On Women Turning 60: Embracing the Age of Fulfillment

by Cathleen Rountree

In the third book of her popular "Decade Series," Cathleen Rountree interviews twenty inspiring, vibrant, and energetic women who discuss their thoughts and feelings about having passed their 60th birthday.
        
The women featured in these pages show us how they are working against stereotypes and reaching beyond common assumptions about physical, mental, and social limitations on their lives due to their age. For this group portrait of feminine potential and achievement, Ms. Rountree has gathered a diverse roster of women, including Ann Richards; Jane Goodall; Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary; and Oh Shinnah Fast Wolf, a Native American and codirector of the Center for Grandfather Coyote. They are painters, politicians, writers, activists, performers, psychologists, and nuns. Their faces are those of our mothers, our sisters, our grandmothers, our friends, and ourselves. Whether these women are confronting new challenges for the first time in their lives, or reaping the rewards of an enriching life, each one's story is a unique but universal testament to the strength of the human spirit.
        
On Women Turning 60 is essential reading for older women and their younger sisters seeking strong female role models. This engaging book shows all of us--no matter what age--how to face each day with optimism and teaches us that growing older is a journey of empowerment and self-discovery.

INCLUDED AMONG THE TWENTY EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN INTERVIEWED IN THIS BOOK

Oh Shinnah Fast Wol                        Jane Goodall
Riane Eisler                                 Elayne Jones
Ursula K. Le Guin                         Marion Woodman
Matilda Cuomo                         Nellie Wong
Fay Weldon                                 Maureen Stapleton

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 1997

Reviews

[Lois · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found myself disappointed as I read this book. Maybe it was the format: 5 or 6 pages just might not have been enough space to expand on the topic. But too many of the women spent too much time recounting their pasts or advocating their causes instead of distilling what they have learned or describing what it is like to be in their 60s. Or maybe the telling of their past was their way of describing where they are. Anyway, it wasn't what I was looking for.
That said, some of the interviews were fascinating. The range of women interviewed was wide, and one photo in particular was stunning.

[Jkgovert]

This book has been passed from my two older sisters down to me and I loved it. A definite read for the baby boomers. These women are about 10 yrs older than us and so full of knowledge, love and life.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Borrowed from an acquaintence, got about 1/2 way through and decided to return it to her. Some inspiring stories but I just couldn't get any farther.