Fifty Things to Do When You Turn Fifty: Fifty Experts on the Subject of Turning Fifty

by Ronnie Sellers, Gerit Quealy (Editor), Debra Gordon (Editor)

Everything you should know and a lot more that will make you laugh and think. A must read for those turning 50, this book will help you make the most of a milestone year. All royalties will be donated to benefit cancer research. This is a fabulous 50th birthday gift, and a lot more useful than an Over the Hill coffee mug and black balloons!

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of 50 inspiring essays for enjoying life at 50 and beyond like go with the hope, try yoga, eat naturally, be engaged with others yet develop own rhythm, look ahead to a financially secure future, be spontaneous with the maturity of responsibility and adjust to the windshifts of life.
Others were less appealing to me like go fishing and get some plastic surgery but different viewpoints were expressed and gave some interesting ideas for this decade of mine! Like the one of the writers said, "Sixty is even better, but don't hurry."

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book as a birthday present for myself along with several other books. So far, this is the only birthday book that has disappointed me. I'm not sure why I thought I would be enlightened by the contents. The essays are all pretty obvious. Maybe the target audience should be for people who haven't turned 50 yet, but I wouldn't have considered reading this book at an earlier age. Most of the writers are fairly well known and established in their field. Each essay has some value, but the collection would be too much to read all at once (too heavy handed), which is why it took me two months to read/slog through. I enjoyed the poem by Billy Collins and chapter 7 on having fun and most of chapter 8 on the big picture, but I'm not sure I would recommend this book to anyone who has turned 50.

[Eddy]

A must read at 50. Some LOL moments.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though I am not there yet, I decided to pick up Ronnie Sellers' "50 Things to Do When you Turn 50" to get others' perspective on that milestone birthday. The original edition of this book was written in 2005 and was aimed squarely at the Baby Boomer generation as they turned 50. Now, twenty years later, the book has been updated a couple of times, but still very much feels like its audience is the Boomers. For that reason, the book is dated and doesn't really speak to future generations.

Most of the advice given in the book is either obvious or dated. Obvious advice includes take care of your health and save for retirement. Dated advice includes reinvigorate your golf game, and throw a 1950's dance party. Really? Advice that should be in the book that is not, includes reconcile your digital life and assets, as well as volunteer your time for worthy causes. I just didn't connect with a good portion of the book and so cannot recommend.

On a positive note, the book is quick read and so won't take too much of your time. But if you were still a kid when grunge music hit the scene, you might want to find your "turning 50" advice from someone who wasn't a kid when Elvis hit the scene. Just saying.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tone of these essays I found to be a bit too American for a cynical Brit. Much of the advice seems to do with appearances and depends on the whim of the author - care less about how you look, advises one. Take more care about how you look, advises another. I couldn't argue with Garrison Keillor though - at 50, we could all do with losing twenty pounds, he states, which is probably right for most of us. But giving up alcohol? Calm down son.
I also felt that the book highlighted quite a difference between what men mostly worry about at 50 (What do I do with my life?) while women tend to focus on "How will I look in my life". Again there is contradictory advice such as expanding your social circle to meet new people, or reducing it to spend time with "real" friends. In the end, as is similar with a lot of these books, you realise that how you feel about turning 50, or 60 or 20, and what you do with it, is really up to you.

[Ronald Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! very informative reading that mentally prepares us for the next half cent of living. It is a refresher of life looking back and reiterates in so many words that the reason the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror is because it is more important where we are going than we we are coming from.

Definitely a fun read with contributions from many recognized resident experts. Get this book before you turn fifty so you can set your GPS on the future and make the best of the senior adventures ahead.

The book ends on a super positive message "Trade Strength for Wisdom" Your going to love it!
Read this book and pass it down to the next person approaching 5-0.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found at my mom's house and was intrigued as I'm a planner. It was ok based on the information in the book - it's a compilation of a lot of smart people each recommending something different, categorized into different aspects of life: finances, health, etc.
I enjoyed some things, but others were so specific (like what if you don't play tennis or can't see yourself belly-dancing?) to be applicable to a universal audience. In the end, this book could really be written for any age, sans the estate planning.

[Tammy O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geared more toward women than men in several sections. The essay written by the Catholic priest about unlearning religion was really interesting. Do we consider God to be a prosecuting attorney or a defensive attorney on our judgement day? That is an awesome way to think about God. I found value in most of the essays, but not all of them. I plan to pass along to someone who is just turning 50 this month.

[Steve Paulson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some chapters are great. Other chapters are advertisements for businesses. Other chapters are misguided diets and some Chapters are just religious non-sense. Pick the chapters that interest you and ignore the rest and you can get some good ideas, but overall this book is not one I would recommend.

[Regina McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am over 50, but I wanted to see if I missed anything. I read a chapter a day. Some chapters weren't for me, but most piqued my interest. I liked the variety. I have some more things to get done now and enjoy doing them. LOL!

[Fatima · Rating 1 out of 5]

Contradictory suggestions including “stop obsessing over your flaws” and then “put your best face forward” which basically tells you to like who you are and then consider a nip and tuck if you feel you want one.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad I read it. There are 50 different "experts" telling you what to do when you are 50. Some advice is conflicting. It's an introspective book.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. Okay. I’m 56 now but finally read this book. Some good essays, some so-so, some of no value. Pick and choose what you like.

[Mad Hapa]

Better than the book about turning 40...

[Maria Bartle · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was given this book as a gift by someone who had turned 50 already. I like how the chapters were short and each one was written by someone different explaining how they've dealt with their journey to mid life.
Parts were a little depressing because a lot of people were initially depressed or sad when they turned 50, but in every case, each chapter ended with a positive. Not all chapters are relevant for everyone, nor are they expected to be. But the overarching theme is, you can make a choice, you can give up and resign your self to being "old" or you can continue with a youthful mindset and continue to be young in mind and at heart and keep challenging yourself and trying new things. You have to choose. They give you lots of good ideas on how to do that. Most are pretty basic, but it always helps to have a reminder. Would recommend for anyone turning 50.

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes, this is the birthday I had this year (2007). But this book didn't tell me much I didn't already know. It may be enlightening to someone who was caught completely unaware of their age. But I think most folks hitting this milestone will realize that they aren't kids anymore and will have started thinking these issues through.

That's not to say there isn't good stuff here and that I didn't learn anything. It's just that the essays are all rather short and most of them are very predictable (change your eating habits, exercise, rethink your portfolio, try a new hobby, give something back). I would recommend this as a book to skim through and use as a jumping off point to topics that might need more attention one's life.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every so often you throw caution to the wind and don't follow the recommendation of numerous anonymous readers to deter you, hoping that a book will be a winner. There's a reason this book was not highly rated, it was a dud. I can't think of one chapter by one of the so called experts that was memorable, let alone enlightening.

[Jeannine Johnson Phillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book and good advice. But seems the advice is stuff i already did when i was 40. I also didn't appreciate the last 1/3 of the book devoted to Religions. That is not why I bought this book. I felt like it was telling me to Save Myself before I die.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stop complaining.
Look for what's hopeful and go with it.
Keep a sense of adventure.
Wear comfortable clothes.
Take a hike.
Limber up.
Meditation is medicinal.
Lose the list.
Let your life flash before your eyes.
Unlearn.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anthology of short pieces by famous people with their advice on important things to do as you hit middle age. Easy reading with some good reminders and a few new things to think about.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes fun. Sometimes enlightening. Sometimes dry. Just like turning 50.

[Sarahb. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much better than I expected, a few really useful ideas, some cute stories. I received it as a gift when I turned 49.

[Nola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I now have some ideas of things to do that I have not attempted to do in the past. Yes, 50 is the new 30!

[Perkimom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I started late, I think I'm in a pretty good place.

[ems · Rating 3 out of 5]

mainly read this because my library account recommended it to me (???). but actually i feel much more prepared. the section by harold bloom was great. also the one on osteoarthritis.

[Ginger Gritzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cut my hair? Give up beer? Never!

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice short chapters with a few scattered words of wisdom.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent collection of essays about aging.