The Last Gift of Time: Life beyond Sixty

A good, thought-provoking read of historical and social importance. I'm a guy and I bristled at Heilbrun's sweeping dismissal and contempt for men. But, why expect her to be perfect? After all, she is just as much a part of our imperfect human family as the men and women she discusses. One should take this book as a product of its time, I think. An example of the thought-provoking nature of the...more

A good, thought-provoking read of historical and social importance. I'm a guy and I bristled at Heilbrun's sweeping dismissal and contempt for men. But, why expect her to be perfect? After all, she is just as much a part of our imperfect human family as the men and women she discusses. One should take this book as a product of its time, I think. An example of the thought-provoking nature of the book for me. Heilbrun mentions how someone pointed out that she might not have been as supported in her family for her academic pursuits if she had had a brother. This made me wonder, how might my life had been different if I had had a sister? Perhaps my mother and grandmother might have made HER their "talking friend" and confidant, and I might have had THAT world shut off to me. Instead, I've been blessed with skills of personal chit chat and discussion, skills that are often reported to be missing in men.   hide

I wish I had a chance to meet Carolyn Heilbrun -- she was a remarkable person, who touched many, many lives with her teaching, friendship, writing and sheer force of personality. As Rosemary noted, an "unmet friend" indeed!