Today I Am a Ma'Am: And Other Musings on Life, Beauty, and Growing Older [Paperback]

Valerie Harper (Author), Catherine Whitney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2001

Valerie Harper has a message for women of a certain age: "Work those laugh lines!" With the irreverence and wit that made her one of television's most beloved personalities, Harper (a.k.a. Rhoda Morgenstern) takes on those phony "fabulous at 50" books written by women whose skin is free of laugh lines and who wouldn't know a cellulite pocket if it bit them on the backside. With her trademark shoot-from-the-hip, call-'em-like-she-sees-'em style, she helps women celebrate, with humor and grace, what it means to be middle aged.

Harper's essays explore the treacherous terrain women must travel -- from the tyrannies of fashion to the unmentionables of menopause. She tackles the most perplexing questions of the day: If you wear a size zero, do you exist? Would menopause be revered if it happened to men? Do calories count if you eat standing up? Are dressing rooms fitted with fun house mirrors? Today I Am a Ma'am is the perfect antidote to the youth obsession of our culture, offered by America's most reliable girlfriend. It is Humor Replacement Therapy for midlife women, a book you can pick up when ever you need a laugh or a reminder that midriff drift is not the end of the world.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Once readers get over the shock that Harper (who won four Emmy awards playing Rhoda Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Rhoda) is now in her 60s, her gently funny and age-positive ruminations will soothe the aftershock ("How old does that make me?"). This light, sincere, cartoon-filled guide for "women of a certain age" pokes fun at this age group's lack of representation in films (Jane Fonda responds, "What's the worst thing about being a beautiful, glamorous star over fifty? Watching each year as Bob Redford's leading ladies get younger and younger") and plastic surgery mania ("The transformation isn't from old to young. It's from old to scary"). Mainly, though, the book celebrates an age at which women can finally relax. Following advice from Ruth Gordon ("I decided to get older instead of getting old. Because old is a destination; older is a process and a path"), Harper embraces her "senior moments" and droopy upper arms and thighs that are "like dimpled twin dough boys, nestled together against the cold." Wry and wise, Harper dares women to be "real" and reminds us that those "fabulous at 50" women on magazine covers have a hidden crew of professionals and technicians who labor to produce that look. (On sale date: Apr. 10)Forecast: Thanks to Harper's high-profile name and the public's enduring affection for her TV persona, which comes through on paper, Harper's book will have a ready audience among baby boomers and other fans. To boost sales, Harper will go on a seven-city tour, appear on Today (Apr. 16) and Rosie (Apr. 17), and receive feature coverage in People and Parade.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Valerie Harper played the memorable Rhoda Morgenstern first on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and then on her own spin-off series, Rhoda, for nine years. During that time she won four Emmys, a Golden Globe, Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year Award, and the Hollywood Women's Press Club "Golden Apple" Award. She lives in Beverly Hills. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Cliff Street Books (April 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060185570
• ISBN-13: 978-0060185572
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,614,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A TON OF LAUGHS FROM A REMARKABLE PERSON!, May 9, 2001

By 

Sandra D. Peters "Seagull Books" (Prince Edward Island, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Today I Am a Ma'am: and Other Musings On Life, Beauty, and Growing Older (Hardcover)

Who wouldn't remember Valerie Harper, television's sweetheart who played Rhoda on the Mary Tyler Moore Show. This book is a barrel of laughs from a lady who may be in her 60's but at heart she is still as youthful and vibrant as ever. Taking a poke at everything from self-help books that profess to make you an eye-stopping cover-girl at fifty, to menopause, weight gain and ageing, you will admire this incredible lady's wit and style. She is just as vivacious and high-spirited as ever. Valerie Harper is the kind of person one would love to have as a friend and next door neighbour; she would certainly know how to make your spirits soar when you are having a bad day.

Ms Harper has always had a knack for saying whatever was on her mind, and it was her tongue-in-cheek humour that we remember from her Rhoda days. Now, as a lady still young at heart, she pours her unique combination of creative talent and sheer, natural ability into this series of essays. The only downside, dear Valerie, is that the book was far too short, and we know you were never one to be short on words. Just as we get into the ambiance and humour... the book comes to an end.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hilariously good fun, April 22, 2001

By 

Michele Risner "momrisner" (Gibson City, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Today I Am a Ma'am: and Other Musings On Life, Beauty, and Growing Older (Hardcover)

Valerie Harper is well known as her role on TV's "Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Rhoda" playing Rhoda Morgenstern. This book is her take on life and it is one of the funniest books I have read!

Valerie says that, "If life imitated television, teenagers would be twenty-five, Mom would be thirty, and Grandma would be thirty-three. Are there any real people left?" She comments on weight and clothing sizes ("What fluke of genetics leads to size zero? I tremble at the future possibilities. Size double zero. Size minus fifteen. Are we headed for a time when we'll be embarrassed to say, "I'm a size two"?"), menopause, humor, and plenty of other things.

Illustrated by Rick Tulka and co-written with Catherine Whitney, this is an excellent book to read and share with your mom, daughter, sister and girlfriend. You will laugh yourself silly and agree with everything Valerie says!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read For Any Age, January 30, 2004

By 

Maria Ann Smith (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Today I Am A Ma'am (Audio Cassette)

Valerie Harper's Today I am a Ma'm is a must read for all ages. Valerie sets forth the many feelings and thoughts that we all have as age creeps upon us and all of a sudden we realize "Hey what happened? I was just 21 years old". The younger generation could serve well to read it also and realize what Mom is up against and that their turn will also come. I've re-read Valerie's book at least 7 times. It is written not to emphasize what is happening in a negative way - but to make light of what could be traumatic to some. I URGE anyone who needs a light approach to growing older to read it. It just doesn't get any better than this. And to Valerie I say thank you so much for giving us a "smiling approach to aging".