1,003 Great Things About Getting Older (Paperback)

by Lisa Birnbach (Author), Patricia Marx (Author) "Having to fight off embarrassing sexual come-ons Acne Needing permission Firm, firm breasts: how are you supposed to sleep?..." (more)
Key Phrases: Recent Appraisal, Predicted Age

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The ""chances grow smaller every year that you will die in childbirth"" is only one of many amusing reasons why people should look on the bright side of getting older in this amusing book about aging and the later years in one's life. Original. 60,000 first printing."

About the Author
Patricia Marx is a former writer for Saturday Night Live whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, Time magazine, and The New York Times, among other publications. The eirst woman elected to the Harvard Lampoon, she is the author of humor books (such as How to Regain Your Virginity and You Can Never Go Wrong by Lying) and children's books (such as Now Everybody Really Hates Me and Meet My Staƒƒ). She lives in New York City and can take a baked potato out of the oven with her bare hand.

Please visit www.himherhimagain.com.

Patricia Marx is a former writer for Saturday Night Live whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, Time magazine, and The New York Times, among other publications. The eirst woman elected to the Harvard Lampoon, she is the author of humor books (such as How to Regain Your Virginity and You Can Never Go Wrong by Lying) and children's books (such as Now Everybody Really Hates Me and Meet My Staƒƒ). She lives in New York City and can take a baked potato out of the oven with her bare hand.

Please visit www.himherhimagain.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0836226992
• ISBN-13: 978-0836226997
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #247,064 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good as a Gift..., August 8, 2000

By	Annie Quaker "reader" - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

More like three and a half stars than four, this is a decent little gift.

I received this book as a gift when I turned -- well, that's not important. What is important is that this turned out to be a nice gift - not roll over laughing funny, but good for a cheerful, smile-provoking gift for friends turning one of the Big O's.

In this thick, but palm-sized paperback, the editors combined more than just a selection of platitudes, but provides a variety of semi-useful bits of information.

"What's so great about turning...." gives sappy reasons why your age - from 1 to 100 - is so good. There are reasons kids think being old is better ("I want to be older so I can make out checks and be a millionaire." John Semple, age seven) ; great things people have said about getting older; parting statements; how old you'd be if you lived on various planets (I personally prefer Mars, where a 50 year old is 27); a list of things life is now to short to do (doing push-ups; wondering if you should have gone to medical school instead); birthdates of several stars (from Mickey Rooney to Maccauley Caulkin) and bunches of other useless but amusing tidbits.

Those not amused by maturing might not find this a good gift, but for office gag gifts and add-ons to more meaningful gifts for that someone going over the hill (from 30 to 50 or so), this is a nice purchase for that "under $10.00" limit.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great senior book!, February 15, 2003

By	Denise Benfield (Reading, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 1,003 Great Things About Getting Older (Hardcover)

My company has given out at least 500 of these books. We have senior citizen seminars and read a few excerpts from this book and give one away when attendees make an appointment with us. It is the "light" side of our seminar and we get so many questions on where to get this book - people love to use it as a gift! Some people tell us there are more than 1003 things and some tell us there isn't one good reason! However this book can lighten up even the cogiest old coot!! Love it!!

10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars incredibly funny, October 31, 1998

By	James J. Cramer (Summit,, New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews

Here was the surprise book of the era. Something I give to every friend who turns 40 and over. Lots of laffs--yes with two ffs and seasoned pros behind it. Well done.