The Best of Everything After 50 [Paperback]

If nothing else, this book deserves an extra star for its smug, self-righteous, know-it-all tone because it is so obvious that the author is not aware that she is being in any way overbearing. Just like Charles Schultz's iconic Lucy, this author knows absolutely what is best for everybody else, and is even willing to set up a cardboard stand to dispense "Psychiatric Advice for 5 cents" in order to make life for the lesser human beings just a little better. Oh, and just so you don't read any further if you happen to be of the male persuasion -- despite the title, this book is for women.

A former magazine publisher, the author, Barbara Hannah Grufferman, awoke one morning to find that she was ("Oh dear, when did that happen?") reaching the mid-century mark. So she decided to call in favors from all the beautiful and intelligent people she has met during her career, and she has produced this cursory handbook to hitting fifty. Of course, the book works best if, as the author makes EXTREMELY CLEAR ABOUT HERSELF, you are rich, skinny, had your children late in life, are in a wonderful marriage, healthy, think running is the ONLY way to exercise, live in or near a city with large full-service department stores, and (I'm not making this up) have naturally curly hair.

For the most part, the book, which is set in large double-spaced type, and has no drawings or photos, reads like a series of magazine articles which you have already perused a dozen times over the last twenty years. For instance: Establish a relationship with a Primary Care Physician (if you have insurance, of course, which she doesn't mention); Don't smoke; Use sunblock; Be skinny: Exercise (read: Run, preferably marathons); Eat right; Follow a skin regimen; and, For goodness sake, don't spend more than ten minutes every day putting on make-up. (News flash: Although I do exceed the time limit on this little piece of advice, I would like to point out that Adrienne Arpel has been using this ten-minute make-up advice since 1974.)

The author likes personal shoppers, and recommends that you establish a relationship with one so that you can wear the best clothes at the best prices. She spends $2000 at Saks Fifth Avenue, (and then bows to the masses and spends $350 at Target,) to show that "anyone" can own the basics of a wardrobe for a reasonable price. Her basics consist of lots of tank tops, which I have declined to wear, except on the beach, since I graduated from law school, and knee-length pencil skirts. She also insists that we all throw out our "granny panties" and buy a certain brand of thong which she swears by. I don't know about you, but I tried that thong and it's just as uncomfortable as every other thong I've ever had on.

But her most unusual advice is her chapter on hair. She likes long hair. She insists that she doesn't, but believe me, this chapter is all about her maintaining her long naturally curly blonde hair. She no longer "scrunches it" or "blows it straight." She air-dries it. She has found a colorist who will work with the grays to "blend them in" so that she doesn't actually color her hair --- she just works with what she has. She has very definite hair rules: 1. Shampoo only once or twice a week. On the other days use only conditioner and water. 2. Use your fingers to sculpt your hair, not a brush or comb. 3. Never use a blow dryer or curling iron (of course since you have naturally curly hair, you don't need a curling iron). If you absolutely HAVE to be at the White House or the United Nations in an hour, use a diffuser or a blower dryer with no heat. 4. Every 8 to 10 weeks, get highlights to blend in that gray, and (here's the one I love) 5. Every five to eight MONTHS, get a hair cut. C'mon, Barbara -- those of us with short hair have to get a haircut every four to six weeks to maintain its shape. But it's not about us, is it?

If you are a member of the jet-setting beautiful people, you might find this book of some use, although surely even you have heard all of this before. If you are an ordinary person -- a wife, a mother, someone with a job who has to grocery shop occasionally and doesn't want to go around with sopping wet hair all the time -- pick up "Marie Claire" or "Vogue" at the beauty shop for a quick read while your roots are processing, and forget about this weirdo's wacky cartoon universe. LUCY LIVES!

So I'm channel surfing one morning, and I stop on the Today Show when I notice two beautiful and vibrant women, one of which was Barbara Hannah Grufferman. I've never seen her before, but I was so taken by her enthusiastic desire to share her obvious knowledge on aging healthily and beautifully, that I was prompted to pause the show right then and there and order two copies of her book on Amazon, one for me and one for a gal pal. I received them yesterday, and found myself savoring, albeit very quickly, every page I read which was filled with sensible and concise information. I find myself on page 141, and just noticed that I now have several pages which are highlighted and dog-eared. Clearly, it is not necessary for me to finish this book to leave a review. I fell in love immediately with her book from a practical standpoint, since it is "highlighter" friendly due to the gauge of paper! I am also loving how she has listed her recommended products by their manufacturer names for vitamins, and for her choices for recommended food products too! That is extremely helpful to me, since, while in past resources I've read I've received general information about which types of foods are recommended, I have never seen an actual list of foods by their makers which were tested by the author as well as other professionals, and from several price points too! And I cannot tell you how impressed I am with her recommendations for how to exercise after 50 (I have actually been a gym bunny myself and have cross-trained since I was 39) so I know that her plan is actually doable for every woman over 50, beginner or otherwise. Further, she recommends a breakdown for each day of the week! I've read so many how-to books about health and beauty, and have never been as excited about starting a total and comprehensive program for overall health that can truly be a lifestyle I can enjoy into my 90's. I am more inspired than ever to be the best woman I can possible be, and for that I am grateful Barbara! Now, off to continue reading to gather information about how to have healthier and more beautiful skin! But first, MY recommendation. Don't just buy this book for yourself. Buy one for your favorite gal pal too so you can both live the wealth of being the best of everything after 50 together!

"The Best of Everything After 50" is a breezy read, even in the nitty-gritty chapters that deal with health issues, and money. Barbara Hannah Gufferman, with the help of many experts like fashion designer and entrepreneur Diane von Furstenberg, keeps you entertained while informing, and the book's layout, with its easy-on-the-eyes font size and use of bold print and inserts for the important things you want as a reference, adds to the accessibility of the information.

Favorite chapters include "You = What You Eat," with advice from Dr. Laura J. Lefkowitz and Dr. Stuart Fischer, "Face the Facts" on makeup, with beauty expert Laura Geller, and the delightful Carmindy from "What Not to Wear " fame, and is an area that can be a dangerous with women as they get older (no, adding more makeup doesn't do it!), and another potential minefield, fashion, with the sage advice of Ms. von Furstenberg. Great tips on hair too, which I have been using with great success, and which even though meant for long curly hair, works on my super short "do."

This is a book you can read through cover to cover, or use as needed, and refer to again and again. As we get older, the sharper and wiser we have to be, and Gufferman's book, which is not a list of "do's and don'ts," but rather "...guidelines, not rules," is a good one to have and learn from.