In Our Prime by Patricia Cohen

More Praise for In Our Prime
    New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice
    â€œIn this brilliant, wide-ranging book . . . one persistent theme is that the very definition of middle age, or midlife, is a moving target. . . . A story packed with surprising twists, masterfully told . . . Cohen’s lively prose and thoughtful insights make this a joy to read.”
    â€”Kate Tuttle, The Boston Globe
    â€œA fascinating biography of the idea of middle age . . . Solidly researched.”
    â€”Gail Sheehy, bestselling author of Passages, for The New York Times
    â€œLucid, straightforward, and conversational . . . A thorough—and thoroughly fascinating—cultural history of aging.”
    â€”Julia Keller, Chicago Tribune
    â€œWith lively writing, astute observations, and extensive research, this cultural history looks well beyond cougars and Botox.”
    â€”Karen Holt, Oprah.com
    â€œA lively, well-researched chronicle of the social and scientific forces that brought midlife America to its current befuddled state.”
    â€”Laura Shapiro, The New York Times Book Review
    â€œ In Our Prime is a fascinating study. . . . A book whose appeal is likely to extend beyond the middle-age demographic to readers approaching or looking back on that key stage of life.”
    â€”Jerry Harkavy, Associated Press
    â€œWitty and engaging . . . this comprehensive and entertaining social history highlights the possibilities of the middle years—and shows how middle age reflects the attitudes and customs of each generation that passes through it.”
    â€”Publishers Weekly
    â€œA thoroughly engaging cultural history.”
    â€”Christine Sismondo, Toronto Star
    â€œA comprehensive look at middle age through the eyes of scientists, historians, psychologists, medical doctors, marketers, and many more.”
    â€”Julie Carl, Winnipeg Free Press
    â€œ In Our Prime is a fascinating biography of the ‘idea of middle age’ in American society. . . . Comprehensively researched . . . A thoughtful inquiry.”
    â€”Tom Lavoie, Shelf Awareness
    â€œA cool, well-documented account that puts the concept of middle age into historical context.”
    â€”Kirkus Reviews
    â€œPatricia Cohen creates a delightful concoction of social history, up-to-date social science, and first-rate journalism. In Our Prime is a compelling and well-documented account of why midlife has become such a prominent stage of life. The book is a real treat and is a wonderful source for courses in gerontology and more broadly the life course.”
    â€”Frank Furstenberg, professor of sociology at the
University of Pennsylvania
    â€œ In Our Prime is a wonderful resource for students of all ages interested in understanding what it means to be middle-aged. Patricia Cohen’s book should be required reading for everyone wanting to know the real deal about midlife.”
    â€”Margie E. Lachman, Fierman Professor of Psychology and director of the Lifespan Initiative on Healthy Aging at Brandeis University and editor of the Handbook of Midlife Development
    â€œIn this extraordinary, comprehensive book about middle age Patricia Cohen provides us with a wise and unique appraisal of recent scientific research on human development during midlife, and describes how it has dealt a death blow to false myths about the midlife crisis and other stages of development. This is just one of the many stories she includes in her review of the continuing changes in ideas regarding middle age during the past 150 years.”
    â€”Orville Gilbert Brim Jr., former director of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Successful Midlife Development and former president of the Russell Sage Foundation
    â€œAn informative and at times surprising biography of middle age.”
    â€”Glenn C. Altschuler, professor of American studies and vice president