The Wisdom Whisperers: Golden Guides to a Long Life of Grit, Grace, and Laughter

by Melinda Blau

Overview

From The New York Times bestselling co-author of Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, comes this poignant, hilarious, and deeply insightful exploration of how to make the most of life’s possibilities—at any age.

In this deeply personal and heartwarming book, acclaimed journalist Melinda Blau confronts the stereotypes surrounding life's later chapters, drawing from unexpected friendships with the remarkable women she affectionately dubs "my old ladies." Through intimate storytelling and candid reflections, Blau peels back layers of societal judgment to uncover the hard-earned wisdom and resilience that come with the unfolding of years.

From her relationship with Henrietta, a vibrant nonagenarian, Blau discovers that age is less a number and more the unexpected twists and turns of a life fully lived. Zelda, ever the free spirit, shows that the sparkle of youthful passion can persist well into later years—she's nailing tennis serves even in her 90s. And then there's Anne, a Holocaust survivor who proves that at 98, it's still not too late to pen your life story. Yet, Blau's book isn't simply a compilation of friendship tales. It's a wake-up call that encourages us to build meaningful connections across different phases of life. These bonds are mutually enriching, offering us valuable insights and a depth of understanding that is impossible to obtain from our contemporaries. 

At its heart, Wisdom Whisperers is about the boundless opportunities that unfold when we dare to look beyond age as a limiting factor.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640657137
Publisher:	Church Publishing, Incorporated
Publication date:	08/06/2024
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Melinda Blau, author of more than four hundred articles and fifteen books, has spent a lifetime researching and writing about the importance of relationships. Our more intimate bonds are covered in her New York Times bestseller, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, its two sequels, and Family Whispering, the book that inspired Blau’s Huffington Post advice column. Blau has been interviewed numerous times on NPR and has appeared on Oprah, Good Morning America, CBS news, the Hallmark Channel, and dozens of other talk shows and podcasts. She has also won multiple awards and commendations for her writing, including those from The American Society of Journalists (Author of the Year), the Jewish Book Council, the Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, the American Psychological Association, Children's Rights Council, and American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology. Her ongoing podcast, Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age is dedicated to changing the conversation about getting older. She lives in Paris and New York City.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction: Marge, My Old Ladies, and Me
1. Against Ageist Odds: My First Old Lady
2. My OG: Original Grandfriend
3. Acceptance: Handling the Worst
4. Positivity: Looking for the Good
5. Presence: Being Felt and Seen
6. Fortitude: Learning from a Pen Pal
7. Movement: Showing Yourself You Can
8. Social Savvy: The Key to a Rich (and Likely Long) Life
9. Independence: Knowing You Can Be Alone
10. Financial Literacy: A Hidden Asset
11. Engagement: The Elixir of Life
12. Braving Reality: The Lottery of Nexts
13. Purpose: Breathing Meaning into Life
14. One Last Lesson: Living, Dying, and Being
Afterword
My Old Ladies: The Timeline
Acknowledgments
 

What People are Saying About This

Ellen Langer

The Wisdom Whisperers unlocks the secrets to a fulfilling life of resilience, grace, and laughter. Through poignant stories about her friendships with women in the last phase of their lives she shares timeless wisdom and inspires readers to embrace life's challenges with grit and humor.

Karen Fingerman

In a world where people expect the worst in old age, Melinda Blau brings us the best. As a master storyteller, Blau draws on the voices of her ‘old ladies’ to evoke the triumph of late life and lives well-lived.  We are all growing older, and this book provides the inspiration to do it well.

bestselling author and founder of Non-Obvious Comp Rohit Bhargava

In a disconnected world, Melinda offers a simple yet rarely considered solution: make friendships with much-older people. This book artfully suggests these unlikely bonds could cure generational loneliness, bridge cultural divides and maybe even make the world a kinder place. Given many of us will be living in this world longer than ever, it's hard to imagine a more urgently needed message.

Editorial Reviews

"Ms. Blau says ‘everything around us shouts that old is BAD.'  True. And pernicious.  We live down to the expectation that creates. Ms. Blau—with her collection of stories about amazingly upbeat and happy ‘old ladies’—offers us a fine antidote."

New York Times bestselling coauthor of the Younger Chris Crowley

"In a disconnected world, Melinda offers a simple yet rarely considered solution: make friendships with much-older people. This book artfully suggests these unlikely bonds could cure generational loneliness, bridge cultural divides and maybe even make the world a kinder place. Given many of us will be living in this world longer than ever, it's hard to imagine a more urgently needed message."

bestselling author and founder of Non-Obvious Comp Rohit Bhargava

"The Wisdom Whisperers is a tonic for the soul. And best of all, the powerful ingredients of Melinda Blau’s life-affirming elixir: good older friends who fill our lives and fuel our spirits—are within everyone's grasp."

Sheila Weller

"It’s humbling to see words of joy and aging in the same paragraph and feel my heart weep for joy.  Melinda Blau’s book reminds me I always believed I was one day going to die. I just didn’t believe it would happen in this lifetime… I wish this book a long life and treasured impact on the lives of oh so many."

author of Be the Story You’re Here to Tell a Leah Komaiko

"People expect the worst in old age; Melinda Blau brings us the best. As a master storyteller, Blau draws on the voices of her ‘old ladies’ to evoke the triumph of late life and lives well-lived. We are all growing older, and this book provides the inspiration to do it well."

Karen Fingerman

"A gorgeous exploration of the power of relationships and how a lifetime of seeking wisdom through the generations can enrich our own experience. Blau’s book shares its wisdom with a deftness and style that is comfortable, authentic, and meaningful. Read this book. Meet these women. It is worth the ride."

Jeff Hamaoui

It’s humbling to see words of joy and aging in the same paragraph and feel my heart weep for joy. Melinda Blau’s book reminds me I always believed I was one day going to die. I just didn’t believe it would happen in this lifetime… I wish this book a long life and treasured impact on the lives of oh so many.”
—Leah Komaiko, author of Be the Story You’re Here to Tell and Am I Old Yet?

“The Wisdom Whisperers is a tonic for the soul. And best of all, the powerful ingredients of Melinda Blau’s life-affirming elixir: good older friends who fill our lives and fuel our spirits—are within everyone's grasp.”
—Sheila Weller, author Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon & the Journey of a Generation

“In a disconnected world, Melinda offers a simple yet rarely considered solution: make friendships with much-older people. This book artfully suggests these unlikely bonds could cure generational loneliness, bridge cultural divides and maybe even make the world a kinder place. Given many of us will be living in this world longer than ever, it's hard to imagine a more urgently needed message.”
—Rohit Bhargava, bestselling author and founder of Non-Obvious Company

“Melinda Blau proposes a refreshing and virtuous perspective on ‘growing up’—something that I might have erroneously called ‘growing old’ before I read The Wisdom Whisperers. In a world of extremes that often affords an unbalanced importance to youth, Melinda proposes an antidote and a convincing path towards opportunities for health and happiness by sharing the wisdom that aging—and engaging—affords us. This book serves as a valuable treasure map, leading us along a trail abundant with riches but easily accessible. As the Baby Whisperer established a framework for nurturing my children, The Wisdom Whisperers is lucid and profound insight into a form of self-care through connection and friendship as we navigate the aging process. Melinda’s personal and intimate approach resonates with significance… an affirmation of life!”
—Daniel Rose, Michelin-star chef, Le Coucou, NYC, La Bourse et la Vie, Paris

“A gorgeous exploration of the power of relationships and how a lifetime of seeking wisdom through the generations can enrich our own experience. Blau’s book shares its wisdom with a deftness and style that is comfortable, authentic, and meaningful. Read this book. Meet these women. It is worth the ride.”
—Jeff Hamaoui, Co-Founder, Modern Elder Academy

“A visionary perspective on adult friendship between young-old and old-old friends. Blau’s warm, engaging stories treat readers to insights about deeply personal and meaningful relationships. I wish I could visit with these ‘grandfriends’ and bask in their energy, enthusiasm, encouragement, and inspiration!”
—Rosemary Blieszner, PhD., Alumni Distinguished Professor Emerita of Human Development and Family Science, Virginia Tech

“Ms. Blau says ‘everything around us shouts that old is BAD.' True. And pernicious. We live down to the expectation that creates. Ms. Blau—with her collection of stories about amazingly upbeat and happy ‘old ladies’—offers us a fine antidote.”
—Chris Crowley, New York Times bestselling coauthor of the Younger Next Year books

“People expect the worst in old age; Melinda Blau brings us the best. As a master storyteller, Blau draws on the voices of her ‘old ladies’ to evoke the triumph of late life and lives well-lived. We are all growing older, and this book provides the inspiration to do it well.”
—Karen Fingerman, PhD, Professor of Human Development & Family Sciences and Director, Texas Aging & Longevity Consortium

“Melinda Blau's The Wisdom Whisperers unlocks the secrets to a fulfilling life of resilience, grace, and laughter. Through poignant stories about her friendships with women in the last phase of their lives she shares timeless wisdom and inspires readers to embrace life's challenges with grit and humor.”
—Ellen Langer, Ph.D, author of The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health
 

From the Publisher

They show us the path that lies ahead, if we our­selves are for­tu­nate enough to grow old, and how to deal with the process of aging with­out let­ting it crush the human spirit.

Jewish Book Council

"Melinda Blau proposes a refreshing and virtuous perspective on ‘growing up’—something that I might have erroneously called ‘growing old’ before I read The Wisdom Whisperers.  In a world of extremes that often affords an unbalanced importance to youth, Melinda proposes an antidote and a convincing path towards opportunities for health and happiness by sharing the wisdom that aging—and engaging—affords us.  This book serves as a valuable treasure map, leading us along a trail abundant with riches but easily accessible.  As the Baby Whisperer established a framework for nurturing my children, The Wisdom Whisperers is lucid and profound insight into a form of self-care through connection and friendship as we navigate the aging process. Melinda’s personal and intimate approach resonates with significance… an affirmation of life!"

Daniel Rose

"Melinda Blau's The Wisdom Whisperers unlocks the secrets to a fulfilling life of resilience, grace, and laughter. Through poignant stories about her friendships with women in the last phase of their lives she shares timeless wisdom and inspires readers to embrace life's challenges with grit and humor."

Ellen Langer

"A visionary perspective on adult friendship between young-old and old-old friends. Blau’s warm, engaging stories treat readers to insights about deeply personal and meaningful relationships. I wish I could visit with these ‘grandfriends’ and bask in their energy, enthusiasm, encouragement, and inspiration!"

Rosemary Blieszner