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Making the Best of What's Left: When We're Too Old to Get the Chairs Reupholstered
From the bestselling author Judith Viorst comes a witty and poignant exploration of the joys and sorrows of life’s twilight years—one that leaves us laughing, pondering, and grateful for the moments we have left.
In a career that has spanned more than fifty years, Judith Viorst has captivated readers with her bestselling children’s books and collections of poetry reflecting on each decade of life. Now in her nineties, Viorst writes about life’s “Final Fifth,” those who are eighty to one hundred years old. Her signature blend of humor and vulnerability infuses personal anecdotes and observations, drawing you into her world of memories and candid conversations.
She confesses, “I never ever send a text while driving, and not just because I don’t know how to text.” She discusses the afterlife (She doesn’t believe in it, but if it exists, she hopes her sister-in-law isn’t there). She complains to her dead husband (“I need you fixing our damn circuit breakers. I need you! Could you please stop being dead?”). And she explores the late-life meanings of wisdom and happiness and second chances and home.
With a wit that defies age, Viorst navigates the terrain of loss. It’s a poignant dance between grief and levity that will resonate with those in their Final Fifth as well as anyone who has parents, relatives, or friends in their eighties and beyond. This is Judith Viorst at her best.
In a career that has spanned more than fifty years, Judith Viorst has captivated readers with her bestselling children’s books and collections of poetry reflecting on each decade of life. Now in her nineties, Viorst writes about life’s “Final Fifth,” those who are eighty to one hundred years old. Her signature blend of humor and vulnerability infuses personal anecdotes and observations, drawing you into her world of memories and candid conversations.
She confesses, “I never ever send a text while driving, and not just because I don’t know how to text.” She discusses the afterlife (She doesn’t believe in it, but if it exists, she hopes her sister-in-law isn’t there). She complains to her dead husband (“I need you fixing our damn circuit breakers. I need you! Could you please stop being dead?”). And she explores the late-life meanings of wisdom and happiness and second chances and home.
With a wit that defies age, Viorst navigates the terrain of loss. It’s a poignant dance between grief and levity that will resonate with those in their Final Fifth as well as anyone who has parents, relatives, or friends in their eighties and beyond. This is Judith Viorst at her best.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2025
393 people are currently reading
1241 people want to read
About the author
Judith Viorst
119 books830 followersJudith Viorst is an American writer, newspaper journalist, and psychoanalysis researcher. She is known for her humorous observational poetry and for her children's literature. This includes The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (about the death of a pet) and the Alexander series of short picture books, which includes Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (1972), which has sold over two million copies.
Viorst is a 1952 graduate of the Newark College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. In 1968, she signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. In the latter part of the 1970s, after two decades of writing for children and adults, Viorst turned to the study of Freudian psychology. In 1981, she became a research graduate at Washington Psychoanalytic Institute after six years of study.
Viorst is a 1952 graduate of the Newark College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. In 1968, she signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. In the latter part of the 1970s, after two decades of writing for children and adults, Viorst turned to the study of Freudian psychology. In 1981, she became a research graduate at Washington Psychoanalytic Institute after six years of study.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
June 13, 2025
When I saw the title to Making the Best of What's Left: When We're Too Old to Get the Chairs Reupholstered I knew I had to read it! It was recently published (April 2025) and it's written by Judith Viorst, a prolific poet, and author of children and adult books.
This humorous, thought provoking, poignant, raw, reflective memoir is based on her husband, Milton, who died in December 2022. Milton was NOT supposed to die before Judith, and she still hasn't forgiven him for dying first.
Viorst describes what it is like to lose our mental sharpness, our agility, our friends, and our beloved homes as we age. She wittingly shares how adult children begin micromanaging their parents and how sometimes it is best, as we age, to continue to live near great friends. It can become lonely moving in with adult children and their busy lives.
Viorst describes this time period of life as the Final Fifth. A gentleman she knows calls it his next phase, not his last phase. After Milton's death, Viorst said she tried to write the loneliness out of her heart. This book captures what it is like to have changes to our identities as we grow older.
My favorite phrase in the book is, "Grandkids are a great vaccine against loneliness."
Highly recommend!
This humorous, thought provoking, poignant, raw, reflective memoir is based on her husband, Milton, who died in December 2022. Milton was NOT supposed to die before Judith, and she still hasn't forgiven him for dying first.
Viorst describes what it is like to lose our mental sharpness, our agility, our friends, and our beloved homes as we age. She wittingly shares how adult children begin micromanaging their parents and how sometimes it is best, as we age, to continue to live near great friends. It can become lonely moving in with adult children and their busy lives.
Viorst describes this time period of life as the Final Fifth. A gentleman she knows calls it his next phase, not his last phase. After Milton's death, Viorst said she tried to write the loneliness out of her heart. This book captures what it is like to have changes to our identities as we grow older.
My favorite phrase in the book is, "Grandkids are a great vaccine against loneliness."
Highly recommend!
February 16, 2025
I can only hope that if I get to be in my nineties that my mind and sense of humor is as intact as Judith Viorst’s.
Viorst considers the challenges of the last decades of life and celebrates the ways those in the ‘Final Fifth’ can contribute to the world and enjoy what’s left.
Declining health forced Viorst and her husband to leave their beloved house of fifty-one years for a retirement community. Drawing from new friends and old, she shares stories around themes: leaving one’s home, the losses of aging, losing beloved spouses and friends, questions about the afterlife, dealing with loneliness and finding community, how to find happiness.
With short chapters and accompanying poetry, Viorst’s humor and optimism makes this an enjoyable read about difficult issues. I laughed out loud and ran to share stories with my husband.
Viorst notes that we may not have the “stamina or the badder” to march and picket for issues that concern us, but we can be constructive beyond writing a check. We can write and call and make our voice heard. I believe that my book reviewing is a way to impact the greater world. It connects me with other readers, and sometimes even with writers. It offers a sense of purpose. And keeps my mind sharp–I hope!
The first book I read about aging was The Measure of My Days by Florida Scott-Maxwell, back when I was in my twenties. Reading about the Final Fifth in my early seventies is a different experience. It’s not a distant future anymore.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book through LibraryThing Early Readers.
Viorst considers the challenges of the last decades of life and celebrates the ways those in the ‘Final Fifth’ can contribute to the world and enjoy what’s left.
Declining health forced Viorst and her husband to leave their beloved house of fifty-one years for a retirement community. Drawing from new friends and old, she shares stories around themes: leaving one’s home, the losses of aging, losing beloved spouses and friends, questions about the afterlife, dealing with loneliness and finding community, how to find happiness.
With short chapters and accompanying poetry, Viorst’s humor and optimism makes this an enjoyable read about difficult issues. I laughed out loud and ran to share stories with my husband.
Viorst notes that we may not have the “stamina or the badder” to march and picket for issues that concern us, but we can be constructive beyond writing a check. We can write and call and make our voice heard. I believe that my book reviewing is a way to impact the greater world. It connects me with other readers, and sometimes even with writers. It offers a sense of purpose. And keeps my mind sharp–I hope!
The first book I read about aging was The Measure of My Days by Florida Scott-Maxwell, back when I was in my twenties. Reading about the Final Fifth in my early seventies is a different experience. It’s not a distant future anymore.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book through LibraryThing Early Readers.
December 18, 2024
I received a free copy of, Making the Best of What's Left, by Judith Viorst, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Judith Viorst is an author, she is now in her nineties, and is making the best of her time left. This book is full of stories and poems, an enjoyable read.
May 19, 2025
3.5 stars
A funny yet realistic book about aging from 94 year old Judith Viorst.
A funny yet realistic book about aging from 94 year old Judith Viorst.
November 15, 2025
I appreciate the concept of the book: The advantages of preparing for long life and the challenges that come with. I think there's real value in thinking about what you will do if certain circumstances occurr.
But there are also things that I have a hard time with. The idea of being grateful, happy even, because of one's good health. Hmm. What does that look like for people who do not currently enjoy, may not ever have enjoyed, good health?
Then there's the woman who cared for her husband with the assistance of three fulltime home health people. Ah, I see, that's how one lives to be 90: be healthy right up until you require extensive assistance, and then be able to afford that. I'm guessing that only a very small percentage of Americans will make it to 70 in good health, and that even fewer will be able to have more than one person caring for them, and that person also having to work full time, because so few people will reach that age with any assets beyond Social Security, and if you don'thave a mortgage-free home to live in, you won't be able to find housing you can afford while paying for food and insurance copays.
While there is good advice, I'm just not sure that it will prove helpful to most people who won't be able to move into a private retirement community. I'm not confident I can ever afford to retire. Just this week I was reading about the minimum wage being so low, and housing so high that many people working full-time cannot find anywhere to live.
None of this is Viorst's fault, of course not. But I can't imagine being fortunate enough to still be married, to still be alive in 30 more years.
Library copy
But there are also things that I have a hard time with. The idea of being grateful, happy even, because of one's good health. Hmm. What does that look like for people who do not currently enjoy, may not ever have enjoyed, good health?
Then there's the woman who cared for her husband with the assistance of three fulltime home health people. Ah, I see, that's how one lives to be 90: be healthy right up until you require extensive assistance, and then be able to afford that. I'm guessing that only a very small percentage of Americans will make it to 70 in good health, and that even fewer will be able to have more than one person caring for them, and that person also having to work full time, because so few people will reach that age with any assets beyond Social Security, and if you don'thave a mortgage-free home to live in, you won't be able to find housing you can afford while paying for food and insurance copays.
While there is good advice, I'm just not sure that it will prove helpful to most people who won't be able to move into a private retirement community. I'm not confident I can ever afford to retire. Just this week I was reading about the minimum wage being so low, and housing so high that many people working full-time cannot find anywhere to live.
None of this is Viorst's fault, of course not. But I can't imagine being fortunate enough to still be married, to still be alive in 30 more years.
Library copy
December 9, 2024
Beautifully written, Judith Viorst shares her personal thoughts at 94 years old on how she and others have adjusted to living in retirement.
It’s been well vocalized: you spend years raising kids and working hard and finally you get to retire and your body starts to fail. Then there’s downsizing from what you’ve worked hard to get. This is what has been called the golden years.
Judith is forthright of how difficult this can be starting with health concerns. She and her husband, Milton Viorst, lived in a stunning home in Cleveland Park, DC for years. What’s not to love with seven bedrooms, five cozy fireplaces and a large wall for books. Much of this had to go when they downsized into a two-bedroom apartment at a close-by retirement center. I can’t even imagine how difficult it must have been to let go of memorable items.
Judith gave several examples of how people treat seniors differently such as speaking slower and louder. She notes that loneliness can be a problem. Then, there was the harsh reality when her husband died in 2022. Becoming a widow, she said, changed her in complicated ways.
Most of the points are helpful on what can happen in retirement. Yet, not everyone has the luxury she’s had of financial security which allows greater choices of where to live with conveniences. She also has another benefit of having a family that is there to help.
She included insightful poems throughout the book related to her experiences. Friends from the retirement center gave her their thoughts on soul-searching wisdom. Overall, no one wants to think about aging, but since we must, it’s good to have the guidance of honest, inspiring and meaningful words.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of April 1, 2025.
It’s been well vocalized: you spend years raising kids and working hard and finally you get to retire and your body starts to fail. Then there’s downsizing from what you’ve worked hard to get. This is what has been called the golden years.
Judith is forthright of how difficult this can be starting with health concerns. She and her husband, Milton Viorst, lived in a stunning home in Cleveland Park, DC for years. What’s not to love with seven bedrooms, five cozy fireplaces and a large wall for books. Much of this had to go when they downsized into a two-bedroom apartment at a close-by retirement center. I can’t even imagine how difficult it must have been to let go of memorable items.
Judith gave several examples of how people treat seniors differently such as speaking slower and louder. She notes that loneliness can be a problem. Then, there was the harsh reality when her husband died in 2022. Becoming a widow, she said, changed her in complicated ways.
Most of the points are helpful on what can happen in retirement. Yet, not everyone has the luxury she’s had of financial security which allows greater choices of where to live with conveniences. She also has another benefit of having a family that is there to help.
She included insightful poems throughout the book related to her experiences. Friends from the retirement center gave her their thoughts on soul-searching wisdom. Overall, no one wants to think about aging, but since we must, it’s good to have the guidance of honest, inspiring and meaningful words.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of April 1, 2025.
December 13, 2024
There is a lot of wisdom which Judith Viorst shares in this book that isn’t aimed only at those who are senior citizens, but to those who hope and plan to reach those years in the future. But that wisdom is more frequently dispersed with insight and with some wit than you might think. Viorst shares some memories of her life with her husband over the years, as well as guidance as how to navigate what she refers to as the ‘Final Fifth’ time of life. She shares some moments and stories of some of her fellow senior residents that she and her husband came to know when they moved to the senior community. A glimpse into what some may be wondering about as the years pass.
Pub Date: 01 Apr 2025
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Simon & Schuster
May 24, 2025
I'm a few years younger than Viorst, and love her books as she enters each new decade. Her reflections can make me laugh and cry...sometimes in the same poem.
This one is especially bittersweet, since now we are widows, both in our Final Fifth. As always, her reflections taught me, tickled me, and touched deeply.
And the chapter on wisdom? should be required reading for everyone over 70.
This one is especially bittersweet, since now we are widows, both in our Final Fifth. As always, her reflections taught me, tickled me, and touched deeply.
And the chapter on wisdom? should be required reading for everyone over 70.
September 20, 2025
I can only hope to grow up to be like Judith. This book was an absolute delight, filled with her humor and heartfelt stories about leaving her beloved home and moving into a retirement community. From making new friends to losing loved ones, it covered so much, but that's life as people grow older.
March 17, 2025
Now in her 90s, Judith Viorst has written a memoir with essays and poems about the last stage of life, what she calls the 'fifth fifth.' It is funny, poignant, wise, thought-provoking and, at times, terribly sad.
When I reach that age, I intend to still buy green bananas and plan to carry on as if I'm going to live forever. Defiant until the end, lol.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this memoir via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
When I reach that age, I intend to still buy green bananas and plan to carry on as if I'm going to live forever. Defiant until the end, lol.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this memoir via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
December 11, 2025
Judith Viorst turned 94 in February and published her latest book two months later. Its humorous title is, Making the Best of What’s Left – When We’re too Old to Get the Chairs Reupholstered.
I recommend this book to everyone. For those in their 80s or 90s, it will be validation of all the not-so-fun things going on in life, but all told in a very humorous fashion. For those in their 30s, 40s, or 50s, it will be insight into their grannies – and I think it will help them find a little bit of compassion too. Or actually, a whole lot. And for those in their 60s and 70s, well, it’s a preview of coming attractions. Perhaps it will give me and my fellow baby boomers an idea or two of what we should take care of now…instead of later.
If this author’s name sounds familiar, it’s because she has written scads of books in her lifetime. According to the Simon & Schuster website, there are forty titles.
I first “met” Judith Viorst in the early 1980s when my children were little and we all LOVED the kids’ books she wrote. They starred her three sons, Anthony, Nick, and Alexander. The most famous one is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. It still lives on my bookshelf, as it does on bookshelves worldwide. Simon & Schuster tells us it has sold more than four million copies.
I next “hung out” with the author a couple of decades later when I read her book, Necessary Losses. Not so humorous as her kids’ books, this one’s subtitle tells of its serious subject matter: The loves, illusions, dependencies, and impossible expectations that all of us have to give up in order to grow.
It was prior to reading this book that I checked out her credentials and learned she has a B.A. in history from Rutgers University and that she graduated from the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute in 1981.
My next soiree with Judith Viorst came when I discovered her series of humorous books, one for each decade of her life. I came late to this party, discovering them when I was in my 50s or 60s but have sought them out ever since.
All of these books are collections of poems for adults and have fun names and fun subtitles. They are perfect gift books for the given age group. As examples I give you:
• It’s hard to be hip over 30 (and other tragedies of married life)
• I’m too young to be 70 (and other delusions)
And now, I’m not sure what algorithm decided to put Judith Viorst’s latest book before my eyes, but somehow, I found my way to her newest book, Making the Best of What’s Left.
The opening paragraph sets the serious but light-hearted tone:
“Milton, my husband of almost sixty-three years, died in December 2022. He wasn’t supposed to die before me – I told him this was something he COULD NOT DO – but when did he listen? I write, in this book, about widowhood, but I also want to explore the challenges that I and the people I’ve talked with…have been dealing with in these years beyond age eighty, in what I’m calling the Final Fifth of Life.”
And then there are a scadillion funny things she says that are also a bit heartbreaking if we think about them.
• The erosion of romantic illusion inevitably accelerates as we go from man and wife to man and the person who laces his orthopedic boot and scrapes the wax from his clogged hearing aid.
• (On dating:) I don’t want some Perfect Pete or Terrific Ted. I just want my imperfect Milton to stop being dead.
• Whatever will or won’t happen to us in the Afterlife, we should try, while we’re here, to enjoy not being dead…
I’ll close with a longish quote because it has something for everyone as promised above, for the Final Fifths, the Boomers, and all the rest:
“I suspect that, without half trying, we in the Final Fifth of life could manage to have our feelings hurt every day…and we could sink into self-pity…Or instead we could choose to recognize that people have busy lives, that we’re not necessarily anyone’s top priority, that the beach house is barely big enough for their family, that we’ve probably told that story – though it’s a really terrific story – several times, and that when we’re with our grandkids we’re going to feel excluded from lots of conversations, not because we’re actively being dissed (are they still saying “dissed”?) but because they’re talking too fast (and not loudly enough) about athletes and bands and devices and pop stars they don’t take the time to explain and that we never heard of. We could choose to feel overlooked, or underestimated, or patronized, or ignored. Or choose to decide that life is too short for hurt feelings.”
What a masterful statement!
It’s full of honesty, self-awareness, and hard-won truths all rolled together with a grin. It’s exactly what I hoped to hear from the wise and wonderful Judith Viorst when I picked up this book, and it’s exactly what she delivered. At age 94. Wow!
I recommend this book to everyone. For those in their 80s or 90s, it will be validation of all the not-so-fun things going on in life, but all told in a very humorous fashion. For those in their 30s, 40s, or 50s, it will be insight into their grannies – and I think it will help them find a little bit of compassion too. Or actually, a whole lot. And for those in their 60s and 70s, well, it’s a preview of coming attractions. Perhaps it will give me and my fellow baby boomers an idea or two of what we should take care of now…instead of later.
If this author’s name sounds familiar, it’s because she has written scads of books in her lifetime. According to the Simon & Schuster website, there are forty titles.
I first “met” Judith Viorst in the early 1980s when my children were little and we all LOVED the kids’ books she wrote. They starred her three sons, Anthony, Nick, and Alexander. The most famous one is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. It still lives on my bookshelf, as it does on bookshelves worldwide. Simon & Schuster tells us it has sold more than four million copies.
I next “hung out” with the author a couple of decades later when I read her book, Necessary Losses. Not so humorous as her kids’ books, this one’s subtitle tells of its serious subject matter: The loves, illusions, dependencies, and impossible expectations that all of us have to give up in order to grow.
It was prior to reading this book that I checked out her credentials and learned she has a B.A. in history from Rutgers University and that she graduated from the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute in 1981.
My next soiree with Judith Viorst came when I discovered her series of humorous books, one for each decade of her life. I came late to this party, discovering them when I was in my 50s or 60s but have sought them out ever since.
All of these books are collections of poems for adults and have fun names and fun subtitles. They are perfect gift books for the given age group. As examples I give you:
• It’s hard to be hip over 30 (and other tragedies of married life)
• I’m too young to be 70 (and other delusions)
And now, I’m not sure what algorithm decided to put Judith Viorst’s latest book before my eyes, but somehow, I found my way to her newest book, Making the Best of What’s Left.
The opening paragraph sets the serious but light-hearted tone:
“Milton, my husband of almost sixty-three years, died in December 2022. He wasn’t supposed to die before me – I told him this was something he COULD NOT DO – but when did he listen? I write, in this book, about widowhood, but I also want to explore the challenges that I and the people I’ve talked with…have been dealing with in these years beyond age eighty, in what I’m calling the Final Fifth of Life.”
And then there are a scadillion funny things she says that are also a bit heartbreaking if we think about them.
• The erosion of romantic illusion inevitably accelerates as we go from man and wife to man and the person who laces his orthopedic boot and scrapes the wax from his clogged hearing aid.
• (On dating:) I don’t want some Perfect Pete or Terrific Ted. I just want my imperfect Milton to stop being dead.
• Whatever will or won’t happen to us in the Afterlife, we should try, while we’re here, to enjoy not being dead…
I’ll close with a longish quote because it has something for everyone as promised above, for the Final Fifths, the Boomers, and all the rest:
“I suspect that, without half trying, we in the Final Fifth of life could manage to have our feelings hurt every day…and we could sink into self-pity…Or instead we could choose to recognize that people have busy lives, that we’re not necessarily anyone’s top priority, that the beach house is barely big enough for their family, that we’ve probably told that story – though it’s a really terrific story – several times, and that when we’re with our grandkids we’re going to feel excluded from lots of conversations, not because we’re actively being dissed (are they still saying “dissed”?) but because they’re talking too fast (and not loudly enough) about athletes and bands and devices and pop stars they don’t take the time to explain and that we never heard of. We could choose to feel overlooked, or underestimated, or patronized, or ignored. Or choose to decide that life is too short for hurt feelings.”
What a masterful statement!
It’s full of honesty, self-awareness, and hard-won truths all rolled together with a grin. It’s exactly what I hoped to hear from the wise and wonderful Judith Viorst when I picked up this book, and it’s exactly what she delivered. At age 94. Wow!
February 16, 2025
I have been reading Judith Viorst books for decades. I gave so many away as gifts for milestone birthdays and still have many on my bookshelves, because I treasure the printed book over the digital. Viorst has always been right on target as she interpreted our daily lives with all of its warts and foibles contrasted with its strengths and virtues, all of its anxieties and joys, its shortcomings and advantages, all of the possible “goods and bads” in each major phase of our time on this mortal coil. My favorite poem that she wrote is “The Good Daughter”. It guided me through some of the highs and lows in my life concerning sibling rivalry, and it always left me smiling after the tears. This book, too, is right on target, but perhaps because I am so close to the time period and final act that she is describing, I didn’t find it quite as funny. I did find it meaningful and poignant, however as she addresses the issues that the elderly face as they are forced to deal with the inevitability of life’s end, as we all will, but we do not have to go “quietly into that night”. I hope to rage as Dylan Thomas suggests.
After reading just the first chapter, I decided that everyone should put this on their bucket list. It is perfect. She has expertly described the waning years of life with equal parts humor and pathos and with so much accuracy and heart that no one will be able to look away from the pages. The old and the young will come away with a greater understanding of how their behavior affects others and perhaps will be inspired to make a positive change in instances where they fall short. While I am at the lower end of those people she describes in this brief little book, who are living in their “final fifth”, I am definitely in that stage of life actively wondering when it will be my turn to have a final act. Her descriptions of how those she knows are dealing with their “end of life” days, not as ends, but as beginnings, are tender, and her descriptions of the loneliness of widowhood and widowerhood are humane, with just a touch of wit. Loss, grief, and loneliness are real aspects of our lives, especially as we get older and older. She deals with the issues with honesty and courage, because for many, facing the truth about the end of days is too brutal a thought to contemplate. Basically, her message is don’t look back in anger, savor the memories, don’t have regrets, continue to express yourself, even when those around you dismiss you as irrelevant because of your age and inability to contribute the way you used to when you were younger and more able. Don't let those who try to silence you succeed.
I ctually believe that not only those in their “final fifth” will enjoy this book, but those in their second and third would do well to read it too. It would be wonderful if those who are young and seemingly unaware of the fact that they too will grow old one day, could be enlightened to understand the agonies and the ecstasies of aging, and to therefore learn to treat the elderly with a little more respect, a little more compassion and a little more kindness. Their wisdom is acquired from the many years they have lived, and that is a gift they can share with those willing to listen. Too many today, even my own relatives, have dismissed those my age as part of the past, dinosaurs they are not interested in hearing or including any longer in discussions, or even gatherings, because they can be burdensome.
Viorst has expertly diagnosed every little nuance of old age, every little concern that we human beings face, but she, because she is a woman, concentrates on the female who is aging, a bit more than the male. She does also include men in some of her little anecdotes, but I believe this book will appeal more to the woman’s side of the aging coin, since it is a fairly well-known fact that women seem to live longer, and that means they live longer alone, and they face the exigencies of aging alone. When women and men were asked for their opinions, it became very obvious to me that men and women were quite different even in how they faced their last act. Widows, widowers, marrieds or singles, men seemed to me to face it more intellectually, more often filled the void with another partner, and women faced it more emotionally and with more loneliness, but that just might be my personal opinion since it is certainly not a fact driven home in this brief little book. Like all the books this author writes, however, it is meant to help guide you through a period of your life that is otherwise untouched by most authors and is definitely going to approach all of us. The decline of health, the diminishing of strength, the loneliness of old age are facts that all will have to face, but some will not even feel lonely. Kudos to them. Prepare for the very real possibility of being alone by starting early to fill your life with plans to prevent it from being empty.
On the negative side, even though I really enjoyed and liked this book, and I was also moved from tears to laughter and back again several times as she described the thoughts and moments the elderly are forced to face and deal with, without exception, and I also truly admired the message she presented in her “final act”, with its tremendous insight, I was very disappointed that in her final effort she also chose to be like many authors today, who first and foremost, feel that they must present their political ideology to the reading public. Truly, we are not concerned with what party the author supports. We are concerned with the writing and the pleasure we derive from the book.
Viorst never mentioned any names, but she alluded to the current administration on several occasions and did not even try to camouflage the fact that she was referring to Trump and the Republicans. She simply repeatedly emphasized her good works, which were taken from the Progressive’s handbook. The good people should reflect on their past, as she had, and continue to be good as they proceed into the not-too-distant unknowable term of their future. As good residents of the RC (Retirement Community), they should still be volunteers, activists that support immigrants, soup kitchens and choice, (but obviously for abortion since education was not mentioned). Since it is well known that those who protest are generally on the left, her side of the political stage was apparent. Although she recommended being more open minded at the end of the book, and suggested talking more often and openly to people with different ideas, I did not detect any reference to politics in that recommendation, nor did I detect that she was more openminded or accepting of the right side of politics. Instead, she seemed very disappointed in the direction in which the country was moving, and did not seem to understand that those she represented on the left, who feel as she does, only want compromise when they are on the losing side, only when it serves their needs. She recommends activism and obstruction, which seems to be the playbook of the party she supports, even today. It is that very attitude that is leading us down the road to division and not unity, so I would have hoped that at her advanced age of the mid-nineties, she would have been more open to other points of view, as she suggested.
Still, she was never abrasive in her presentation, so the book should appeal to everyone who reads it. The goals she recommended are not the only goals. For me, law and order, secure borders, quality education, and merit-based advancement are primary goals. I am for choice, but not until birth. I am for clean air, but not at the expense of the United States, I am for health care for all, but not having illegals get it for free when legal citizens are forced to pay for it, I am for equal opportunity, but for those most qualified; I am not for equality of outcome but for equality of opportunity.
In my old age, I want to be remembered as someone who looked at both sides of the issues and did not tolerate the idea that only one point of view was the right point of view. I may not be remembered that way, but it will be because people who believe differently than I do only hear half of what I say, then they shut down and think of a retort and miss my message, but then, as someone who is old, I expect to be ignored; I say that with humor. In her “final act” Viorst put her foot on the pedal and her thumb on the scale of her liberal activism. Kudos to her in her mid-nineties, for having the courage of her convictions, but I, too, have the courage of mine. Forge forward and do get those chairs recovered. That is her ultimate message.
After reading just the first chapter, I decided that everyone should put this on their bucket list. It is perfect. She has expertly described the waning years of life with equal parts humor and pathos and with so much accuracy and heart that no one will be able to look away from the pages. The old and the young will come away with a greater understanding of how their behavior affects others and perhaps will be inspired to make a positive change in instances where they fall short. While I am at the lower end of those people she describes in this brief little book, who are living in their “final fifth”, I am definitely in that stage of life actively wondering when it will be my turn to have a final act. Her descriptions of how those she knows are dealing with their “end of life” days, not as ends, but as beginnings, are tender, and her descriptions of the loneliness of widowhood and widowerhood are humane, with just a touch of wit. Loss, grief, and loneliness are real aspects of our lives, especially as we get older and older. She deals with the issues with honesty and courage, because for many, facing the truth about the end of days is too brutal a thought to contemplate. Basically, her message is don’t look back in anger, savor the memories, don’t have regrets, continue to express yourself, even when those around you dismiss you as irrelevant because of your age and inability to contribute the way you used to when you were younger and more able. Don't let those who try to silence you succeed.
I ctually believe that not only those in their “final fifth” will enjoy this book, but those in their second and third would do well to read it too. It would be wonderful if those who are young and seemingly unaware of the fact that they too will grow old one day, could be enlightened to understand the agonies and the ecstasies of aging, and to therefore learn to treat the elderly with a little more respect, a little more compassion and a little more kindness. Their wisdom is acquired from the many years they have lived, and that is a gift they can share with those willing to listen. Too many today, even my own relatives, have dismissed those my age as part of the past, dinosaurs they are not interested in hearing or including any longer in discussions, or even gatherings, because they can be burdensome.
Viorst has expertly diagnosed every little nuance of old age, every little concern that we human beings face, but she, because she is a woman, concentrates on the female who is aging, a bit more than the male. She does also include men in some of her little anecdotes, but I believe this book will appeal more to the woman’s side of the aging coin, since it is a fairly well-known fact that women seem to live longer, and that means they live longer alone, and they face the exigencies of aging alone. When women and men were asked for their opinions, it became very obvious to me that men and women were quite different even in how they faced their last act. Widows, widowers, marrieds or singles, men seemed to me to face it more intellectually, more often filled the void with another partner, and women faced it more emotionally and with more loneliness, but that just might be my personal opinion since it is certainly not a fact driven home in this brief little book. Like all the books this author writes, however, it is meant to help guide you through a period of your life that is otherwise untouched by most authors and is definitely going to approach all of us. The decline of health, the diminishing of strength, the loneliness of old age are facts that all will have to face, but some will not even feel lonely. Kudos to them. Prepare for the very real possibility of being alone by starting early to fill your life with plans to prevent it from being empty.
On the negative side, even though I really enjoyed and liked this book, and I was also moved from tears to laughter and back again several times as she described the thoughts and moments the elderly are forced to face and deal with, without exception, and I also truly admired the message she presented in her “final act”, with its tremendous insight, I was very disappointed that in her final effort she also chose to be like many authors today, who first and foremost, feel that they must present their political ideology to the reading public. Truly, we are not concerned with what party the author supports. We are concerned with the writing and the pleasure we derive from the book.
Viorst never mentioned any names, but she alluded to the current administration on several occasions and did not even try to camouflage the fact that she was referring to Trump and the Republicans. She simply repeatedly emphasized her good works, which were taken from the Progressive’s handbook. The good people should reflect on their past, as she had, and continue to be good as they proceed into the not-too-distant unknowable term of their future. As good residents of the RC (Retirement Community), they should still be volunteers, activists that support immigrants, soup kitchens and choice, (but obviously for abortion since education was not mentioned). Since it is well known that those who protest are generally on the left, her side of the political stage was apparent. Although she recommended being more open minded at the end of the book, and suggested talking more often and openly to people with different ideas, I did not detect any reference to politics in that recommendation, nor did I detect that she was more openminded or accepting of the right side of politics. Instead, she seemed very disappointed in the direction in which the country was moving, and did not seem to understand that those she represented on the left, who feel as she does, only want compromise when they are on the losing side, only when it serves their needs. She recommends activism and obstruction, which seems to be the playbook of the party she supports, even today. It is that very attitude that is leading us down the road to division and not unity, so I would have hoped that at her advanced age of the mid-nineties, she would have been more open to other points of view, as she suggested.
Still, she was never abrasive in her presentation, so the book should appeal to everyone who reads it. The goals she recommended are not the only goals. For me, law and order, secure borders, quality education, and merit-based advancement are primary goals. I am for choice, but not until birth. I am for clean air, but not at the expense of the United States, I am for health care for all, but not having illegals get it for free when legal citizens are forced to pay for it, I am for equal opportunity, but for those most qualified; I am not for equality of outcome but for equality of opportunity.
In my old age, I want to be remembered as someone who looked at both sides of the issues and did not tolerate the idea that only one point of view was the right point of view. I may not be remembered that way, but it will be because people who believe differently than I do only hear half of what I say, then they shut down and think of a retort and miss my message, but then, as someone who is old, I expect to be ignored; I say that with humor. In her “final act” Viorst put her foot on the pedal and her thumb on the scale of her liberal activism. Kudos to her in her mid-nineties, for having the courage of her convictions, but I, too, have the courage of mine. Forge forward and do get those chairs recovered. That is her ultimate message.
August 8, 2025
If your arthritic knees make stair climbing painful, the stenosis in your back is acting up again, or your doctor has increased your medication for anything at all, then this is the book for you. While it is aimed at those 80 years old and up, it's both funny and filled with wisdom for anyone who has decidedly become "of a certain age"—even far before 80.
Written by Judith Viorst, this is a textbook on how to (as she puts it) get an A+ in aging in the "Final Fifth" of life, which she defines as the ages of 80 to 100. In between laughing out loud multiple times, you will learn how to navigate your senior years so you still contribute, feel useful and productive, and have fun.
Note: Viorst has written books about each major decade of life, beginning at age 30, so if you're a youngun', start there.
Her topics are universal to those of us at a certain age: Moving from her home of 51 years to a small apartment in a retirement community, how to continue living after the death of your spouse, what it feels like to be so old that you are perceived as "invisible," the anxieties of serious health concerns, loneliness, grief, and worrying about one's own death. These are not happy topics, but her hilarious and common sense take on them will keep you smiling through the sadness.
Viorst also reached out to her many friends who are in the Final Fifth of life for their words of wisdom. Their responses are priceless.
Even if (like I) you are not 80+ years old, you probably know and love someone who is. Reading this book will give you precious insight into what life is really like in the Final Fifth so you can be a better companion. It could also make a wonderful gift for that person.
I was privileged and delighted to hear Judith Viorst talk about this book at the Gaithersburg (Maryland) Book Festival in May 2025. There she was at age 94 on stage in front of 200 people or so (standing room only all around the tent), making us laugh. Over and over again. She has a dry wit and impeccable timing. While reading this book, I kept hearing her voice…and that made me laugh all the more.
Bonus points: Even the title of this book will make you chuckle!
Just an aside: If you're thinking, "Why does the name 'Judith Viorst' sound so familiar?" She has written many books for children and grown-ups, but you probably know her for one of her finest and most popular, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day."
Written by Judith Viorst, this is a textbook on how to (as she puts it) get an A+ in aging in the "Final Fifth" of life, which she defines as the ages of 80 to 100. In between laughing out loud multiple times, you will learn how to navigate your senior years so you still contribute, feel useful and productive, and have fun.
Note: Viorst has written books about each major decade of life, beginning at age 30, so if you're a youngun', start there.
Her topics are universal to those of us at a certain age: Moving from her home of 51 years to a small apartment in a retirement community, how to continue living after the death of your spouse, what it feels like to be so old that you are perceived as "invisible," the anxieties of serious health concerns, loneliness, grief, and worrying about one's own death. These are not happy topics, but her hilarious and common sense take on them will keep you smiling through the sadness.
Viorst also reached out to her many friends who are in the Final Fifth of life for their words of wisdom. Their responses are priceless.
Even if (like I) you are not 80+ years old, you probably know and love someone who is. Reading this book will give you precious insight into what life is really like in the Final Fifth so you can be a better companion. It could also make a wonderful gift for that person.
I was privileged and delighted to hear Judith Viorst talk about this book at the Gaithersburg (Maryland) Book Festival in May 2025. There she was at age 94 on stage in front of 200 people or so (standing room only all around the tent), making us laugh. Over and over again. She has a dry wit and impeccable timing. While reading this book, I kept hearing her voice…and that made me laugh all the more.
Bonus points: Even the title of this book will make you chuckle!
Just an aside: If you're thinking, "Why does the name 'Judith Viorst' sound so familiar?" She has written many books for children and grown-ups, but you probably know her for one of her finest and most popular, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day."
June 4, 2025
I've read a fair amount of essay collections written by an author over 50, but it's not often that I read an essay collection by an author over 90.
I recently listened to an interview of Carol Burnett, who is also in her 90s. And I was so surprised by how sharp she was, as is the author of this essay collection. Viorst's collection discusses being in your "Final Fifth" of your life.
Her children forced her and her husband to move to a retirement community (RC), and in 2022 Judith's husband Milton passed away. Judith's grief is present throughout these essays, as is her conflicted feelings about living in a retirement community and getting older. Her essays feature fellow residents who are also in their "Final Fifth."
I recently listened to an interview of Carol Burnett, who is also in her 90s. And I was so surprised by how sharp she was, as is the author of this essay collection. Viorst's collection discusses being in your "Final Fifth" of your life.
Her children forced her and her husband to move to a retirement community (RC), and in 2022 Judith's husband Milton passed away. Judith's grief is present throughout these essays, as is her conflicted feelings about living in a retirement community and getting older. Her essays feature fellow residents who are also in their "Final Fifth."
December 18, 2025
Judith Viorst has turned out to be such a great discovery this year, first in my class as we laughed our way through her hilarious and witty Lulu books, and now with this one that I could read in a day, all about life in her nineties and what she and her peers have to say about it all. Told in what I’m quickly recognizing as her trademark wit and humanity, it has quite a few valuable life lessons told in a very easy to read way. Now I want to go back and read all of the her other age-related titles.
June 12, 2025
Great memoir by a 94 yr old author with a huge catalog of books. She interviewed a lot of people over 80 for their insights on the last fifth of life. Very informative. I read a library copy but I think I’ll buy one so I can revisit this one.
July 20, 2025
With topics such as What's Left, Happiness, Loneliness, Community, and Wisdom, author Judith Viorst explores the challenges of life in the "Final Fifth," that is, beyond the age of 80. She ties much of it to her own life (she is now in her 90s) and talks about the death of her husband of 63 years.
On happiness: . . . "the ability to appreciate, and find meaning in, whatever it is that we are doing today." She quotes from Tennyson's Ulysses, "death closes all but . . . ere the end, some work of noble note may yet be done." On Wisdom: "We're old, but we've learned a few things. We could learn a few more." Four things to say at the bedside of a dying beloved: "Forgive me. I forgive you. Thank you. I love you." And while they are still alive to hear them, "make a few appropriate apologies." Told with humor and openness, Viorst examines the many aspects of aging and widowhood from her own viewpoint and the viewpoint of many of her cohorts. With many anecdotes and poems, Making the Best of the Rest is an enjoyable and poignant read.
On happiness: . . . "the ability to appreciate, and find meaning in, whatever it is that we are doing today." She quotes from Tennyson's Ulysses, "death closes all but . . . ere the end, some work of noble note may yet be done." On Wisdom: "We're old, but we've learned a few things. We could learn a few more." Four things to say at the bedside of a dying beloved: "Forgive me. I forgive you. Thank you. I love you." And while they are still alive to hear them, "make a few appropriate apologies." Told with humor and openness, Viorst examines the many aspects of aging and widowhood from her own viewpoint and the viewpoint of many of her cohorts. With many anecdotes and poems, Making the Best of the Rest is an enjoyable and poignant read.
April 6, 2025
Ms. Viorst certainly hasn’t lost her ability to be a good writer in her “fifth fifth” of life. This is a well written book with a lot of insights into the latter years of one’s life. Many of her right thoughts and opinions come from surveying other residents in her older adult community; it was nice to see the variety and examples. I found the poems a bit lacking but they made for excellent segues from chapter to chapter. I also expected a bit more humor. I’m not sure if her other books about aging contained more humor, but this one struck me as fairly serious. I’m also just entering my fourth fifth so it may just be that a lot didn’t quite resonate with me yet. Thank you to the publisher from whom I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2024
The author's "voice" is as strong as ever in her nineties, as she shares the challenges, joys, and sorrows of living in the Final Fifth (80 to 100 years old.) Her latest book is full of wit and candor, charm and truth, reflecting her feisty spirit that gives me hope about old old age. Highly recommended!
April 25, 2025
They say youth is wasted on the young, and the older I get, the more I tend to agree. So what better way to live our best lives than by listening to what older people have to say? Big thanks to Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook!
Making the Best of What’s Left is a memoir from a 94-year-old author you probably already know — Judith Viorst, the writer of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. I didn’t realize she’s written multiple memoirs at different stages of her life, and this one, written in her 90s, reflects on what she calls the “fifth fifth” of life, that stretch between 80 and 100 that only the luckiest among us get to see.
She shares personal reflections, memories, poems, and even conversations with fellow residents at her retirement community. She poses questions like
🍂What are you most proud of?
🍂What makes you happy today?
🍂What comes after death?
Their answers are fascinating.
I know that might sound heavy, but it’s not. Her style is direct and compelling and even funny at times. She cuts right to the heart of things in a way that’s deeply moving without being overly sentimental.
I picked this up on a whim because I haven’t read much nonfiction lately and it’s on the shorter side, and I’m so glad I did. I wasn’t sure at first, but by a third of the way in, it REALLY spoke to me. As soon as I finished it, all I wanted to do was call my grandma. I can’t think of a better endorsement than that!
If any part of this sounds even vaguely interesting, pick it up. It’s absolutely worth the read.
Making the Best of What’s Left is a memoir from a 94-year-old author you probably already know — Judith Viorst, the writer of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. I didn’t realize she’s written multiple memoirs at different stages of her life, and this one, written in her 90s, reflects on what she calls the “fifth fifth” of life, that stretch between 80 and 100 that only the luckiest among us get to see.
She shares personal reflections, memories, poems, and even conversations with fellow residents at her retirement community. She poses questions like
🍂What are you most proud of?
🍂What makes you happy today?
🍂What comes after death?
Their answers are fascinating.
I know that might sound heavy, but it’s not. Her style is direct and compelling and even funny at times. She cuts right to the heart of things in a way that’s deeply moving without being overly sentimental.
I picked this up on a whim because I haven’t read much nonfiction lately and it’s on the shorter side, and I’m so glad I did. I wasn’t sure at first, but by a third of the way in, it REALLY spoke to me. As soon as I finished it, all I wanted to do was call my grandma. I can’t think of a better endorsement than that!
If any part of this sounds even vaguely interesting, pick it up. It’s absolutely worth the read.
Read
December 10, 2025I was gifted this book by my spouse on my 4th and what I expect will be my final retirement from employment. At age 77, I had just experienced a significant heart crisis and believe Judith Viorst writes the perfect mix of humor, insight, and education one needs under the circumstances I was in. She was 94 when she wrote the book, in the 5/5th of her life as she calls it.(I'm not quite there yet.)
Viorst and her husband elected to move out of their family home into a retirement community (RC), so aspects of her writing apply to RC living, but most of it is easily translated to other situations. She includes plenty of wise personal, but also self-deprecating, wisdom along with plenty of material from others in their 5/5th of life. I read at bedtime and was eager to get to this book each night to see what interesting topic she might be diving into, everything from do you think there is an afterlife, to reupholstering furniture (yay or nay), to re-coupling after a spouse dies (yay or nay), to what exactly is the wisdom garnered from living long. Many times I laid the open book on my chest and thought about the words I'd just read. Viorst is making the best of what's left, and she has pointed me in a reasonable direction.
Viorst and her husband elected to move out of their family home into a retirement community (RC), so aspects of her writing apply to RC living, but most of it is easily translated to other situations. She includes plenty of wise personal, but also self-deprecating, wisdom along with plenty of material from others in their 5/5th of life. I read at bedtime and was eager to get to this book each night to see what interesting topic she might be diving into, everything from do you think there is an afterlife, to reupholstering furniture (yay or nay), to re-coupling after a spouse dies (yay or nay), to what exactly is the wisdom garnered from living long. Many times I laid the open book on my chest and thought about the words I'd just read. Viorst is making the best of what's left, and she has pointed me in a reasonable direction.
December 20, 2024
I received a copy of the book "Making the Best of What's Left" by Judith Viorst, from NetGalley. The author writes of being older. She describes being in the "final fifth" of her life. She is 94 years old and the final fifth is 80-100. She writes of being recently becoming a Widow when she lost her husband Milton at almost 63 years of marriage. She writes with a sense of humor and sadness of what happens in the final fifth of life.
When they grew older they sold the large house they had lived in for over 50 years to live in a smaller apartment. she writes of losing her husband. Other elderly people and what it has been like for them as they are in the twilight years. Slowing down, hearing and sight loss. Not seeing your relatives as much. losing so many friends and relatives. Not been as "seen" and feeling invisible. she also writes poems at the end of each chapter. some amusing some sad. A good read about being an older person.
When they grew older they sold the large house they had lived in for over 50 years to live in a smaller apartment. she writes of losing her husband. Other elderly people and what it has been like for them as they are in the twilight years. Slowing down, hearing and sight loss. Not seeing your relatives as much. losing so many friends and relatives. Not been as "seen" and feeling invisible. she also writes poems at the end of each chapter. some amusing some sad. A good read about being an older person.
February 6, 2026
The author read this book, a remarkable job for a woman of a certain age. ( she’s 94). We’re friends but she doesn’t know that. We met when I was very young, waiting expectantly for her columns to be delivered in Redbook. This was a *woman’s magazine* in which she wrote essays about life in the suburbs. Then, our relationship grew as I delved into Necessay Losses which became a guide for my adult life. I only recently handed my original copy down to a younger woman. After that, I relied mightily on Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day as the best read for elementary school children. Now, I’ve advanced to Making the Best of What’s Left : When We’re Too Old to Get the Chairs Reupholstered. It arrived precisely when I needed it. I laughed, I cried, I learned, I appreciated but, mostly, I felt affirmed. For this gift, I thank my friend Judith. I look forward to her next work!
January 7, 2026
Writer and poet Judith Viorst announces that this book is about widowhood in the opening passage. My wife is still alive and well, and I am more than 15 years younger than Ms. Viorst. And yet, I found great comfort and wisdom in her words.
One might be tempted to think this is a self-help book. But it’s not. Rather than providing lessons, the author tells stories. Yes, she categorizes them into neat boxes. But she gives us the freedom to take from the anecdotes what we will. Some will resonate and some will not. And what resonates for me may not resonate for you.
In the end, I felt grateful that a 94-year-old widow took the time to tell these stories and share her wisdom. This is a wonderful volume for anyone entering their senior years or for those who are well into it.
One might be tempted to think this is a self-help book. But it’s not. Rather than providing lessons, the author tells stories. Yes, she categorizes them into neat boxes. But she gives us the freedom to take from the anecdotes what we will. Some will resonate and some will not. And what resonates for me may not resonate for you.
In the end, I felt grateful that a 94-year-old widow took the time to tell these stories and share her wisdom. This is a wonderful volume for anyone entering their senior years or for those who are well into it.
February 9, 2025
This book is an entertaining read about the last fifth of life as define by the author. She is in her 90’s and relates stories about herself and her friends as the last lap of life. It covers several subjects which I won’t list here, but addresses the challenges of growing old and adapting to the situation. She does this with a great deal of humor and causes us rapidly approaching this stage to pause and ponder the future.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
June 7, 2025
Judith Viorst is like an author-friend. She's guided women through each decade of life with a fantastic sense of humour and her witty observations about marriage. parenting and friendship have saved our sanity as partners, parents and friends. So grateful to her for this and for all her books including her children's books as well. She is a treasure!
May 10, 2025
A wonderful audio book read by the author who has mastered the art of the writing. A valuable tool/story for those who have older parents in their life as well as readers or folks getting ready to live it themselves. Inspiring advice, anecdotes and plenty of humor. Highly recommend.
January 17, 2026
Wow thank you for writing this book. I have more understanding and compassion as my widowed father navigates his final fifth. However I feel helpless and sad I can’t help him. The book makes it clear the person doing the navigating owns the outcome. We can support but can’t change their situation. If we are lucky enough to live that long we will all need to navigate it. This book will stick with me for a long time.
April 24, 2025
I was expecting this book to be funnier but the author’s reflection and poignancy made for a delightful read.
May 14, 2025
In her mid 90’s, the author shares thought on what she calls the “ final fifth”, about life for people between 80-100 years old. The book is a candid exploration of the later stages of life. She shares personal anecdotes and it’s funny at times and also filled with wisdom as to how to enjoy life as one ages. It’s a tribute to a life well lived and to make the best of what life offers, in spite of the challenges of aging.
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