Items related to How to Live: A Search for Wisdom from Old People (While...
In this witty guide for seekers of all ages, author Henry Alford seeks instant enlightenment through conversations with those who have lived long and lived well.
Armed with recent medical evidence that supports the cliche that older people are, indeed, wiser, Alford sets off to interview people over 70--some famous (Phyllis Diller, Harold Bloom, Edward Albee), some accomplished (the world's most-quoted author, a woman who walked across the country at age 89 in support of campaign finance reform), some unusual (a pastor who thinks napping is a form of prayer, a retired aerospace engineer who eats food out of the garbage.) Early on in the process, Alford interviews his 79 year-old mother and step-father, and inadvertently changes the course of their 36 year-long union.
Part family memoir, part Studs Terkel, How To Live considers some unusual sources--deathbed confessions, late-in-life journals--to deliver a highly optimistic look at our dying days. By showing that life after 70 is the fulfillment of, not the end to, life's questions and trials, How to Live delivers that most unexpected punch: it makes you actually *want* to get older.
Armed with recent medical evidence that supports the cliche that older people are, indeed, wiser, Alford sets off to interview people over 70--some famous (Phyllis Diller, Harold Bloom, Edward Albee), some accomplished (the world's most-quoted author, a woman who walked across the country at age 89 in support of campaign finance reform), some unusual (a pastor who thinks napping is a form of prayer, a retired aerospace engineer who eats food out of the garbage.) Early on in the process, Alford interviews his 79 year-old mother and step-father, and inadvertently changes the course of their 36 year-long union.
Part family memoir, part Studs Terkel, How To Live considers some unusual sources--deathbed confessions, late-in-life journals--to deliver a highly optimistic look at our dying days. By showing that life after 70 is the fulfillment of, not the end to, life's questions and trials, How to Live delivers that most unexpected punch: it makes you actually *want* to get older.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author:
Henry Alford is the author of two acclaimed works of investigative humor--Big Kiss: One Actor's Desperate Attempt to Claw His Way to the Top and Municipal Bondage: One Man's Anxiety-Producing Adventures in the Big City. He has been a regular contributor to the New York Times and Vanity Fair, and a staff writer at Spy. He has also written for The New Yorker, GQ, New York, Details, Harper's Bazaar, Travel & Leisure, the Villiage Voice, and Paris Review.
From Publishers Weekly:
Starred Review. Alford (Big Kiss) recognizes that the elderly have been through more in their lives than the rest of us, and figures it might be a good idea to talk to some of them and see if they have any meaningful advice to impart. This plan sets off a prolonged meditation: what is wisdom, anyway? Some of his interview subjects are famous, like playwright Edward Albee or literary critic Harold Bloom—but it's the less recognized figures who consistently provide Alford with the most evocative source material, like the retired schoolteacher who lost her husband, her home and all her possessions in Hurricane Katrina but refuses to feel sorry for herself. The search is not all rosy: shortly after , Alford's interview with his stepfather, he loses his sobriety and the author becomes a sideline observer as his mother initiates divorce proceedings and moves into a retirement home. Such scenarios depart from the laugh-out-loud stories for which Alford is best known, but there are still enough moments of rich humor, like the guided tour of Sylvia Miles's cluttered apartment, for longtime fans of Alford. (Jan. 2)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherTwelve
- Publication date2010
- ISBN 10 0446196045
- ISBN 13 9780446196048
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages288
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
US$ 9.64
Shipping:
US$ 2.64
Within U.S.A.
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Seller Image
How to Live : A Search for Wisdom from Old People (While They Are Still on This Earth)
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 6547133-n
Buy New
US$ 9.64
Convert currency
Seller Image
How to Live: A Search for Wisdom from Old People (While They Are Still on This Earth) by Alford, Henry [Paperback ]
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Soft Cover. Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 9780446196048
Buy New
US$ 12.29
Convert currency
Stock Image
How to Live Format: Paperback
Published by
Hachette Book Group
(2010)
ISBN 10: 0446196045
ISBN 13: 9780446196048
New
Softcover
Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Brand New. Seller Inventory # 9780446196048
Buy New
US$ 8.68
Convert currency
Seller Image
How to Live: A Search for Wisdom from Old People (While They Are Still on This Earth) (Paperback)
Published by
Twelve, New York
(2010)
ISBN 10: 0446196045
ISBN 13: 9780446196048
New
Paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. Armed with recent medical evidence that supports the cliche that older people are, indeed, wiser, Alford sets off to interview people over 70 - some famous (Phyllis Diller, Harold Bloom, Edward Albee), some accomplished (the world's most-quoted author, a woman who walked across the country at age 89 in support of campaign finance reform), some unusual (a pastor who thinks napping is a form of prayer, a retired aerospace engineer who eats food out of the garbage.) Early on in the process, Alford interviews his 79 year-old mother and step-father, and inadvertently changes the course of their 36 year-long union. Part family memoir, part Studs Terkel, How To Live considers some unusual sources - deathbed confessions, late-in-life journals - to deliver a highly optimistic look at our dying days. By showing that life after 70 is the fulfilment of, not the end to, life's questions and trials, How to Live delivers that most unexpected punch: it makes you actually 'want to get old'. One man's amusing and inspirational search for wisdom from old people (while they are still on this Earth) who share the lessons they've learned about how to live Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780446196048
Buy New
US$ 17.49
Convert currency
Stock Image
How To Live: A Search for Wisdom from Old People.
Published by
Little, Brown & Company
(2010)
ISBN 10: 0446196045
ISBN 13: 9780446196048
New
Paperback / softback
Quantity: 15
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback / softback. Condition: New. New copy - Usually dispatched within 7-11 working days. Seller Inventory # B9780446196048
Buy New
US$ 15.22
Convert currency
Stock Image
How to Live: A Search for Wisdom from Old People (While They Are Still on This Earth)
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Buy with confidence! Book is in new, never-used condition 0.62. Seller Inventory # bk0446196045xvz189zvxnew
Buy New
US$ 30.39
Convert currency
Stock Image
How to Live: A Search for Wisdom from Old People (While They Are Still on This Earth)
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # V9780446196048
Buy New
US$ 19.20
Convert currency
Stock Image
How to Live: A Search for Wisdom from Old People (While They Are Still on This Earth)
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # V9780446196048
Buy New
US$ 21.34
Convert currency
Seller Image
How to Live: A Search for Wisdom from Old People (While They Are Still on This Earth) (Paperback)
Published by
Twelve, New York
(2010)
ISBN 10: 0446196045
ISBN 13: 9780446196048
New
Paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. Armed with recent medical evidence that supports the cliche that older people are, indeed, wiser, Alford sets off to interview people over 70 - some famous (Phyllis Diller, Harold Bloom, Edward Albee), some accomplished (the world's most-quoted author, a woman who walked across the country at age 89 in support of campaign finance reform), some unusual (a pastor who thinks napping is a form of prayer, a retired aerospace engineer who eats food out of the garbage.) Early on in the process, Alford interviews his 79 year-old mother and step-father, and inadvertently changes the course of their 36 year-long union. Part family memoir, part Studs Terkel, How To Live considers some unusual sources - deathbed confessions, late-in-life journals - to deliver a highly optimistic look at our dying days. By showing that life after 70 is the fulfilment of, not the end to, life's questions and trials, How to Live delivers that most unexpected punch: it makes you actually 'want to get old'. One man's amusing and inspirational search for wisdom from old people (while they are still on this Earth) who share the lessons they've learned about how to live Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780446196048
Buy New
US$ 27.73
Convert currency
Seller Image
How to Live: A Search for Wisdom from Old People (While They Are Still on This Earth) (Paperback)
Published by
Twelve, New York
(2010)
ISBN 10: 0446196045
ISBN 13: 9780446196048
New
Paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. Armed with recent medical evidence that supports the cliche that older people are, indeed, wiser, Alford sets off to interview people over 70 - some famous (Phyllis Diller, Harold Bloom, Edward Albee), some accomplished (the world's most-quoted author, a woman who walked across the country at age 89 in support of campaign finance reform), some unusual (a pastor who thinks napping is a form of prayer, a retired aerospace engineer who eats food out of the garbage.) Early on in the process, Alford interviews his 79 year-old mother and step-father, and inadvertently changes the course of their 36 year-long union. Part family memoir, part Studs Terkel, How To Live considers some unusual sources - deathbed confessions, late-in-life journals - to deliver a highly optimistic look at our dying days. By showing that life after 70 is the fulfilment of, not the end to, life's questions and trials, How to Live delivers that most unexpected punch: it makes you actually 'want to get old'. One man's amusing and inspirational search for wisdom from old people (while they are still on this Earth) who share the lessons they've learned about how to live Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780446196048
Buy New
US$ 23.71
Convert currency