How To Succeed at Aging Book Review + Two Amazing Giveaways!

How to Succeed at Aging (Without Really Dying) by Lyla Blake Ward

Review by: Lauren

Book From: Amazon Encore

Status: Out Now!

Amazon Summary: Lyla Blake Ward’s How to Succeed at Aging Without Really Dying is a wry, witty, and wise collection of essays about living in a world of bubble packs you can’t open, electronics you can’t turn on, polls you’re not deemed worthy of taking, and expiration dates you can only hope don’t apply to you. Most of all, it’s about the difficulties of staying on the planet when it’s spinning out of control.



While taking a humorous look at health, grandparenthood, computers, and social issues, How to Succeed… answers such pressing questions as: What brand of yogurt guarantees you will live to 110? Can older people really shop online, or is the “submit order” button visible only to users under 30? And how many pixels does it take to win your grandchild’s affection?


As we get older, we can whine or complain about our losses–memory, muscles, and mobility–or we can roll with the paunches. This book rolls.

Review: For anyone that has been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I’m many years away from being a senior citizen. However, that didn’t stop me from enjoying this collection of essays. Each one is fairly short…perfect for some light, humorous reading here and there, expecially if these stories relate to you much more than they did myself.

Again, though, these were interesting takes on what it’s like to be an older person in today’s world. You don’t want to feel like you’re being left behind but in so many ways, people are pushing you to the side and making life a little more difficult. That’s not to say that these stories are down or depressing or even “woe is me.” Ward does a great job at adding bits of humor throughout the stories and the often used sarcasm gave plenty of memorable moments.

One of the chapters I really enjoyed was about all the new technology gadgets that are out there. She remembers the days when her grandchildren wanted items she actually understood and could easily afford. I found myself nodding along to a lot of this, because even though I might only be just out of my teens, I often feel lost about what the new gadets are and what they do…and the price? I’d never ask someone for these type of things! It’s crazy. I mean, the only ipods I have I got for free. One was smaller and I won in a writing contest and the other was a friends who moved on to bigger and better things.

If you do have a grandparent or older parent in your life that wouldn’t mind poking fun at themselves and the world around them, this would be a perfect gift. It’s relatively a fast read and would most likely be much more enjoyable for those older than me. However, if you are younger…do know you could enjoy it too. It’s fun and cute and I absolutely love the title! (If you don’t know, it’s a play off of the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying)

Amazon Associates: If you buy the book above, I will get a small percentage. Thanks for supporting the blog if you do!

And Now…Instead of making a whole new post, I wanted to share some contests that my clients are holding. If you enter from here, tell them Shooting Stars sent ya! I’m not entering so you aren’t secretly helping me win…it would just make me smile and show I helped them out if you did! 🙂

Linda Gerber: You might know about the site Free Book Friday. Well, before that, Linda was doing the same thing with Freebie Friday. It’s not always a constant (life does get in the way) but she gives away some fun books so you might want to follow and be privy to all the new giveaways right when they happen. Right now, I believe you can win an ARC of her upcoming paranormal novel TRANCE. Enter Here!

Denise Jaden:  Every friday, Denise has a giveaway and this week she is allowing you to pick from her bookshelf once again. Are you dying to get your hands on a copy of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer? Halo? Guardian of the Gate? Another shot to win TRANCE? Go and enter to find out the rest of your options. Remember, tell her Shooting Stars sent you if you enter and follow the blog so you won’t miss more fun contests for the latest ARCs and more! Enter Here!