Two Old Broads

Tips for women for growing older with panache. Hecht, a retired orthopedic surgeon who died at the age of 93, just months before this book was published, and award-winning actor Goldberg, who is 66, share wisdom, anecdotes, and pithy one-liners on a host of topics that concern aging women. Among the many issues they cover are dealing with inevitable aches and pains, addressing hearing impairment and short-term memory loss (something Hecht experienced), choosing what to wear, caring for aging skin, dating, making new friends, remaining independent when needing outside assistance, and napping when necessary. Most of the advice comes from Dr. Hecht, with Goldberg adding her "two cents" to selected chapters. Hecht rings in on matters medical, social, psychological, and practical to help readers navigate the challenges of growing older. "Connections, continuous learning, and being socially active," she advises, are crucial to health and happiness. She enthusiastically celebrates the pleasures and surprises of excursions. As for dating, while Goldberg prefers meeting on Zoom rather than in person, Hecht is open to dating and sharing activities, including sex. She warns against using dating services and apps, though, suggesting that it's better to meet someone through friends or by participating in groups. Hecht brings considerable authority to her advice about navigating the medical system: finding a doctor or surgeon, making the most of visits, getting a second opinion, and dealing with one's fear of surgery (or even fear of going to the dentist). She offers a set of exercises to do in bed that make getting up easier, and she encourages aerobic, toning, and range-of-motion activities, such as swimming, yoga, and golf, which keep the body fit. Most of all, the authors urge readers to forget assumptions that come with being 60 or 70 or 90: "You're a guru," the authors insist. "You are not a number." Two genial, upbeat guides for life's later chapters.

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October 3, 2022
Orthopedic surgeon Hecht (The Slip and Fall Prevention Handbook) and actor Goldberg (The Unqualified Hostess) reflect on how women can make the most of their later years in this cheerful manual. They offer advice on how to deal with the physical, social, and emotional consequences of growing older, weighing in on sex after 60, how to be an informed patient, and how older women can approach breaking medical news to loved ones. Noting that dates can offer a break from routine, Hecht suggests that single readers look for potential partners at social events put on by community organizations or through friends. Hecht’s sensible medical advice emphasizes keeping active, and she provides exercises to relieve aches and pains. However, it’s Hecht and Goldberg’s less scientifically rigorous thoughts that most charm, as when they encourage readers to embrace being crotchety and eccentric. The authors’ humor amuses; for example, Hecht contends that one becomes a senior “when your excretions outnumber your secretions” and recommends that those suffering from insomnia “read a book.... If it’s boring, it can be a sleep inducer.” Goldberg’s contributions are brief and slight compared to Hecht’s, but there’s enough to please her fans. The result is a humorous guide to aging.

October 4, 2022

Retired orthopedic surgeon and aging expert Hecht and actress/The View host Goldberg (author of Is It Just Me?) submit a series of reminders for self-care and preventative-care as well as spirited living. These self-defining two "old broads" who became friends later in life offer alternating perspectives on creating a world full of zest and sparkle in the senior years. Hecht and Goldberg combine their wits and bold life experiences to invite women to live with as much inventiveness as possible. Practical tips such as how to work with doctors and discuss difficult issues with family members are juxtaposed against lifestyle approaches such as accentuating the positive, indulging in artistic dates, and hiring some help. The coauthors also urge readers to actively defy age exclusion and pursue social connections and continuous learning. A good life may be as simple as laughing more and checking for hearing loss. VERDICT While this advice is not new, it is a fun, often sassy reminder that no one is just a number. For all public libraries.

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