What's Worth Knowing [Hardcover]

Wendy Lustbader (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2001

Colorful and enlightening vignettes about life by everyday people in their seventies, eighties, and nineties.

When social worker Wendy Lustbader was asked to take down the histories of elderly residents in a retirement community, she discovered that "the man with Alzheimer's in room 410" was actually ninety-six year old Ole Hatlen, a former concert pianist. "The woman who people-watches in the lobby" became Lila Lane, who eloped to Tijuana with her sweetheart at age sixteen, and at age seventy-five bemoaned the fact that she could no longer wear high heels.

Lustbader gathered these stories and more into What's Worth Knowing, a compilation of colorful first-person testimonials on love, truth, grief, faith, and fulfillment by people in their seventies, eighties, and nineties. Israel Grosskoff, for example, describes learning about trust while hiding from the Nazis in World War II. Giuseppe Maestriami passes on lessons in child-rearing he found through growing prize-winning tomatoes. And Arsene St. Amand talks about the importance of making time for love-which he found for the first time six months before his death.

In What's Worth Knowing, readers can spend time with Ole, Lila, Israel, Giuseppe, and Arsene-and a hundred others whose advice matters more because of the way they've learned it.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Tending a garden isn't so different from raising children. Plants like to grow when you spend time with them. Don't keep the whole crop for yourself. There are always people who don't know how to make things grow, and they probably need your tomatoes more than anybody else." --Giuseppe Maestriami, age 85.

Though some may say that age and wisdom do not necessarily go hand in hand, this affecting volume of personal stories proves just the opposite. All the 104 seniors who offer their thoughts in this volume of reflections have something vital to say about what they found to be most true, most important about life. There are those who regret their choice of partners or jobs, those who found great joy in the little things, as well as those who no longer speak to their children. No matter what their life circumstances or philosophy, each person's singular perspective, flawed or otherwise, shines through in these pungent bits of advice on work, faith, love, and loss. Listen to 75-year-old Christina Martinez: "You shouldn't go around complaining that this one's a fool and that one's a fool. They're everywhere, and you should be glad. You'd be nowhere without the fools. They show you how you don't want to be."

Author Wendy Lustbader, an authority on aging and a mental health counselor, interviewed her subjects over several years, and what emerged was this record of refreshing candor. Artfully edited to capture the cadence and flavor of the individual contributor, each one-page story resonates with a spirit of great generosity and honesty. A short, touching biographical note and sometimes a photo accompanies each. In truth, much of the advice contained here can be summed up in a few well-worn clichés--savor the moment, follow your heart, cherish your loved ones--but taken together, these reflections create a powerful chronicle of human foibles and triumphs. Read this collection slowly, savoring it a story at a time. As Lustbader writes in her introduction, "I think you will see, as I have, that there is nothing sweeter than being able to live the middle of one's life with the perspective of the end." --Marianne Painter

From Publishers Weekly

As a young geriatric social worker, one of Wendy Lustbader's first assignments was to gather colorful profiles of every patient in the nursing home where she worked. In a collection reminiscent of Tuesdays with Morrie, she has distilled her best profiles into What's Worth Knowing, a ripe collection of wisdom from vivacious men and women who offer the kind of insight made possible only by experience and by the clarity that can strike people near the end of their lives. Agent, Joel Fishman.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher (February 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585420719
• ISBN-13: 978-1585420711
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,526,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Wendy Lustbader, MSW, is the author of several books and essays that have earned her a national reputation in the field of aging. She is also a popular speaker at conferences throughout the United States and Canada, using storytelling to animate complex subjects. Additionally, she is a skilled psychotherapist, having worked almost twenty years with people from all walks of life at a community clinic in downtown Seattle. Equally passionate as a writer, teacher, and therapist, Wendy brings a social worker's lived experience to her writing, teaching, and service to older people. Currently, she is an Affiliate Associate Professor at the University of Washington School of Social Work in Seattle.

Wendy's publications include two videos. The first, "A Prescription for Caregivers," shows caregivers and those who assist them how to make life better for the giver and receiver of care. In her other video, "Kind Hands," front-line workers learn how to respond to grief and vulnerability. Wendy's first book was co-authored with Nancy Hooyman, Taking Care of Aging Family Members. This is a practical guide to caregiving, with a detailed index to help readers find exactly what they need. Her second book, Counting on Kindness, helps readers to comprehend the complex and often unspeakable feelings which arise when we become dependent on others for help. Her third book is What's Worth Knowing, a collection of pithy insights gathered from older people. Her newest book, Life Gets Better, explores how life improves as we get older, on every level except the physical.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you don't like it now, you will once you are older, January 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: What's Worth Knowing (Hardcover)

I think those who gave this book a poor review did not give it a deep enough reading to see depth in this book. What's worth knowing addresses mundane topics, but that is the point. Some people go through life looking for what isn't there, missing out on what is. Those same people finding something missing in the book. This book won't tell you the cosmic answers for how to live your life. It will show you that there aren't any cosmic answers, just simple ones, and different ones for different folks. And the book shows that elders are just folks, regular folk in older bodies. This book is a valiant effort to combat ageism.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful and instructive book- simple, not trite., June 6, 2002

By 

"[e-mail]" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What's Worth Knowing (Hardcover)

I could not disagree more with the reviewer who gave this book a single star. I consider myself a deep thinker, and very well read on these matters as well. I found a depth here, as well as a simplicity-- and it was very true to life. I was touched by the author's intention as well as her presentation. This is a book I definitely plan to keep in my personal library-- I can't imagine why anyone would ever sell it! I feel grateful, and very enriched, for having read it. My deep appreciation goes to the author for her humanity and courage.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Truth Is All Around Us, April 11, 2001

By 

William H. Thomas MD "Dr. Thomas" (Sherburne, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What's Worth Knowing (Hardcover)

Wendy Lustbader has created a remarkable book. These collected reflections and stories reveal the profound wisdom of our elders. As I read the book I was struck by the simple truth of so many of its lessons. We can learn much from the people Wendy introduces us to in this book-- and we should.

This book twinkles with the wisdom of the old and the wise. It is a powerful antidote to the ugly ageism that of our day. It made me stop and think about my own life and how I am living it. It reinforced my belief that the elderly are a gift to all of us, they are our best teachers.

I can not think of any higher compliment I could pay to any book or its author.

This book shines like a night sky full of stars.

Dr. William H. Thomas