Stupid Things I Won't Do When I Get Old
A Highly Judgmental, Unapologetically Honest Accounting of All the Things Our Elders Are Doing Wrong
1 of 1 copy available
Soon after his 50th birthday, Steven Petrow began assembling a list of "things I won't do when I get old"—mostly a catalog of all the things he thought his then 70-something year old parents were doing wrong. That list, which included "You won't have to shout at me that I'm deaf," and "I won't blame the family dog for my incontinence," became the basis of this rousing collection of do's and don'ts, wills and won'ts that is equal parts hilarious, honest, and practical.
The fact is, we don't want to age the way previous generations did. "Old people" hoard. They bore relatives—and strangers—with tales of their aches and pains. They insist on driving long after they've become a danger to others (and themselves). They eat dinner at 4pm. They swear they don't need a cane or walker (and guess what happens next). They never, ever apologize. But there is another way . . .
In Stupid Things I Won't Do When I Get Old, Petrow candidly addresses the fears, frustrations, and stereotypes that accompany aging. He offers a blueprint for the new old age, and an understanding that aging and illness are not the same. As he writes, "I meant the list to serve as a pointed reminder—to me—to make different choices when I eventually cross the threshold to 'old.'"
Getting older is a privilege. This essential guide reveals how to do it with grace, wisdom, humor, and hope. And without hoarding.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
June 29, 2021 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780806541020
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780806541020
- File size: 700 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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August 20, 2021
When he turned 50, award-winning journalist, columnist, and Ted Talk favorite Petrow began to keep a list of "the stupid things I won't do when I get old," a litany of all the annoying things his parents and other old people around him were doing. Included are such offenses as being afraid to fall, lying to their doctors, and refusing to change their ways. As he grew older, Petrow began to ruminate on things like continuing to drive when one has become a threat to others, waiting to be deaf before getting a hearing aid, and turning his home into a "sweat lodge." Finally, looking at life's end, Petrow vows to refuse to die without planning his own funeral, or writing letters to loved ones. With coauthor Henry, Petrow supports his plans up with quotes from favorite authors and facts from various studies, ultimately presenting a solid case for paying attention as you age. Along the way, he began to understand his parents actions. Readers dealing with aging parents or beginning to feel twinges of age's tolls themselves will be especially interested. Petrow can't prevent you from becoming your parents, but he can remind you how a positive attitude, gratitude, patience, and compassion can make a big difference.COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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