Getting On: Some Thoughts on Women and Ageing [Kindle Edition]

As an older woman, there is much that resonates deeply with me in Liz Byrski's book, Getting on - Some Thoughts on Women and Ageing.I found myself frequently nodding in agreement as I read through each chapter. Like Byrski, I have always wanted to grow old, to live a long life. I celebrate each birthday and look forward with a sense of adventure and excitement to what the passing years might bring. Yet negative perceptions of ageing, particularly relating to women, surround us in our society and I despair at the way we are so often portrayed in the media. No wonder young women are terrified of growing old and devote so much of their energy to fighting against the inevitable. There needs to be a significant shift in perception and it is essays like Byski's that can play an important role in achieving this. Her thoughts are timely, well considered and beautifully expressed. She urges us to set aside our fear of age and "think about the richness and value of lives that have been and are still being lived" and says she is "learning to glide" through her life now, knowing she has nothing to prove and needs no one's approval but her own. The insights into Byrski's own life and how her experiences have shaped her thinking about ageing add a depth to the essay, a personal element that makes her message all the stronger. This book is a wake up call for a long overdue change in our approach to ageing. It is thought provoking, insightful and a "must read", not only for younger people who have yet to experience ageing but also for those who have accepted the general opinion that their lives are of lesser value because they are old. Highly recommended.

I'm in my fifties and have read some of Liz Byrski's novels so I downloaded this and read it straight away. I particularly identified with the parts about the invisibility of older women, and how political this is. But I hadn't expected the deeply personal part on grief and regret. She writes about her father having Alzheimer's disease and I found it really moving and thought provoking.The idea of regret as something valuable really challenged me, not sure if I agree with that but it certainly has me thinking about it.I really liked her voice coming through and the fact that she was willing to talk about her own "unacceptable" feelings about becoming her parent's carer at a time when her children had left home. People don't talk enough about this. I strongly recommend this to anyone who is considering what they want and what matters as one ages.

In this essay, Liz Byrski not only reassures you that it is okay to age, but that it is a fabulous experience.

In my mid-20s, I have a seemingly natural fear of ageing with the need to begin preventative measures on my already 'aged' and 'wrinkly' skin. This engaging essay, however, teaches me to embrace any changes that may come and love what happens to my life and to my body. It offers a refreshing and positive look at ageing through a humourous and thoughtful narrative. I read it in one sitting and have suggested it to all my friends!

The enthusiastic and inspirational message helps you to fall in love with ageing and will stay with you, despite endless advertising campaigns trying to convince you otherwise.