Ageless Women, Timeless Wisdom: Witty, Wicked and Wise Reflections on Well-Lived Lives

by Lois P. Frankel

Throughout history wisdom has been passed from generation to generation through tales told, songs sung, and rituals performed by women elders. Yet in many cultures, particularly the Western culture, as women age they become marginalized and nearly invisible. The mental image of “wise” is almost exclusively portrayed by men: God, Merlin, Tribal Chiefs, Confucious, Socrates, the aging college professor – all men. Who are their feminine counterparts? The wisdom of older women is indisputable. Having lived decades raising children and sometimes grandchildren, caring for ill husbands and parents, creating “nests” from which progeny fly out of to be productive members of society, and often being forced to observe more than participate in the events around them, gives older women unique insights and wisdom to help future generations not only survive but thrive. As a society, however, we often fail to capitalize on that wisdom. Instead, we marginalize women who no longer look like Madison Avenue’s definition of vibrant and relevant and overlook the myriad ways in which their existence is actually essential to the survival of us all. Now, from the author of the bestselling trilogy of books for women, Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office, Nice Girls Don't Get Rich, and Nice Girls Just Don't Get It, comes a book that honors older women. After spending a year speaking with and photographing women around the globe and collecting stories and remembrances from the families of women who have passed away, Dr. Lois Frankel offers this compilation of wisdom that ranges from heartwarming to hilarious. Beautifully illustrated by Lisa Graves, Ageless Women, Timeless Wisdom is a book sure to be passed from grandmother to daughter to granddaughter with pages included to capture their own family wisdom. Award-winning singer/songwriter Rita Coolidge offers this early praise: "It’s about time for a book like this. For too long the wisdom of older women has gone unnoticed, unappreciated, and undervalued. Ageless Women, Timeless Wisdom is sure to put a smile on your face and the faces of the women you share it with."

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2016

About the author

Dr. Lois Frankel, President of Corporate Coaching International, a Pasadena, California consulting firm, literally wrote the book on coaching people to succeed in businesses large and small around the globe. Her books Nice Girls Don’t Get The Corner Office and Nice Girls Don’t Get Rich are international bestsellers translated into over twenty-five languages worldwide. Stop Sabotaging Your Career, a book based on her experiences as a pioneer in the field of business coaching working with everyone from CEOs to entry-level professionals, is a must-read for both men and women.

Reviews

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ageless Women Timeless Wisdom: Witty, Wicked, and Wise Reflections on Well-Lived Lives is filled with quotes, memories, and advice from everyday normal women. You won’t find any phony celebrities here. This book surprised me. I didn’t think that I would like it as much as I did.

[Dr. Sherry Markel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wisdom from mature feminine voices

Older women as holders of knowledge and experience. The format is a narrative inquiry and resonates like dimly perceived and remembered conversations at the kitchen table at family get togethers after the kitchen was cleaned up after dinner. The matriarchs would catch up with each other and compare notes and perspectives. The women in this collection are geographically separate but they are equal stakeholders in the conversation. This is truly “Women’s Ways of Knowing” Belinky etc all. and “In a Different Voice” Gilligan. It is delightful and enlightening to read and a joy to hear voices that are so often marginalized or silenced. I have bought several copies to share with my daughter and friends.

[Sharon Graff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable collection of womanly wit and wisdom

I especially liked the short aphorisms that bluntly summed up the experience of a lifetime In a brusque sentence. “never give a man more than half your money and keep travel money set aside” are hard won words of wisdom. Also pleasant were the first person accounts of historical events.

[Connie S. Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ageless Women, Timeless Wisdom

Interesting to read about other womens lives and what they learned from living. Their little quotes about life. It was interesting and I'm glad that I read it.

[Dora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wisdom of the aged

The author has collected the wisdom of older women—some wise and some witty. I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend for anyone looking for positive role models for aging.

[Earline Greer · Rating 1 out of 5]

More quotes than story

I gave up at page 50. Have a conversation with any older woman and their story will be as or more interesting than the ones I read in this book.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know there is nothing new in here, but it's a nice book to read for when you need a bit of inspiration and a lightening of your mood.

[Jesanne N. Rall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good info but not too in depth

Was left wanting more. Am 73 and serving for some help and advice on aging. Good advice but simple stuff that most women already know.

[Lani Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading the advice from all these wonderful women. Gives me hope that one day I can be just as strong as one of them.

[Laura Abihider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lois does it again!

Another inspiring book for women. Provokes new thought with the stories photographs and illustrations. Thanks for your dedication to advancing women.