The Art of Growing Up: Simple Ways to Be Yourself at Last

by Veronique Vienne, Jeanne Lipsey (Photographer)

In a society seemingly fixated on youth, it's often difficult to appreciate the charms of becoming a real adult. In The Art of Growing Up , best-selling author Véronique Vienne celebrates the journey into adulthood, reminding us of what we gain with each passing birthday. Her wise and witty essays encourage us to delight in the rejuvenation that comes with time, suggesting that perhaps the true fountain of youth exists in growing up, at any age.

By purging old habits and obsolete limitations, The Art of Growing Up encourages us to be truly ourselves, at last. Véronique looks at the art of beginning, the art of inspiring, the art of choosing, and the art of cheating. She reveals one way to save the world, the new rules of glamour, and the best age-defying beauty tip ever. Filled with gorgeous duotone photographs that complement these delightful essays, The Art of Growing Up is the perfect gift for anyone who is ready to discover the true art of  living.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Lifestyle

96 pages, Hardcover

First published October 10, 2000

Reviews

[Sue Online · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate self-help books. They are usually unhelpful and vacuous. I don't want to find joy in emptying the recycle bin on my computer, and I don’t want to spend $20 on a book that tells me I should. So I have no idea why I bought "The Art of Growing Up: Simple Ways to be Yourself At Last."

Honestly, I have to admit I can’t even remember buying it. I've had it for a while. I can’t remember if it was a Goodwill used book (Boo to Goodwill for shutting down their local store! Boo! Boo!), a used bookstore book, or a full price book from Indigo. And I don’t know what possessed me to pick it up. Was it the provocative calves of the woman on the cover as she walks up the stairs? Doubt it, I'm not much of a leg woman. I think that maybe, because it had the word "Art" in it, I might have thought it was about, you know, art.

It isn't. Just saying.

Instead. Well instead it was something else. I firmly believe you meet the books you need, just not usually when you need them. So I have no problem buying books I think I might read in a month or a year. It just needs to be the right moment. And apparently, today, while watching the finale of the Tour de France, it was the right day.

I am in freaking love with this book. It’s a book that writes what I wanted to read at this moment. Recently, I have been mourning the loss of the gay Starbucks. It’s still there, but the staff have changed and the mood has changed. It isn't full of gay staff, drag queens and vibrant straight people anymore. Now, it’s just a Starbucks. It isn't special. And my favourite pub? So many staff have moved on that it just isn't my favourite anymore. Every time I walk past I think of how I used to enjoy going. Now, it’s as special as McDonald’s (which, if you haven’t figured it out, is not special).

And then, this gem from page 13 of the book:

"For every object we cast away, for every friend we lose sight of, for every moment in time we can’t recoup, and for every place that’s no longer what it used to be, we receive in exchange a wealth of keepsake impressions. How strange – no one can ever take away what is no longer ours. The richness of your life will depend on how much you've left behind. Apparently out of mind, every precious impression is in fact stored away in the deep recesses of your brain, kept in much better condition” than the original will ever be again.

Right now, that is absolutely freaking brilliant. I want to tell you to buy the book. I want my sisters and cousin and sister in law and friends to buy the book. But I won’t tell them or you to buy the book, because I don’t know where you are in your life. But if you’re reading this review, and if the quote above resonates, then it might be time.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprise delight found on the shelf at my Airbnb. Easy to read and hard to forget.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly, the advice in this book seems to apply equally to everyone, regardless of the age you are when you read it! It's not so much about learning to accept aging as to embrace it; to realize that you're only becoming more yourself every day, and it's never too late to decide who you want that person to be! The sepia-toned photos may turn off younger readers, but I found it a very worthwhile read.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This and the other two books I read by this author are just so simple and fun! Very elgant, and well put!

[K Kirby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun essays...I'd hardly started reading, when I began highlighting points. The third sentence...outgrowing is part of growing up.

[Diana C · Rating 3 out of 5]

5/10

[Libby · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book had some charming moments, with good advice (hence the 2 stars), the majority of it was boring and pretentious

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should have read this when I was younger; now it is too late -- I am grown up.

But it was fun to read about what a good idea that was.

The photographs were great.

[Laura Woodyard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read

[C.J. Heck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book somewhere around the time I turned fifty. For some reason, fifty was a difficult age to have achieved -- I was way, way, way too young to be fifty!

The title is what first caught my eye and after scanning a few pages, I spotted this one line and it cemented my decision to buy:

"How old would you be, if you didn't know how old you are?"

I thought to myself, OMG! That's exactly how I look at it! I'm just not old enough to be ... this old!"

Because of this small, square, under 100-pages book, my whole outlook on aging changed and I haven't been the same since.

We live in a society fixated on youth. Literally, fortunes are spent trying to stay young. Ms. Vienne gives us a myriad of fun and simple ways to accept ourselves and just enjoy being.

It's a brilliant little book. I love it and you will, too ...

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple and concise guide on embracing adulthood and all of things that come with it. The Art of Growing Up isn't exactly a self-help book, but it does offer some nice tips and tricks on coping with the reality of getting older. It's true that most of the things the author tells us aren't new, but she presents them in a pleasant enough way, that if you're willing to listen, may help you to hear them again for the first time. Overall, this book is well worth the 30 - 45 minutes it will take you to read it. It probably won't change your life, but it just might alter some of your preconceptions about what it takes to act like an adult, and exactly what it means to be "grown up".

[tina michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved this little, simple book. i've had it for a few years, and frankly i'm glad i waited to read it because i found more meaning in it at this age and time in my own personal history. it's a book full of good reminders about how aging isn't all about getting old -- it's about gaining insight and wisdom and feeling comfortable with who we are. i really enjoyed this quick read :)

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. It is simple, beautiful, wise and grounding. There are so many books that try to tell us how to be and how one might "fix" what may ail them ... this is elegant and simple. Beautiful. Highly recommend!

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books you read in about one hour. It gives you things to remember and think about in our older age. I borrowed it from the library but it's one that would be good to own and just pick up once a year to read and remind myself of the important things.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best of the series, one I reread once in a while still.

[Evita Krislock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Simple and easy yet shared a wonderful perspective about our attitude and relationships. I would love to hold a women's retreat with this as the theme.

[Miss Adventures In The Dating World™ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved this book and I couldn't have found it at a better time in my life. Fresh perspective.

[Donnajo · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good book to pick up and read alittle bit at a time. nice pictures and Quotes and essays.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vienne's books are amazing - they inspire me to do more while encouraging me to do less. The Goldilocks effect is at work here - always looking for just right.

[Annie ⚜️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book with deeply thought provoking ideas.

[Vida · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wise and beautifully written...this woman knows how to age gracefully and tells it like it is.

[Chrisanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meandering little essays on how to enjoy the passage of time. I liked it.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

For the old, not the young adult.

[Kate]

I thought it was charming, with some good quotes, suggestions, lists and tidbits to more fully own being an adult.