Prime Time: Love, health, sex, fitness, friendship, spirit; Making the most of all of your life [Paperback]

I was fortunate to receive an autographed copy of Jane Fonda's' Primetime' book a
week ago and started to read it immediately. I am a fan and follow her blogs and thus
was offered her book. This is her fourth book, and follows "Coming Of Age' where she
explored her life until the age of 60. Now she enters her seventh decade, and found she
is the happiest she has ever been. Jane Fonda researched many articles and subjects for
this book, and she has brought us the best advice she has found. More than advice this
book looks at how Jane and her friends have lived their lives, and what she has discovered
that helps to make her the healthiest and happiest. She brings us the best of Jane and the
best of our third act, what she calls 'Primetime'.

One of the biggest obstacles that most people face in moving ahead is that they really don't
know how to go forward. The best method is to look at the past and analyze what has occurred.
Find out where you have been, and then try to arrange a plan for the future- a life review.
Jane Fonda suggests using a stairway and steps as a metaphor. It sounds complex, but once you
read about the steps, it seems so plausible. Jane Fonda is very explicit in her discussions of
sex and sexuality in our later years. She discusses quite openly how to promote the best sex life
you can have, and the steps to take to get there. Jane shares her life. She lets us know where
she has been and where she is now,and where she hopes to be in 5 or 10 years. She is in a constant
state of learning, taking on new challenges one after another.

There is much discussion of nutrition and exercise, all that we know and some I was not aware of.
Friends, the importance of friendship in our lives, people and animals. Working or volunteering in
our communities, it gives a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Finances and what social
security really is and how to apply for it. Meditation and taking time for ourselves. Becoming whole
and how to prepare for the best time in our lives is the main message, interspersed with many stories
so wonderfully told. There is so much to this book, that I would recommend it to everyone over fifty-
oh, yes, men as well as women. There is a great deal that most men will want to know, even if the chapters
on sex are what gains most of their attention. This is a book that encompasses much of what we may want
to know and learn as we enter our 'best years'. Changing our perspective from yuck, growing older, to
whoopee, growing into our best years!

The greatest potential for growth and self-realization occurs exists in the second half of life. Carl Jung

Highly highly recommended. prisrob 08-09-11

My Life So Far (with Bonus Content)

Jane Fonda: Prime Time - Fit & Strong

*****
In this wonderful new book on aging, the author Jane Fonda explores a new model for aging in the current longevity revolution--one that integrates learning, production, and leisure (all three stages of life) throughout the life stages instead of compartmentalizing them to youth, adulthood, and retirement--and how this integration can play out. She uses the metaphors of the arch (the old way of aging) and the staircase--continued ascent, especially in a spiral--the new way of aging. This book is about the last third of life, beginning at age sixty--for boomers and seniors, both male and female. Even though the author's perspective will appeal more to women than men, the book is informative and intended for both men and women.

The author discusses eleven key ingredients for vital living and successful aging: (1) not abusing alcohol, (2) not smoking, (3) getting enough sleep, (4) being physically active, (5) eating a healthy diet, (6) brain health through learning, (7) positivity, (8) introspection and life review, (9) connection, (10) generativity, and (11) caring about the bigger pictures. She covers these areas in depth, including working out (with an actual workout for older folks in an appendix)--which you'd expect. She includes a very frank, helpful, and in-depth discussion of sex (including masturbation, sex toys, and erectile dysfunction medications) in an open and tasteful manner. She also discusses practical social problems of aging like poverty, nursing home care, elder abuse, etc. She includes the topic of meditation--a work-"in"--as well as well as the discussions of working out.

The book is heavily based on current research in aging, but also includes the author's valuable personal experience and personal interviews. This is the best part of the book, I think. Jane Fonda's perspective is unique and her writing style is always excellent--she is an intelligent and articulate author and a courageous, real, compassionate person. Her book is not dry but fun to read. It includes numerous black and white photographs as well as an index. Filled with powerful life lessons and wisdom, this is the most exciting, hopeful, positive book I've read on aging well, at the same time being practical and realistic and not romanticizing the losses and challenges of aging.

Highly recommended.
*****

My wife is a big fan of Jane Fonda and I bought this book as an anniversary gift for her. When it arrived I took a quick review and decided I would read it myself. My wife and I are in our sixties and try to eat well and exercise regularly and we are the targeted audience for the book.

Jane does a good job of pointing out many useful hints for dealing with the issues of ageing both physically and mentally. She covers areas such as health, exercise, food, sex, self-understanding, keeping young mentally, social growth, and touches on spirituality.

Jane makes the case that from 60 on can be years of growth and self satisfaction if we focus and plan for this period. I liked and agreed with much of what she writes about. I am in my 60's and have been spending the last few years redefining who I want to be. I have focused on fitness, diet, and health like Jane suggests but I also spend an equal if not more time on my spiritual development.

Jane has a chapter on dying but it is very superficial. She does not provide much real insight in how to cope with the ultimate issues of sickness, death, loneliness, separation from families, etc. Jane's book is upbeat and encouraging but when most people look at their lives they fall far short of this ideal presented by Jane.

I think the book is excellent and will be useful for anyone 50 plus. However, it is not the total answer for achieving happiness in our later years. I would advise readers to also look at books concerning spiritual growth. There are many fine books that deal with these issues and depending on one's religious and spiritual background I would suggest reading what gave you most satisfaction when you were a child. No matter how we have lived we generally are tied back to how we were formed as children. As Jane says in her book we are all faced with our mortality and untimely we will die. I find that my friends and those who also spend considerable time giving and sharing of their talents and working on their spiritual growth in a serious manner are most happy. When the hard times time and they will at some point it is good to be able to fall back on deeply developed spiritual principals. When we become sick it is too late to start this development.

Again, I found the book to be most enjoyable and full of good advice. However, I think Jane would agree that this is only a start and all of us need to continue to grow as we age.