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Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud About Senior Sex

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Back in 1975, I read Studs Terkel's Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day an organized set of interviews which focused on "real people," and how their jobs affected their lives. In a similar vein, Naked at Our Age, appropriately subtitled "Talking Out Loud About Senior Sex", also spotlights real people's experiences, feelings, thoughts, and concerns about sex in the latter half of life. For me, Terkel's book highlighted the tension between the way a job could be unsatisfying yet also provide vital self-definition. Price's book elaborates on the multiple physical, social, and emotional tensions arising from expressing one's sexuality as an elder.

Some of her respondents are older people who have worked through the wounds of earlier years and are ready to "get it on." The courage expressed by the women and men who have survived betrayals and violence, and not abandoned the human connection of sexual play is inspiring. Those sections are a welcome restorative to the culture-wide notion that older folks are dead below the waist. I respect Ms. Price for not limiting her sample to conventional couples -- a few of her respondents practice BDSM, are polyamorous, or live in non-traditional arrangements.

For me though, the sections about seniors who are dealing with the downsides of aging are particularly rich. Several chapters which describe with declining libido (whether resulting from emotional stresses, illness, or the side effects of medication), declining physical capability -- ED and EDis, vaginal dryness and tearing, consequences and complications of chemotherapy and surgeries -- also provide resources to help. The chapter on partners with Alzheimer's is worth the cost of the book. Books written from a more youthful perspective would not discuss sexuality in facing long-term illness, death and grieving. I particularly liked the wide variety of ways offered to bring up and negotiate complex, risky, and often embarrassing or painful topics with a partner. Noteworthy is a chapter devoted to safer sex and STDs; the statistics for sexually active seniors are sobering, and the insistence on being responsible about fluid barriers and blood tests is sensible.

Ms. Price is very open about her own history in addressing the joys and pains of a romantic and sexual relationship which began when she was fifty-seven, her grief at death of her lover, and her life afterward. If you're under fifty, this book will both reassure you and alert you about your future. If you're over fifty, read this book to learn you are not alone in coping with the challenges of aging, and to find resources, especially medical advice and support groups. The overall message is that love, particularly sexual love, does not disappear in the face of aging, sickness, and death.

Things began to change a few years ago around the time I hit 60. Most of my friends talked about their aging in an accepting manner - "Oh well." We were like innocent pre-teens beginning puberty without the information and guidance we now know is so important.

"Naked at Our Age" is a game changer, full of specifics from very personal stories addressing delicate issues with honest, practical advice by professionals who know and care. Yes, it's frank, but there's no time for anything less! Informative, timely, compassionate and downright brave: it refreshes the discussion of autumn romance and, yes, winter lovemaking. You'll find beautiful accounts expressing the joys of true love found at last and others describing the startling anguish over a loved-one lost too soon. This book is nothing less than a tribute, a coming-out party celebrating love and intimacy in our 60's, 70's, 80's, and beyond. It's the real deal.

"Naked at Our Age" will soon be found on the nightstand of a generation experiencing the emotional and physical effects of aging. It will be discussed, at coffee klatches, golf courses and retirement communities across the land. It arrives just in time. The discussion is well underway, but until now lacked the focused, informative insights that Joan Price and her professionals provide.

The baton has been passed from Masters & Johnson, Gloria Steinem, Dr. Ruth and the others to author Joan Price. Her work continues the social progress begun and advanced by these pioneers. Joan Price contributes another important step in the sexual liberation of her generation, freeing us from the myths of the past and inviting us into a vibrant and informed future.

Bravo and thank you, Joan Price.

Joan Price has written a clear, and intelligent book whose intent is to help seniors have successful sex lives. She is an enthusiastic coach and provides real life scenarios, concrete practices and clear thinking in a warm and supportive style. This is the book every doctor, therapist, nurse practitioner and sex-life counselor should read! I am so grateful to have found this book. Thank you, Joan.

Joan Price has given us older folks a primer to better understand our mate's and our own changing/maturing sexuality. My wife and I are 65. In the first 10 pages of Naked at Our Age I learned things about my wife that I hadn't known and hadn't thought to ask. I hadn't realized how differently a woman's body responds as she reaches her sixties. What a wake up call! Ms. Price's perceptions and examples are sensitively expressed, utterly practical, and absolutely necessary for people who want to grow old both gracefully and excitingly. If you love to be physically close to your mate, you MUST READ this book.

In Joan Price's new book I found an honest look at many different life styles and choices, sexual and otherwise. She is honest and open about the sexual aspects of relationships most of us find difficult to discuss. It was liberating to read such a matter of fact perspective about a part of my life about which I am often times not very comfortable.

I admire Joan's courage; her book is filled with the mark of authenticity.

I found Naked at Our Age almost impossible to put down. It's beautifully balanced between personal experience and objective information. Warm and learned, it is the most helpful book on sex I have ever seen. Naked at Our Age is for all of us over (or much over) 50, whether our sex life is great, just okay, or blah. It's also a must-read for mental health professionals (and also for urologists and OBGYNs)

A psychiatrist to whom I showed this book spent a half hour reading it, then started to make lists in his head of which of his patients he should give a copy. I plan to buy a half dozen copies myself to give to my senior (nonpatient) friends.

-Larry LeShan, PhD

In Naked at Our Age Joan Price has created a Guidebook on Senior Sex with an ideal information delivery formula. Add equal parts; the heart and soul of real people's experiences, eg) DWO-Dating While Older or Sex after Cancer, blend with sexuality experts and therapists observations and then serve a range of real world solutions and options.

A consistent theme in these real people's voices and experiences at 50-90+ is how powerful and constant the impact of, the quest for, and the experience of love and sex are across their lives. Be that good, be that bad. This plain speaking about a much needed to be talked about subject will likely have you see yourself or a loved one in these examples.

Yes we age, yes we love, yes we lose love and yet still we humans have an unshakeable need and desire to bond, touch and love. Naked at Our Age will open your eyes, ears and heart to the range of experiences your sexuality and heart are likely to encounter as you mature and how to prepare and validate your own experiences.

I think we need to create a new term, Like TLS - Total Lifetime Sex because that is what is enclosed in these pages the exploration and discussion of a subject that will touch all of our lives. The stories of love and sex lived through entire lifetimes. How it changes, how it flourishes and how we adapt to our physical, emotional and mental changes. It is an awesome Guidebook I highly recommend.

Lou Paget

AASECT Certified Sex Educator

How to Be A Great Lover

Great Lover Playbook

Joan Price's new book, "Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud about Senior Sex" doesn't leave out any subject that's relevant to sexuality for people in midlife and beyond. She and her impressive array of expert contributors cover topics with such expertise and such love for her readers that I felt totally taken care of, with so many answers both to questions I have had and those I never thought of but should have. An abundance of quotes from people aged 50 and over describe their experiences with sex, discuss problems, ask questions, tell what works for them. Much sound practical advice gives resources and solid suggestions. And best of all, the book has heart as well as a healthy dose of lust.

After reading this book I had a long overdue conversation with my husband about the evident problems we have been going through in our marriage for the last few years. If it were not for the advice I received from the author I would have never have done or said anything and gone on being miserable for the rest of my life. I made up my mind that we would either have to make significant changes in our marriage and if that wasn't possible than we needed to end our relationship. My husband was taken back by the things I said and the information I shared and did not want to lose me or end our 18 year marriage. He in turn read the book and we discussed the contents with each other. It has been 3 weeks now and we are like newlyweds again and the affection, sex and love has returned to our marriage. Thank you for writing this book..... It is a must for everyone to read whether you are happily married or not you will discover things about yourself and your spouse that you never knew before.

Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud About Senior Sex

For Seniors concerned about sexual issues, Dr. Romance can heartly recommend Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud about Senior Sex by Joan Price, who also authored Better Than I Ever Expected: Straight Talk about Sex After Sixty

"Naked at Our Age is a candid, staright-talking book about addressing senior sexuality in all its colors: the challenges, the disappointments, and the surprises, as well as the delights and the love stories." writes Joan in her introduction.

I really like that it takes into account all the changes life, relationshships and sexuality have gone through since today's seniors came of age. To elicit experiences, opinions and questions from seniors, Joan developed a questionnaire. She compiles the first-person sexperiences of her respondants into topics like "The Old Ways Don't Do It Anymore," "Surviving Divorce, Breakups and Betrayal," "Sex with Myself" and "Erectile Dysfunction," and many more. In each section, she compiles quotes from her respondants and balances them with advice from recognized experts. (full disclosure: Dr. Romance is included as an expert.) In addition, each section contains specific problems presented with the prescriptive response of an expert.

If you have questions about sexuality in the senior years, want to compare your experience with others, or are looking for excellent, reliable advice and information, you'll find what you're looking for here.