How Not To Get Old: One Woman's Quest to Take Control of the Ageing Process

Description

When journalist Jane Gordon was hospitalised and left immobile after a nasty car accident, dependent on others to feed her and help her to the bathroom, she suddenly had to confront what it might be like to one day be old and infirm. Determined to not only regain her strength but find ways to stay physically and mentally fit for as long as possible, Jane decided to road-test different self-help programmes designed to promote longevity. From ballroom dancing to brain training, learning a second language to silent meditation, joining the gym and improving her gut health, Jane seeks advice from top neuroscientists and medical professionals to assess the impact these courses have on her health, and whether they will stop her getting old before her time. Part self-help, part manifesto, HOW NOT TO GET OLD is about future-proofing your physical and mental wellbeing and taking control of the ageing process, rather than wallowing in it. For what begins as a clever experiment in the art of stopping time becomes a joyous celebration of what we CAN do, not what we can't or shouldn't, and ultimately demonstrates how later life is still very much for living...

In a journalistic career spanning three decades, Jane Gordon has had columns in The Times, the Mail on Sunday, the Sunday Mirror and the Sunday Telegraph. A mother of three grown-up children, she most recently co-authored the column 'Mum and Me' with her daughter Bryony in the Sunday Telegraph's magazine Stella. In her new column 'You Are Never Too Old To Learn' Jane is taking on new challenges designed to further future-proof her brain and body.

Enormously enjoyable, entertaining and full of important information. Jane Gordon writes with verve about her quest to overcome the parts of ageing we all dread, and the result is a warm, funny and fascinating look at the latest thinking on how we women can stay happy, healthy and sane as we approach the autumn/winter of our lives. A real treat. * Judy Finnigan * Crammed with wonderful ideas, this is the perfect book for anyone with health, strength, a sense of adventure and no intention of feeling old. * Dame Esther Rantzen * A jolly quest to make the greying years more colourful -- Libby Purves * TIMES * Ultimately, this is a positive and life-affirming handbook with good 'takeaways' for those wanting to ensure they get more out of life as they age. And it confirms what I've long believed: people need projects. * DAILY MAIL *