Customer Reviews

The Best of Everything After 50: The Experts' Guide to Style, Sex, Health, Money, and More

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

Even though this is a book written for 50+-year old women and I am a man on the short side of 50, I thought I could get something out of this book. And in a fashion, I did. The book is well-written, cheerful, to the point, well-organized and very easy to read. It keeps a positive attitude and helps build one. I was able to go through most of it in a very short period of time without it dragging me down or feeling oppressive, or anything like that. (I could skip the obvious "meant for the ladies" portions, too.) It was certainly not the worst book I've ever read. But let's be honest, if you are between the ages of 45-55 and you find more than 10% of the book's content informative, or useful, or something you were completely unaware of, let me say, then in that case, you probably deserve to be worrying about turning 50. Because let's face it, if you aren't already watching what you eat, exercising, not taking drugs, trying to be positive, taking good care of yourself, and talking to a medical professional when things go physically wrong, this book is not going to help you and you're probably going to die before your time anyway. If you are 50-ish and have common sense and a high school education, this book should be second nature to you already. If you're 50-ish and you just left the seventeenth century, however, this book may be your last chance.

woman in their life.

I was startled to see that Amazon thought that an OF male well over 50 should review this book through the Vine Program, but I've been pleasantly surprised by many of Amazon's suggestions based on my past purchases. This suggestion was one of the very best.

I've spent several hours dipping into the book and reading both Barbara Hannah Grufferman's suggestions (as well as some of the other experts). Her advice seems very sound to me, especially her basic approach to simplicity and low cost, particularly in this economy. Amazon has provided a very generous extract from the book, which gives you a very good idea of the contents and the style, and the other reviewers here on Amazon have done a great job of validating how useful the information is to women of whatever age.

I can really add only two thoughts. First, much of the information here is equally useful to men, some of direct application, and some to help understand the opposite sex, a subject that has fascinated me for years.

Second, I was delighted to discover Grufferman's blog for the book, which she maintains to expand the subjects she covers. This extract gives a sense of her style:

"Ginny is an incredible designer (she was chief designer of brother Tommy's clothing line for over 15 years before branching out on her own), with a fine eye for quality and detail. There was no way, I thought, that Ginny and I would find anything worth buying at Target.

"The budget was set at $300.

"Not only did I buy 20 fabulous items, but they are all classic, timeless pieces that can be worn over several seasons, and with each other.

"My favorite piece? A simple, black dress from Merona. It is lined, with a slight flair of the skirt, which falls to the best and most flattering point on the knee. It can be dressed down (with a pair of wedged espadrilles) or up (with black pumps and pearls). It flatters every body type, and a little cardigan can be thrown on for a whole different look.

"Cost? $39.00.

"I often wear the dress with different belts, shoes, and jewelry . . . for many different looks. My favorite cardigans? All from Target. Price? Less than $15. The belts? One is a Diane von Furstenberg belt, and another (my favorite) is a gold link belt designed by Elsa Peretti that I've had since the 80s.

"One simple black dress can take you just about anywhere.

"So tell me again . . . who said good style has to be expensive?"

My only objection to this fine book is that I would find it even more useful on a Kindle -- that way it would always be available on my iPhone to offer suggestions and validate the quality of discoveries.

Robert C. Ross 2010

I was excited at first when I saw the title of the book and read a brief synopsis about it but was soon disappointed. The content tends to recycle things that those of us at 50 have known for years. I was expecting to read some new and interesting tidbits about life after 50 when it comes to exercise, body changes, clothing choices, makeup, and hair. If I had to do it over again, would I purchase the book? No.

I can't even begin to list how many ways Barbara's book has changed my life, and for the better. I turned 50 in May, 2010 and found Barbara on Facebook through a friend. I bought her book, and began reading it right away. I found the tone of the book to be encouraging, uplifting and full of wonderful advice....the best part is that Barbara called in experts to back up her advice! No need to re-invent the wheel! From make up tips to workout advice, Barbara covers so many useful topics, especially for those of us 50 and older. I

One of the best parts of the book for me was Barbara's walk/run program, and I began that program a couple of months after I turned 50. I ran my first 5K eight days after I started her program, and I was hooked. I even ran a half marathon in December! I still run 4 -5 days a week, and while my runs are not 100% running, I've learned that just moving our bodies is so important....I wouldn't be where I am today without Barbara's advice and support!

One of the reasons I'm so surprised that I am still running is that I have severe fibromyalgia, and have had it for over 10 years. The first years I was basically bed-ridden, and couldn't do much of anything. Reading Barbara's book made me realize that I still had a lot of living left to do, and I slowly began to implement her workout program. The first day I ran, I couldn't go more than 10 seconds...and I'll never forget the day I ran for 60 minutes straight! I'm now hooked on running and look forward to my run days....getting the fresh air, sunshine and exercise ~ what could be better!

An additional bonus from this is that I have lost 30 pounds since I started running....without really changing my diet. I am more aware of what I eat, and how much I eat, but I have slowly lost the pounds. I feel so much better, love the compliments I'm getting, and don't feel like I'm 50! I still have to take medication for my fibromyalgia, and have days where I don't get much done, but Barbara's encouragement is contagious, and I just do the best I can.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to improve their life, their routine, learn beauty tips and workout advice ~ plus more. No one is going to do it for you ~ you still have to do the work. But the structure, the common sense, the wonderful advice that Barbara provides makes it easy....she truly walks her walk!!!

I can't thank Barbara enough for writing this book...it has changed my life. I refer back to it often, I have sticky notes everywhere, and I've either purchased or recommended it to many of my friends, who share my enthusiasm for the book. I even bought it on my Kindle so I could take it with me when I travel! I encourage everyone to buy this book and "friend" Barbara on Facebook ~ she is constantly writing new articles to empower women, and is a wonderful person. I am so grateful to have found her and her wonderful book. Thank you Barbara!!!

This book is a fountain of information and I love the format. The book is divided into nearly every category of interest to women,including various health issues, nutrition and diet, hair and makeup, exercise, finances and much more.

If you became a fan of Diane von Furstenberg in the 1970s, you'll love that she provides her expert advice for dressing to look your best after age 50. In fact, the information in each category comes from a leading expert in that field. Each section ends with a list of resources for additional information. You'll even find full contact information, including phone numbers, for leading physicians and other experts. Products aren't just recommended by type, but are listed by brand, along with comparisons, costs and where to purchase, including popular discount stores.

The two-column layout with numerous subheadings makes it easy to scan for particular information. Even the type is nice, not large print size, just slightly larger and darker than normal. It's a welcome bonus that the author writes in a chatty, girl-talk style that's fun to read.

Having just turned 50, I was attracted to this title, "The Best of Everything After 50". I wanted to read something positive, up-beat, and enthusiastic. Although Barbara Grufferman's advice isn't for everyone, and not all of her advice is for me; there was enough valuable information that I'd be able to use this book as a reference. I'm okay with turning 50, but I really needed a boost - something to help me feel even better about this new stage of my life. After perusing the Table of Contents, I was sure this book had the type of information I was looking for & more. Since I tend to be pretty wordy, I'll give my thoughts on just a couple of chapters before giving my overall assessment of the book.

The chapter on Money, with input by Jane Bryant Quinn, is the first chapter I read. As it nears time to really get my head together about where we want to be financially when we retire - I need to do more reading about money management. My husband and I hired a financial planner last year, and I haven't been very happy with how it's gone with him holding the reins. I decided I want to take over the task of managing our retirement funds and the college savings we have for our 4 kids. The issues I need to address were covered in the chapter - such as where to invest, questions to as financial planners, whether or not a financial planner is needed. After reading the chapter I was even more unhappy with ours, and sure we don't need one.

After reading the chapter on money, I was even more convinced what I need to do is really solidify just how we're going to accomplish our retirement goals. The money chapter addresses going over assets, debts, assessing goals, and then making a simple money management plan. We need to be realistic when taking into account where we are now financially, where we want to be about 15 years from now, and determining how we're going to get there. Most of what's said is common sense or things we've heard before, but it never hurts to hear some of these things again - don't live above our means, spend less, save more, don't support our adult kids in lieu of saving for our retirement.

The chapter on money also discusses insurance. The one form of insurance I wasn't very familiar with, and had questions about, is long-term care insurance. Fortunately, it was given the most space regarding insurance needs. With the recent changes to Medicaid, I'm not sure the information regarding Medicaid is up to date. I was surprised to learn that everything other than protected assets will have to be sold to cover cost of care before Medicaid will cover anything. This makes a difference in how we might look at savings and investments, depending on our health. With people living longer, and diseases like Alzheimer's being more prevalent, it's just a good idea to seriously consider a long-term care policy.

Most of the chapter on money was worth reading, but there were things here and there I didn't feel were of value. For instance, at one point the author suggests carrying large bills - like $100's instead of $10's and $20's. I don't know about you, but a $10 and a $20, or maybe 2 $20's are just about all I carry. I don't want to carry a lot of money, and I certainly don't want to carry large "bills"! I understand her logic - for many people it's harder to pull out a $100 bill and break it, esp. when most of our purchases are smaller items. I just don't want to carry or spend large amounts of money. She also suggests deep breathing and putting your feet up - hmmmm ... does that really belong in the chapter on money?

The next chapter I read was "Feelin' Alright: Don't Worry, Be Healthy". Most of what's in this chapter is information I was already familiar with. If you're someone who keeps up to date on your health and a healthy lifestyle, then this will probably be the case for you as well. Most important, I think, was the idea of taking responsibility for our health as we age, and not letting those factors that can cause preventable death take hold.

The author goes over each of the top 10 preventable diseases, and what we can do to prevent them. Of course, that's not to say if you get heart disease, for instance, that it was necessarily preventable 100% of the time, but we can control certain aspects of our health. It's common sense for the most part - eat healthy foods, exercise, get enough sleep, don't smoke, and don't drink in excess. One thing that's become more evident in recent years is the importance of adequate levels of Vitamin D. I'm only aware of this because my levels have been low for the past 7 - 10 years, and I'm constantly trying to get more Vitamin D in my daily intake, so I have to supplement, which most people these days probably need to do.

If you're not familiar with preventative health care, this chapter is excellent as a source of reference. Even if we are familiar, there's sure to be something of value. The author goes very much in depth about the various tests we need to have done, and blood levels we should be aware of as we get older.

Since heart disease is the number 1 killer of women over 50, the author devotes another entire chapter to heart health. I'm sure no one wants to have a heart attack or stroke so these chapters are really invaluable in any reference book life for those of us 50 and over.

Overall this book, "The Best of Everything After 50.." is a good reference - one we can keep and refer to time after time. Of course in any book that's sort of an "all encompassing" reference-type book for such broad subject matter, there will be things that don't appeal to us, things we don't agree with or find aren't within our value system, etc... It seems to kind of goes with the turf. There's so much of value to glean from the book, but the more subjective areas you can gloss over those things with which you don't agree. So, if you find yourself at this stage of life, and would like a very positive, enthusiastic, reference-type book, take a look at this through Amazon's "Look Inside" feature to see if this fits the bill.

Just as the title states, this book presents the best of everything. While targeted to the after 50 age group, I believe women younger and older would enjoy and benefit as well.

Barbara Hannah Grufferman has an easy, and often witty, style, presenting her research and citing qualified sources.

Each chapter offers products and resources. There are also websites to visit to learn more.

This book is a bargain!