How to Live

Starred review from September 29, 2008
Alford (Big Kiss
) recognizes that the elderly have been through more in their lives than the rest of us, and figures it might be a good idea to talk to some of them and see if they have any meaningful advice to impart. This plan sets off a prolonged meditation: what is wisdom, anyway? Some of his interview subjects are famous, like playwright Edward Albee or literary critic Harold Bloom—but it's the less recognized figures who consistently provide Alford with the most evocative source material, like the retired schoolteacher who lost her husband, her home and all her possessions in Hurricane Katrina but refuses to feel sorry for herself. The search is not all rosy: shortly after , Alford's interview with his stepfather, he loses his sobriety and the author becomes a sideline observer as his mother initiates divorce proceedings and moves into a retirement home. Such scenarios depart from the laugh-out-loud stories for which Alford is best known, but there are still enough moments of rich humor, like the guided tour of Sylvia Miles's cluttered apartment, for longtime fans of Alford.

Starred review from October 1, 2008
Alford ("Big Kiss: One Actor's Desperate Attempt To Claw His Way to the Top"), a veteran writer for "The New Yorker" and the "New York Times", embarks on a quest to find wisdom. Alford notes that Benjamin Franklin helped pen the Constitution at age 81 and Michelangelo completed the "Pietà" at 91. Who better to consult than septuagenarians, octogenarians, and nonagenarians? He interviews well-known figuresliterary critic Harold Bloom, comedian Phyllis Diller, spiritual leader Ram Dass, and playwright Edward Albeeas well as lesser-known yet equally captivating people. Granny D trekked across the United States in support of campaign finance reform at 97, 80-year-old Lutheran pastor Martin Marty achieves communion with God through napping, and Alford's mother leaves her husband at almost 80. Alford also culls insights from the likes of Albert Einstein, Muhammad Ali, William Blake, and Buddha. Instead of telling readers how to live, he positions himself as a listener, allowing readers to eavesdrop with him and reap the benefits of his research. Alford is a master of turns of phrase, diction, dialog, and technique. Essential reading; recommended without reservation for all public libraries.C. Brian Smith, Arlington Heights Memorial Lib., IL

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