How We Love Now: Sex and the New Intimacy in Second Adulthood [Hardcover]

Suzanne Braun Levine (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 29, 2011

The kinds of love we can experience in a lifetime are limited only by our imagination.

Thousands of women in their fifties, sixties, and seventies are living-and defining-a totally new love narrative. Whether they are already experiencing intimacy, joy-and great sex-or need the inspiration and support to go for it, readers will be energized by the stories of new ways of loving: relationships found (sometimes with younger men); rediscovered childhood sweethearts; long-standing ones enriched; and Internet adventures that feature choices and daring that would have been unimaginable not so long ago.

How We Love Now is the groundbreaking, funny, poignant, and sometimes shocking "next chapter" in Levine's ongoing conversation with women in Second Adulthood, the stage of life she defined and celebrated in two popular books: Inventing the Rest of Our Lives and Fifty Is the New Fifty. As she explores the changes and opportunities for women in midlife, Levine's personal voice, experience, and research infuse each chapter with fresh revelations and reassurance.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Breezy and confident." -The Washington Post

“'Postmenopausal zest' is fueling a new revolution in the generation that redefined womanhood. Blending insight, observation, and inspiring accounts of women – she calls us each other’s Horizontal Role Models -  Levine crafts a compelling look at how we’re reinventing relationships, sex, and intimacy in Second Adulthood. Love on the far side of fifty will never be the same!" -Mary Eileen Williams, founder FeistySideofFifty.com

"How We Love Now is an immense aha! of understanding: Because we've been punishing love and sex that aren't linked to having children, we've also downplayed the pleasures of love and sex after childbearing years are over. Suzanne Braun Levine breaks this barrier and reveals new and improved possibilities for freedom, intimacy, and pleasure throughout the rest of our lives." -Gloria Steinem

"Whether you're single or married, widowed or divorced, this book will remind you of how many opportunities for getting--as well as giving--love already exist in your life, and of the many mroe that await you in Second Adulthood." -Jane Addams, author of Boundary Issues

'It's still rare to read anything this thoughtful about our age group. especiialy about caregiving at our age, And caregetting. None of us is too good at that yet. How great to have Suzanne Braun Levine there guiding us as we go along." -Ellen Goodman, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist

"The metaphor I prefer is Levine's 'fertile void, a space of unremitting unknowingness. 'Fertile' is good because it emphasizes the potential for growth, and 'void' feels emptier and more neutral than 'zone or vacuum.' It is in the fertile void that tendrils of something new can begin to sprout--if you surrender to it and don't numb yourself with busyness." -Jane Fonda

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Suzanne Braun Levine is a writer, editor, and nationally recognized authority on women, media matters, and family issues. Editor of Ms. magazine from its founding in 1972 until 1989 and editor in chief of the Columbia Journalism Review, she is currently a contributing editor of More magazine . The author of a book about fatherhood and numerous articles and essays, she has also produced a Peabody Award-winning documentary about American women. She has appeared on Oprah and the Today show and has lectured widely.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult (December 29, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670023221
• ISBN-13: 978-0670023226
• Product Dimensions: 1.1 x 5.6 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #595,058 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars At Last... A New Roadmap to Relationships for the Over 50 Set! January 4, 2012

By M. Eileen Williams

Format:Hardcover

Suzanne Braun Levine has long established herself as the premier observer of women in Second Adulthood. With her trademark insight, wit, and warmth, she delivers her newest look at our lives...this time through the lens of love, intimacy, and relationships.

How We Love Now gives readers an uplifting view of the ways today's mature women continue to break the mold for "les femmes d'un age certain." Always trailblazers, we're still pushing boundaries and finding new ways of expressing love with long-term partners, recently formed relationships, and even former sweethearts.

Levine blends inspiring stories from women she terms, "horizontal role models" with her own keen powers of observation to form a compelling look at how our generation is taking personal reinvention to the next level--this time through our relationships.

How We Love Now is an essential, engaging, and often humorous guide for any woman over 50. Postmenopausal zest is fueling a new revolution and, once again, the women of our generation are leading the charge. Thanks, Suzanne Braun Levine, for providing us with the roadmap!

Mary Eileen Williams
Feisty Side of Fifty

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars quiet revolution January 4, 2012

By F. Klagsbrun

Format:Hardcover

Suzanne Levine sparks a quiet revolution with her book,"How We Love Now." Going against old stereotypes, she shows how women over fifty and well into their seventies--and more--still have the desire and capacity for sex, love, and intimacy. With her books on women in Second Adulthood, Levine has become a commentator on and guide to women as they age. In this book, she offers honest,intelligent advice on love and relationships gleaned through her own experience and her conversations with a wide range of women. The result is a work of hope and joy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars New Information August 10, 2012

By Valerie B. Lull

Format:Hardcover

Seniors are doing things these days that they never did in the past. Most people did not live long enough to reach senior status. There was a widespread belief that old people were sexless and it was shameful for them not to "act their age". Suzanne Levine breaks through all that in her book "How We Love Now". I remember when my grandmother was found in bed with one of her fellow residents at the nursing home she was in and how scandolous it seemed and how shocked and mortified everyone was.

Levine examines sexuality and intimacy for the over 50 set. People are living longer and now often have a second or third chance at finding fulfilling intimacy. Once the children are grown, the author shows how there are so many possibilities and options that were not available to women in the earlier and child-rearing parts of their life. She includes the stories of many women who have reached second adulthood and the many different ways they can find fulfillment both physically and psychologically.

I especially enjoyed Chapter 9 about care getting. I wish I had this information when I was dealing with the care of my mother. Being the only child with no children or husband and no siblings, I had the sole responsibility of both my mother and father and it was very difficult to juggle their needs along with my work, my own illnesses, and trying to find some time for me. There were times when it was simply impossible to go to the home to visit my mom and I feel a lot of guilt over that. Levine calls "no" the magic word and writes about how hard it is to say it. I can relate.

This is truly a great book and I feel that anyone over 50 and that especially women ought to look at. It was eye-opening to me. -- Valerie Lull, Author, Ten Healthy Teas