In Our Prime: The Invention of Middle Age [Hardcover]

Patricia Cohen (Author)

Book Description

Release date: January 10, 2012

From the New York Times reporter whose beat is culture and ideas comes a fascinating, revelatory, and timely social history of the concept of middle age. For the first time ever, the middle-aged make up the biggest, richest, and most influential segment of the country, yet the history of middle age has remained largely untold. This important and immensely readable book finally fills the gap. In Our Prime is a biography of the idea of middle age from its invention in the late nineteenth century to its current place at the center of American society, where it shapes the way we view our families, our professional obligations, and our inner lives. Patricia Cohen ranges over the entire landscape of midlife, exploring how its biological, psychological, and social definitions have shifted from one generation to the next. Middle age has been a symbol both of decline and of power and wealth. Explaining why, Cohen takes readers from early-twentieth-century factories that refused to hire middle-aged men to twenty-first-century high-tech laboratories where researchers are currently conducting cutting-edge experiments on the middle-aged brain and body.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A lively, well-researched chronicle of the social and scientific forces that brought midlife America to its current befuddled state…”—Laura Shapiro, New York Times Book Review

“A brilliant, wide-ranging book…Cohen’s lively prose and thoughtful insights make this a joy to read.”—Kate Tuttle, Boston Globe

“In Our Prime is a fascinating study of this complex stage of life, a book whose appeal is likely to extend beyond the middle-age demographic to readers approaching or looking back on that key stage of life.”—Jerry Harkavy, Associated Press

“Very fine…lucid, straightforward and conversational… a thorough—and thoroughly fascinating—cultural history of aging.”—Julia Keller, Chicago Tribune

“A fascinating biography of the idea of middle age…solidly researched.”—Gail Sheehy, The New York Times

“With lively writing, astute observations, and extensive research, this cultural history looks well beyond cougars and Botox.”—Karen Holt, Oprah.com

“A thoroughly engaging cultural history…”—Christine Sismondo, Toronto Star

“In Our Prime is a fascinating biography of the ‘idea of middle age’ in American society…Comprehensively researched…A thoughtful inquiry.”—Tom Lavoie, Shelf Awareness

“A comprehensive look at middle age through the eyes of scientists, historians, psychologists, medical doctors, marketers and many more.”—Julie Carl, Winnipeg Free Press

“Witty and engaging…this comprehensive and entertaining social history highlights the possibilities of the middle years—and shows how middle age reflects the attitudes and customs of each generation that passes through it.”—Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Patricia Cohen has been a New York Times reporter for thirteen years. She has also worked at The Washington Post, New York Newsday, and Rolling Stone. She has a BA from Cornell University and a graduate degree from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Scribner; First Edition edition (January 10, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416572899
• ISBN-13: 978-1416572893
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.2 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #758,443 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Patricia Cohen has been an editor and reporter at The New York Times for more than 13 years. Previously she worked at The Washington Post, Rolling Stone Magazine and Newsday. She graduated from Cornell University and Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School. She grew up in New York City, attended public school and learned to ride a bicycle in Flushing Meadow Park. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and child.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful, well-researched and insightful view of middle age January 18, 2012

By Jeanne M. Haws

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This comprehensive view of middle age is an excellent history of middle age -- and explains how it has changed over the years, especially the changes created by feminism, and medical advances. What's especially interesting is the fact that middle age didn't even exist until the end of the 19th century -- and yet, so much marketing is directed toward "helping" us middle-agers "cope" with our aging. I found Cohen's data explaining how rich and enjoyable middle age is -- and busting so many of the myths around "mid-life crises" and marriage dissolutions, etc -- to be comforting and, in the case of me and many of my friends, very rewarding. Her descriptions of the "Midlife Industrial Complex" - and how much companies prey on our insecurities by marketing "youth" to us was especially interesting. All in all, a great read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Feminine Mystique for Middle Age August 18, 2012

By Robert H

Format:Audible Audio Edition

I read this book soon after re-reading The Feminine Mystique (although I am happily a woman of a later era having been born in the 60s) and realized I felt the same shock of recognition and delight reading this book that women of that era must have felt when reading that book. I am now 50, happy, feel healthy, but aware that society does not necessarily regard me as valuable and robust as when I was much less happy, fulfilled, and competent in my 20s and 30s. I loved this book! It is a fascinating cultural and social history of views about Middle Age. As important, the book is full of readable, fascinating accounts of recent research that dispels many of the myths about middle age. I am now sending this book to all my friends and urging this on acquaintances. This is a must-read book. Engaging, insightful, and inspiring. Hooray! I want more books like this!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A journey April 25, 2012

By Renee M. Kodner

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is informative and insightful, chocked full of studies and well documents the evolution of the middle-aged concept. The US Census Bureau defines middle-age falling between 45 and 64 years of age. In Our Prime looks at how that definition came to be and how it affects how we currently live our lives.