The Book About Getting Older cover art

The Book About Getting Older

The essential comforting guide to ageing with wise advice for the highs and lows

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The Book About Getting Older

By: Lucy Pollock
Narrated by: Lucy Pollock
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The most important book you'll ever read about the second half of your life now.

Now more than ever, we need to talk about getting older.

Many of us are living to a very great age. But how do we give those we love, and eventually ourselves, long lives that are as happy and healthy as possible?

Dr Lucy's book gives us answers to the questions we can voice - and those that we can't.

A long life should be embraced and celebrated, but it's not all easy. Yet even the most challenging situation can be helped by the right conversation.

How do we start?
How do we ask whether it's worth taking seven different medicines?
Is it normal to find you're falling out of love with someone, as they disappear into dementia?
Should Dad be driving, and if not, who can stop him?
What are the secrets of the best care homes?
When does fierce independence become bad behaviour?
How do you navigate near-impossible discussions around resuscitation and intensity of treatments?
And who decides what happens when we become ill?

Serious, funny, kind and knowledgeable, this readable book helps guide us through essential conversations about getting older that go straight to the heart of what matters most.

© Lucy Pollock 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

 Adulthood & Aging Aging Parent Developmental Psychology Parenting & Families Personal Development Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Dementia Medicine Funny Inspiring Alzheimer's Disease

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Critic reviews

The most important book about the second half of your life you'll ever read. I wish everyone in the UK could be under Dr Lucy's care, but this is the next best thing
A lovely, thoughtful, caring and informative book which will help very many people (Ed Balls)
Dr Lucy Pollock offers useful tips about thorny subjects such as choosing medications and identifying dementia
Interesting and engaging . . . Eminently readable prose. The tone throughout is warm and friendly, even as serious and dark subjects are under discussion. It is an important book
Wise, compassionate, well researched and very broad in its coverage. I've learnt a lot that will help me both as a doctor and a patient. Thank you (Dr Phil Hammond)
Dr Pollock writes with spirit and empathy, making this an engaging and thought-provoking read. Anyone struggling with old age will feel less alone for having Dr Pollock on their team
Terrific . . . I suggest we all get a copy of Dr Lucy's book
Serious, funny, kind and knowledgeable, this book helps guide us through essential conversations about issues of getting older
This warm and compassionate book gets to the heart of older age. Using stories and accessible explanations, it covers issues of declining health, quality of life and choices about the things that matter most. The BGS is delighted to endorse this universally relevant and approachable exploration of what it means to get older
Kind, touching and, at times, achingly funny. An enlightening - and important - read whatever your age. Dr Lucy Pollock is just the kind of healthcare professional you want by your side
All stars
Most relevant
Loved this book as someone working with older people but equally as someone who is getting older. In a beautifully loving and sensitive way it provides explanations and advice

Moving and helpful

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An excellent book! I must listen to it again after a while as it is very helpful. It is very well written and documented by a true professional. A sensitive, compassionate book about old age, its delicate problems and how they should be tackled. Thank you, Dr. Lucy Pollock.

An excellent book!

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Lucy embraces the elephant in the room and gently explains why we needn't be scared to talk about and plan for ageing, and even dignified dying. It's coming for all of us, so let's make the most of it, and be assertive about getting the care we need and deserve.

Warm, compassionate and important

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It’s a very informative book, I believe it gives you time to think of your future and your family and how you can prepare for the next chapter in your life.

Everyone over 60 should listen to or read.

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As a Gp of 30 years I wish I had been able to access this high quality genuinely delivered clear information At the start of my career. I will recommend this to all of my students and junior Doctors, hoping they will pick up on DrLucys compassion and genuine love for her patients. That being said this book is meant for the general public and will enrich the lives of all who read it.
Beautifully written and delivered .

A very sensitive thoughtful and comprehensive summary of our ageing process,

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