now a fan of Tina Sloan, author.
January 14, 2022
Changing Shoes, an intelligent title, is very apt for the book and is nicely explained to the author's origins. The editing and flow of the book is quite goo and I liked how relevant things are connected well to make coherent chapters. But I ended reading the book with mixed feelings. Although the positives above, I personally didn't agree with many suggestions inside and felt lots of worries were very superficial and instead of actually dealing with them, a bandage was simply wrapped on top to continue making it look wholesome.
So to conclude, I would say it makes an excellent autobiography but definitely not a self help book.
So to conclude, I would say it makes an excellent autobiography but definitely not a self help book.
August 10, 2020
Read Tina Sloan for the first time and glad it did not turn out be a bad read. In the book Changing Shoes author Tina takes us through life which is exciting, beautiful, but also upsetting in the same time. This book has all that she has learnt and how she dealt with disturbances. I got to read about relationships, parents, children, work, depression, gaining weight, ageing and more in this book as well as author’s experience with all of these. It is such a relatable book that I would want everyone to read this and gain from the content. Thank you Tina.
November 27, 2020
Never watched the soap opera but I found the book interesting and a mixed bag of emotions. I was fascinated especially by the concept of the different shoes we have to wear during different times and seasons of our lives. I love that the book shows the realistic insight into the life of Tina and not her character on the show. I got an insight of the life of a young woman in the ‘showbiz’ and the dynamics associated with growing older in that sector. I appreciate the author’s highlights on depression, different relationships and the importance of both physical and mental health wellness.
September 1, 2020
I read this book because I loved her character in Guiding Light, and wanted to hear more scoops about the soap opera. I really enjoyed this book for different reasons. She has had a pretty interesting life, and she talks frankly about aging in a business where aging is not acceptable. She is honest about her struggles, but resilient. She gives great advice about how to create your own story and never give up!
July 11, 2019
I was a long time fan of GL, so I was interested in Tina Sloan's book. It was mildly disappointing. It didn't enlighten me much on the changes a women goes through in her 50's. It was mostly about her friends and their lives. She only lightly broached the subject of Guiding Light. Kim Zimmer's book was fantastic, I recommend that one.
August 13, 2020
I loved this book. It gives an insight into the phases in a woman's life and the possible challenges that women face as they age and grow older. The book is engaging as well as humorous. As a younger person this book has taught me not to give up when I hit a wall but rather find ways to go about that wall. I would 100% recommend this book for any woman.
February 4, 2025
Great read
Tina Sloan's personal story is relevant and inspiring for any age but particularly for those of us with beloved, long-lived careers. Her message of moving on is a literal "Guiding Light". Thanks, Tina.
Tina Sloan's personal story is relevant and inspiring for any age but particularly for those of us with beloved, long-lived careers. Her message of moving on is a literal "Guiding Light". Thanks, Tina.
January 2, 2018
I am a fan of Tina Sloan’s and was a big Guiding Light fan (watched it my entire life until it ended)
I especially enjoyed her recollections of her work on GL and it brought back so many memories for me. While I have never been a “shoe” person, I loved the concept of how we all wear different shoes during different times in our lives. She gives a biographical account of her life (and what a life!) and also gives sound advice on aging gracefully and giving lessons that she has learned (such as the importance of exercise, challenging yourself and even estate planning.
I listened to the audio book which was wonderfully read by Tina Sloan herself.
Very enjoyable
I especially enjoyed her recollections of her work on GL and it brought back so many memories for me. While I have never been a “shoe” person, I loved the concept of how we all wear different shoes during different times in our lives. She gives a biographical account of her life (and what a life!) and also gives sound advice on aging gracefully and giving lessons that she has learned (such as the importance of exercise, challenging yourself and even estate planning.
I listened to the audio book which was wonderfully read by Tina Sloan herself.
Very enjoyable
February 27, 2022
"Acts of Mercy" chapter is about aging, ill parents with dementia.
September 18, 2012
I never watched this soap opera, and I'm not into fashionable shoes, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Turning 60 myself and working in a youth-oriented company, I also found myself being ignored and passed over. Rather than become bitter and complain or blame others, the author normalizes this progression in our careers and makes suggestions. Befriend the younger workers and become their mentors and advocates and visa versa. It's hard to resent someone who is your friend. Wear clothes are are appropriate for your age, not dowdy ones but not ones that 20 year olds are wearing either. Update your hair and makeup, and go lighter vs darker. Wear clothes that give you confidence, whether it's special shoes, accessories, or a special outfit. Become your own advocate for your career. If others aren't creating the opportunities for you, create them yourself. Bring suggestions to your boss for things you'd like to do and tweak what they've given you to expand your responsibilities. Be generous w those following in your footsteps, and hopefully they will be generous with you. Be flexible and welcome change, looking for and embracing new opportunities. Embrace the life your children choose and support them, though it may not be your dream for them. Our test as parents lies in supporting our children as equals, regardless of whatever fear or heartache we feel so that they can live the life they want. Taking an interest in young people is the key to keeping them in our lives without holding them hostage to the past--ask about their lives, and don't talk about yours. As the author shared stories of caring for her aging parents and mother w Alzheimer's, it was refreshing to hear her be honest about her struggles and acceptance of her limitations, her need for breaks, and her patience w herself. In caring for her parents, she became proactive about her own eventual death and listed practical things to consider (where you want to live, making a will, leaving specific instructions for medical care, looking at long term insurance, making a financial plan, getting rid of clutter and hanging onto heirlooms, making memorials and keeping a written record of where all your files, accounts, records, etc. are located). The author emphasized the need to exercise and to look our best, not letting ourselves go downhill. It was interesting to learn that she started running marathons at 40, though now she just walks. She also didn't turn down the opportunity to climb Mt Kilamanjaro even when her friend had to back out of the trip at the last minute. She challenges the reader to learn to silence the voice that tries to cajole you w excuses and reasons why it would be better to just sit this one out, though modifications to our previous levels of activity may be necessary. Energy also comes from the people we spend time, so choose wisely those who are interesting, are trying new things, etc.. At this age, we have the luxury of choosing. Also listen to your heart, not your stomach--deal w your stuff and don't try to suppress your hurts w food. Learn to take risks and fall forward, embracing opportunities when they arise. Don't just talk about the past--create a present in which you live. The author wrote a one woman play with the book's title, Changing Shoes. I don't know if she is still touring with that show, but I'd love to see it. This gal is certainly an inspiration, and she makes you feel like you can do it too.
July 23, 2010
Changing Shoes by Tina Sloan is a practical guide to aging gracefully but not being put out to pasture. As Ms. Sloan talks about the stages of her life she describes the shoes that went with each stage. I can certainly relate to that--from high heels to flats, from jogging shoes to bunny slippers.
Tina Sloan begins with outward appearance then goes deeper into her inner life. Each stage of life from being a young woman to now being close to 70 present her with problems and new opportunities. Sometimes the problems make her lose sight of the opportunities. It is when she stops and thinks about what is occurring that she sees the opportunities and makes the choices necessary to bring about the change--whether it’s a physical change or an attitudinal change.
She brings her insights of how her work on the Guiding Light paralleled her real life. As she got older her role on Guiding Light became smaller and smaller until she finally decided to create the role she wanted. Her life was like that also. As she was aging and watching her parents decline, her son go off to Iraq, she allowed her life to get smaller. When she finally realized it, she got off her sofa, out of her bunny slippers, and did the work necessary to get back into life.
I liked her insights. She has a wonderful writing style. It’s as though you and Tina Sloan are friends and are talking about your lives. The stories she has through Changing Shoes are relevant and I could relate to them. I agreed with much that she said. Being over 50 has brought changes to my life and I’ve embraced those changes and am doing things I never thought I could or would do. Tina Sloan is absolutely right when she says to stay true to yourself. It is fun and you never know who you might discover.
Tina Sloan begins with outward appearance then goes deeper into her inner life. Each stage of life from being a young woman to now being close to 70 present her with problems and new opportunities. Sometimes the problems make her lose sight of the opportunities. It is when she stops and thinks about what is occurring that she sees the opportunities and makes the choices necessary to bring about the change--whether it’s a physical change or an attitudinal change.
She brings her insights of how her work on the Guiding Light paralleled her real life. As she got older her role on Guiding Light became smaller and smaller until she finally decided to create the role she wanted. Her life was like that also. As she was aging and watching her parents decline, her son go off to Iraq, she allowed her life to get smaller. When she finally realized it, she got off her sofa, out of her bunny slippers, and did the work necessary to get back into life.
I liked her insights. She has a wonderful writing style. It’s as though you and Tina Sloan are friends and are talking about your lives. The stories she has through Changing Shoes are relevant and I could relate to them. I agreed with much that she said. Being over 50 has brought changes to my life and I’ve embraced those changes and am doing things I never thought I could or would do. Tina Sloan is absolutely right when she says to stay true to yourself. It is fun and you never know who you might discover.
August 22, 2020
First let me say, I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review for Booktasters. Secondly, I am a huge fan of General Hospital and all former ABC soaps and have never watched a single episode of Guiding Life and had no idea who this author was when I first began reading the book. It did not matter. I LOVED THIS BOOK!
I am age 56, and I wish I had read this book 12 years ago, maybe sooner, but it does not matter, because I have read it now, and I am motivated to live my life to the absolute fullest more after reading this book than any other I've ever read before, other than the Bible. Unlike the Bible though, this was highly entertaining from beginning to end. The behind the scene stories of the soap opera world was interesting, but the hindsight of a woman who is just trying to make a difference in the lives of others by sharing her story was positively heart warming and appreciated. I would recommend this to any woman in her 40's, maybe even late 30's. It's never too late to learn though, so as long as you can read (even if you need readers to do it), then get this book and grab a quiet place where you can chuckle out loud. If you're reading in your later years, such as I, you will recognize many similar things that may have happened in your own life (minus the lavis parties and travels), but either way, it is a great book, and I highly recommend. If you were a Guiding Light Fan, this is a must have book!
I am age 56, and I wish I had read this book 12 years ago, maybe sooner, but it does not matter, because I have read it now, and I am motivated to live my life to the absolute fullest more after reading this book than any other I've ever read before, other than the Bible. Unlike the Bible though, this was highly entertaining from beginning to end. The behind the scene stories of the soap opera world was interesting, but the hindsight of a woman who is just trying to make a difference in the lives of others by sharing her story was positively heart warming and appreciated. I would recommend this to any woman in her 40's, maybe even late 30's. It's never too late to learn though, so as long as you can read (even if you need readers to do it), then get this book and grab a quiet place where you can chuckle out loud. If you're reading in your later years, such as I, you will recognize many similar things that may have happened in your own life (minus the lavis parties and travels), but either way, it is a great book, and I highly recommend. If you were a Guiding Light Fan, this is a must have book!
June 18, 2010
I originally wanted to read it because I grew up watching Guiding Light (she played Lillian Raines) and I figured that there would be a lot of good GL stories. There were, of course, but it was a lot more.
It's a hybrid between a memoir (I think Tina Sloan's had one of the most interesting lives possible) and a guide on how to get older while keeping your sense of self. It probably shouldn't work, but it absolutely does.
My only complaint is that I wish it had been longer--201 pages in my edition. I wanted to hear more about GL, but also more about balancing work with a real life (a problem I have), and also more on running a marathon in Paris and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Since I'm only 30, I don't really need to consider a lot of the tips yet (how to deal with aging parents, for example), but it's good to have them.
I also love the idea of relating each period in your life to a pair of shoes. It's very clever and I think a lot of women can relate.
It's a hybrid between a memoir (I think Tina Sloan's had one of the most interesting lives possible) and a guide on how to get older while keeping your sense of self. It probably shouldn't work, but it absolutely does.
My only complaint is that I wish it had been longer--201 pages in my edition. I wanted to hear more about GL, but also more about balancing work with a real life (a problem I have), and also more on running a marathon in Paris and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Since I'm only 30, I don't really need to consider a lot of the tips yet (how to deal with aging parents, for example), but it's good to have them.
I also love the idea of relating each period in your life to a pair of shoes. It's very clever and I think a lot of women can relate.
October 19, 2010
This was a quick read, about aging. It was arranged, logically, in chapters, about such topics as fading beauty, career, family, including marriage/sex, "empty nest" and dealing with elderly parents. It contained a lot of anecdotes, some with Guiding Light references. (The author was a long-time actress on Guiding Light.) Each chapter ended with very practical advice on the subject. There was a lot I could identify with in this book, including the shoe metaphor. I am thinking of giving it as a Christmas gift.
March 22, 2011
I give almost every book I read at least one hundred pages to make me look forward to picking it up again after page 101. This book belongs to the small handful of exceptions. I would have to read 53 more pages to give it a fair shake. Sorry, I can't even do that much. In 47 pages I have had multiple episodes of eye rolling, sighing, and out-loud, "Oh, give me a break"s. This is a shallow, unreadable book about how to age gracefully (restylane is okay, face lifts are not.) It might be a good very light read for some, but I'm not even inspired to buy a new pair of shoes.
August 10, 2014
Fascinating! Tina Sloan was a hard-working actress for many years--and still managed to maintain a sense of glamour that goes along with the role. Tina writes honestly about growing older with grace, using the analogy of selecting the right pair of shoes to correspond to life stages.
Written with humour and a healthy attitude, Tina take the reader along for a fascinating ride. 5-stars for honesty, relevancy, and reinvention--and growing older with incredible grace!
This book was also the basis for a one-woman show Tina Sloan wrote and performed.
Written with humour and a healthy attitude, Tina take the reader along for a fascinating ride. 5-stars for honesty, relevancy, and reinvention--and growing older with incredible grace!
This book was also the basis for a one-woman show Tina Sloan wrote and performed.
March 4, 2023
Tina Sloan writes in such a friendly way, this book is like a coffee a positive, inspiring friend. I hesitate to think I'm getting old, but in years, I'm what people might consider "of a certain age." Tina writes about aging graciously, however, it's more like a guide on how to stay young and enjoy yourself. I didn't think I would have much in common with a Soap Opera star and actress with many credits, but our lives have run in parallel phases. I found her insight and ideas, wise, inspiring, and enlightening! I love her novels. I love this book, too. I was deeply enriched. Thank you, Tina!
November 22, 2011
I understand that Tina is a beautiful actress, but I couldn't get past her competition with her daughter and her comment on page 2: "I hate her." Maybe that's not what she meant, literally, but her vanity spoke louder than anything beneficial she could say in this book. There are few good tips and a great chapter on getting your affairs in order, but otherwise, I really didn't care for the tone and the direction from which she came.
June 9, 2011
I was really bored with all the plot details of the soap she was on. It was really hard to believe people could be interested in watching such stupidity. Luckily that was only a chapter or so. Her description of how she dealt with her aging parents was very enlightening. Also, her transformation out of a 170 lb couch potato was quite interesting.
I also remember how she said she hates complainers. She tries never to complain about anything!!
I also remember how she said she hates complainers. She tries never to complain about anything!!
November 3, 2020
Wow oh wow..
I'm glad I made a choice to read this book, I got to understand a lot about finding one's personality especially from the world of fashion.
It's well detailed, motivated and incredibly powerful. Its been a tremendous help to me finding a way to adjust, knowing what to wear to what and slaying at every chance. I mean it's good business to look good at all times and finding what suites you.
Great book, I absolutely love it.
I'm glad I made a choice to read this book, I got to understand a lot about finding one's personality especially from the world of fashion.
It's well detailed, motivated and incredibly powerful. Its been a tremendous help to me finding a way to adjust, knowing what to wear to what and slaying at every chance. I mean it's good business to look good at all times and finding what suites you.
Great book, I absolutely love it.
November 17, 2021
It is quite an interesting read,very detailed. The author lets us in on a few secrets on how she dealt with and overcame the different circumstances she found herself in. I am glad I read the book because there's so much world out there,but not everything people go through is relatable.
Everything about her story is to motivate one to never give up,but to always know when to change gears. I am sure the right audience will really appreciate it.
Everything about her story is to motivate one to never give up,but to always know when to change gears. I am sure the right audience will really appreciate it.
December 11, 2011
This book was so disappointing - as a woman of a certain age who loves shoes, I thought this would be a fun read. Instead, I found the author's focus on her aging looks in the context of her soap opera actress career irritatingly shallow. Maybe having never relied on my looks to make a living, I just couldn't relate.
March 1, 2016
I just finished Tina's "Changing Shoes" . I laughed and cried my way through the book. Then I got up, colored my hair and signed up for an adult education class I've had my eye on. Thanks Tina for the inspiration!
October 12, 2011
Two years after its demise, I still miss Guiding Light terribly. It was part of my life for 25 years, nearly as long as Tina Sloan was on the show. It was lovely to read her perspective on aging, and I relished the behind-the-scenes GL stories.
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