Prime Time

August 1, 2011
Now in her 70s, acclaimed actress and fitness personality Fonda (My Life So Far) wants to help people realize the potential of their later decades and redefine their elder years as a "third act" rather than a slow decline into infirmity and illness. In this accessible memoir and guide, she directs readers toward ways to keep their golden years happy through diet and exercise, mental resiliency, friendships, money, sexuality, relationships, and spiritual evolution. Fonda has clearly done her research, providing especially timely advice about suitable forms of exercise and dietary change (complete with diagrams and workout guides). However, advice about financial planning and retirement is scant, and wouldn't be useful to those who are already at retirement age. Readers will empathize with Fonda's laudable mission to change the cultural perception of aging, and enjoy her appealing, straightforward tone. Her older female readers will likely feel that she speaks directly to them. (Aug.)\t

Jane Fonda's familiar voice and warm engagement with this lovely book make listening as comfortable as it is informative. Her voice sounds youthful, but she reaches out to her listeners with more security and wisdom than people associate with her younger self. Her captivating message is that instead of expecting a decline, life's third act (age 60 and beyond) can be more of a staircase, continually improving with richer relationships, liberating autonomy, satisfying sex, and a peaceful awareness of what our whole life has been about. The advice embodied in her 11 aging ingredients is psychologically minded and specific but never tedious. With her fascinating personal stories and seasoned optimism leading the way, this is an inspiring 10 hours with a lot to offer men and women approaching their later years. T.W. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine