Stupid Things I Won't Do When I Get Old: A Highly Judgmental, Unapologetically Honest Accounting of All the Things Our Elders Are Doing Wrong

For fans of David Sedaris and Nora Ephron, a humorous, irreverent, and poignant look at the gifts, stereotypes, and inevitable challenges of aging, based on award-winning journalist Steven Petrow's wildly popular New York Times essay, "Things I'll Do Differently When I Get Old." Soon after his 50th birthday, Petrow began assembling a list of things I wont do when I get oldmostly a catalog of all the things he thought his then 70-something year old parents were doing wrong. That list, which included You wont have to shout at me that Im deaf, and I wont blame the family dog for my incontinence, became the basis of this rousing collection of dos and donts, wills and wonts that is equal parts hilarious, honest, and practical. The fact is, we dont want to age the way previous generations did. Old people hoard. They bore relativesand strangers alikewith tales of their aches and pains. They insist on driving long after theyve become a danger to others (and themselves). They eat dinner at 4pm. They swear they dont need a cane or walker (and guess what happens next). They never, ever apologize. But there is another way... In Stupid Things I Wont Do When I Get Old, Petrow candidly addresses the fears, frustrations, and stereotypes that accompany aging. He offers a blueprint for the new old age, and an understanding that aging and illness are not the same. As he writes, I meant the list to serve as a pointed reminderto meto make different choices when I eventually cross the threshold to old. Getting older is a privilege. This essential guide reveals how to do it with grace, wisdom, humor, and hope. And without hoarding. Praise for Stupid Things I Won't Do When I Get Old: Unbelievably witty and relatable, I alternated bursting into laughter and placing my hand over my face in horror thinking, Oh my God, is that me? I often say, at this age we have something young people can never havewisdom. My dear friend, Steven Petrow, has wisdom to share in this honest, funny, wry guide to keep us young at heart, without desperately hanging onto our youth. I am buying this book for all of my friends! Suzanne Somers, New York Times bestselling author of A New Way to Age Stupid Things I Wont Do When I Get Old is an irreverent, funny, honest look at aging and all the things we take for granted as normal parts of aging. They dont need to be. If you struggle with getting older and want to find a fresh perspective on lessons learned about what NOT to do as we age, and what TO do to stay young in heart, spirit, mind and body, read this book. Mark Hyman, MD, #1 New York Times bestseller author of The Blood Sugar Solution 10-Day Detox Diet, and Head of Strategy and Innovation at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine. Steven Petrow resolved to do things differently than his parents had when he gets old because he wished theyd been able to enjoy life more. His solution? He created a list! In this book, he shares the secrets to living a full life regardless of our age. It's all about the decisions we make every day. My advice in a nutshell: Read this book and keep it handy. Dear Abby (Jeanne Phillips), nationally syndicated advice columnist Its never too early to imagine what your life will look like as you age. And as I once wrote, We are not hostages to our fate. Petrows book will help you plan, think, and redefine what it means to get olderand even laugh while doing it. Andrew Weil, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Spontaneous Healing and Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Well-Being Steven Petrow not only has a great attitude about life, he is wise about how to live it. Like me, he says we should embrace our one life 100% and not let a numberour ageget in the way of anything! Stevens book will help you rethink the word aging and approach this next chapter with a positive and proactive attitude. Plus, this book is fun! Denise Austin, renowned fitness expert, author,