Wise Women : A Celebration of Their Insights, Courage, and Beauty (Hardcover)

by Joyce Tenneson (Author) "I used to dance a lot, but unfortunately, all my partners are dead..." (more)
Key Phrases: wise women, Sister Mary Christabel

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In ancient times, older women were the keepers of primal mysteries and were revered for their special wisdom. For this very special book, Joyce Tenneson traveled throughout America to photograph and interview women ages 65 to l00.What she found was a revelationwomen who were vital, energetic, and deeply beautiful, inside and out. The80 portraits are of women from all walks of life from the famous, such as Sandra Day OConnor, Julie Harris, and Angela Lansbury, to the ordinary, such as our mothers and grandmothers. Tennesons compelling and compassionate portraits, accompanied by short poignant statements from these remarkable women about the experience of aging, will help to reawaken us to the power and wisdom of our elders.

About the Author
Joyce Tenneson is the author of six books, including Light Warriors (Bulfinch, 2000). Her work has been exhibited worldwide and is included in many museum collections.

She lives and works in New York City.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Bulfinch; 1 edition (April 12, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821228013
• ISBN-13: 978-0821228012
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #220,366 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely stunning and Mind-opening, April 19, 2002

By	F. Lennox Campello "f. lennox campello" (Potomac, MD United States) - See all my reviews

When I was a child, because both my parents worked, it was my grandmother who essentially raised me. To me she was an all-knowing, all-powerful person, and quite a beautiful woman to my adoring and fearing child eyes. Many years after her death, and with a mind now conditioned to see skeletal models representing someone's ideal of beauty, it took this brilliant book by Tenneson to rekindle the power and beauty of women aged 65 and older. Tenneson applies her formidable portraiture skills with an artistic ferocity that leaves no doubt in place to the fact that in doing this project, she discovered a lot of issues with her own self and perception of beauty and fear. This is one of those rare photography books that I sense are destined to become a keystone in contemporary photography and re-enforce Tenneson's place among the elite of the fine arts photography world. But more importantly, it represents a powerful alternative challenge to what has been forced fed to us about beauty and power, and help some of us to remember fondly a loving, powerful grandmother.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Gift for a Mom over 60, June 30, 2002

By A Customer

I bought this for my 62 year old mother. She's a psycotherapist and leads several women's groups. I figured it would be perfect for her waiting room.

She loves it so much it has yet to leave her house.

It is about time someone started to show the beauty of women over 60. These women are beautiful, and the photos are inspiring to men and women of all ages.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and lasting, May 19, 2002

By A Customer

There's a certain kind of beuty which we have been forced to forget: that of our mothers and grandmothers - the goddesses of our lives - this book is the rebirth of these women as the guiding beauties of mankind. This will be the set of photographs via which Tenneson will set her name in the history of western art.