More Reviews

 

Horse Fly, October 15, 2002, by Catherine Naylor

 At last, a book for those of us over fifty that does not treat us as if we were children who can’t think for ourselves.  Finally, a book that doesn’t scold, threaten, frighten or bully us into making changes.  What a relief!

 Rather, Starr, in radiantly simple language, as if in a relaxed conversation in our living room, begins by examining with us our attitude toward our bodies and our notions of physical fitness.  Together, we look at exercise, proper diet, and supplements that best suit us.  Let’s head “toward the next fifty years in as good shape as we can provide,” is advice hard to refute.

 Then Starr gets us thinking about new opportunities as some of our tasks, like child-rearing and building careers, become less demanding.  She encourages us to remember old dreams and imagine new ones, to revisit the hobbies we never had enough time for, to consider traveling or more  community involvement; but, she says, “What’s really there for us now is an opportunity to break old patterns that are no longer fulfilling or satisfying, replacing them instead with those that are positive and enriching and a means to further personal growth.”

 As we become whole ourselves, Starr moves the conversation to the next logical step:  our connection with the greater whole, the universe.  What is more empowering, she wonders, then consciously collaborating and unfolding along with the universe as we move through the seasons of our life. 

The richness of the conversation lies in Starr’s warm and compassionate voice.  There are no recipes here, no pictures of exercises, no workbook sheets.  Thank heavens!  Instead, her insights and suggestions are grounded in her own experiences as told through her personal stories, conveying to us that anything discussed in this book is possible to achieve through sincere intention and effort.   

 The text is also enhanced by quotes from elders of Starr’s community whom she introduces to us in photos and brief biographies in the appendix.   These remarkable individuals are invited into the conversation in order for the reader to see “what the future could hold for us as well.”

 Eighty-two year old Ann St. John Hawley tells us, “I also like chaos.  You have to have some chaos in order to find a new way.  Although it’s painful and you feel lost, out of chaos comes some kind of direction or insights – something new emerges.”

 How’s this pithy suggestion from seventy-four year old Dale Amburn, “If things are sitting around taking up space, put them in storage.”

 This book is a gem!  It will make readers of all ages reflect on the meaning, direction, and goal of their lives beyond fifty.  It will become a trusted and practical companion as we seek to have and to hold the wisdom our elder years offer us.


The Small Press Book Review

FIFTY AND BEYOND - New Beginnings in Health and Well-Being by Susanna Starr.
Paloma Blanca Press, PO Box 1751, Taos, NM 87571; info@PalomaBlancaPress.com.
2002. 148 pp. $14.95 trade paper. glossary, index.

    The author is in her sixties, with a philosophy degree from Stony Brook
State University in New York. Her counsel comes from both her own experience
and her philosophical perspective. In general, Starr's book deals with
"embracing and nurturing the best of who you already are without trying to
replace yourself with a new model." In other words, she teaches the reader
how to grow into older age--fifty and beyond--naturally. The time of middle
and older age is seen as a natural extension of the individual one has been
all of one's life. Fear, sadness, or social stigmas should not lead one to
try to become a new person. For this causes strain, worries, and pretenses
taking away from one's quality of life at a time when one should be enjoying
life to the fullest. The way to enjoy life to the fullest in this prime of
one's life is to accept the realities of aging and focus on and cultivate
one's best qualities and most satisfying interests.
    The pattern of Starr's "Fifty and Beyond" flows as naturally as one
should grow into one's later years. She moves through the areas of her
comprehensive program for accepting and enjoying older age. Starting with the
physical and practical considerations of food, health, nutrition and
medications, she moves into a healthy mental state and outlook, closing with
spirituality and attunement with the universe. Starr's counsel, ideas, and
program are welcome and persuasive. Readers distraught or angry over growing
older will be soothed. And readers who already have a healthy attitude will
find it refreshed and strengthened.

Henry Berry, book reviewer
The Small Press Book Review

epinion.com

...a simple book of common sense, ...recognizing that you are the only one that can make changes in your life to live more fully.
I would recommend this book for anyone over fifty, and perhaps those who are just approaching mid-life. It is an easy read and could be completed rather quickly, but the message is one that could help to achieve our full potential.

Kathy, book reviewer
epinion.com


Heartland Review

Fifty and Beyond: New Beginnings in Health and Well-Being provides you a holisitic approach to improving the quality of your life.  If you take heed to what the author writes you will definitely improve your physical, mental, and spiritual life.  Some of the topics covered are foods, exercise, weight, personal and spiritual growth.  The author does not attempt to provide you with an exercise program, diet program, or spiritual program.  This is what makes MS Starr's book so appealing.   She provides you with a rationale and the execution is up to you.

I particularly like the chapter of seizing and living in the moment and that she points out that it is never too late to work at improving your life.  While this book is applicable to people 50 and over, the ideas discussed are equally important to those younger than fifty. We rated this book five hearts. 5hearts.GIF (747 bytes)

Allan Lechner, book reviewer
Heartland Review


Midwest Book Review

The Health/Medicine Shelf
Fifty And Beyond: New Beginnings in Health and Well-Being

Susanna Starr
Paloma Blanca Press
PO Box 1751, Taos, NM 87571
0972008446 $14.95 1-877-520-4890 www.PalomaBlancaPress.com

Fifty And Beyond by Susanna Starr is a solid and "user friendly" guide to improving physical and spiritual health during the golden years of fifty and beyond. Individual chapters cogently address basic health measures such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, avoiding addictive foods, and weight maintenance, as well as finding new opportunities, adult sexuality, inspirational teachings, and more. Fifty And Beyond is confidently recommended as an enjoyable, practical, and thoughtful testimony to making the most of the later years of life.

ForeWordReviews

Healthy Aging, Vital Aging
Aging, Diet and Health, Personal Growth, Self Help

Fifty and Beyond :
New Beginnings in Health and Well-Being
Susanna Starr

… Fifty and Beyond is made up of material on the importance of regular exercise, eating nutritiously, avoiding addicting substances, and seeking new opportunities. The author prods the reader to stay active, explore a variety of activities to improve health, and be open to new ways of living. She includes a glossary and an index at the back of the book, as well as descriptions and celebrations of elders who have inspired her ideas.

… relaxing to read, providing a well-written flow of thought-provoking ideas.
… Fifty and Beyond: New Beginnings in Health and Well-Being is light reading and inspiring for those who need a nudge. It … presents a positive and hopeful picture of aging, and may be just what some people need to start down the path of healthy living.

Mindquest review

Myriad possibilities are presented, in an inspirational and understandable manner, to help anyone expand their potential and create a rewarding reality while caring for body and spirit. The work is replete with penetrating quotes from personalities adding to highly interesting reading. Step by step insights are skillfully presented about how to come into harmony with the universe.

Southwest Book Views

…kind and gentle, Susanna Starr has put together a collection of small pieces intended to provide a shift in perspective on our futures as aging human beings

…Starr’s message is valuable, the messenger hits upon her most interesting notion near the end of the book: “Be present, pay attention, live your life with integrity and you’ll become an ‘elder’ whether you intended to or not”.

Writer's Digest

Fifty and Beyond Targets a very large audience with good advice and compelling writing. The title is clear and helpful, the organization throughout – both the chapter layout and the use of margin quotes throughout – make this book easy to read, carry around and thumb through. The author’s advice is helpful without being preachy; she clearly has a message and an agenda, but discusses her ideas calmly and with balance, so her arguments tend to build on one another, becoming more and more convincing as the book goes on.