Finally, a collection that celebrates, considers, contemplates, even criticizes'midlife' from a black woman's point of view. Age Ain't Nothing but a Number ranges over every aspect of black women's lives: personal growth, family and friendship, love and sexuality, health, beauty, illness, spirituality, creativity, financial independence, work, and scores of other topics. Midlife today isn't your grandmother's'change of life.' Today, black women call hot flashes 'power surges,' and menopause, the 'pause that refreshes.' These days, middle-aged women may be newlyweds or new mothers, as well as grandmothers or widows. They may experience the empty-nest syndrome and then the 'return-to-the-nest syndrome' as adult children move back home. They may navigate the field of Internet dating, travel the world, teach homeless women, take up pottery, or study international business. This anthology captures all of these aspects of midlife as experienced by some of the finest voices in African-American writing today. Featuring the work of Maya Angelou, J. California Cooper, Pearl Cleage, Nikki Giovanni, Susan L. Taylor, Alice Walker, and dozens of others, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number will make readers think, laugh, and cry and will be the perfect gift book for spring. Stereotypical images have portrayed black women as sexual objects in their youths and as nannies as they age. This collection of essays, fiction, and poems offers a variety of perspectives on black women in middle age (from their late 30s through their 50s) celebrating newfound freedom from pressure and the expectations placed on younger women. The 43 contributors, famous and obscure, include Nikki Giovanni, Alice Walker, Susan L. Taylor, Rita Dove, Terry McMillan, Gloria Naylor, Maya Angelou, and Pearl Cleage. These women explore the transition into middle age-- the emotional, psychological, professional, and physical changes--from career switches to widowhood to accepting childlessless. Sober essays warn of the rising incidences of sexually transmitted disease among the aging and the facts about the approach and onset of menopause. Poems and short stories evoke the renewed sense of self and sensuality in some women as they age. The collection is arranged in four sections: personal growth, health issues, relationships, and love. Vanessa Bush Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved "Reading this medley of wisdom, laughter, reflection and love is wonderfully satisfying." -- Venise Berry, author of Colored Sugar Water "When I grow up I want to keep on growing! [This book] is my roadmap. Thank you my ageless sisters." -- Iyanla Vanzant, author of In the Meantime and Acts of Faith Finally, a collection that celebrates, contemplates, even criticizes midlife . . . but from a black woman s point of view. Age Ain t Nothing but a Number is the first anthology of its kind. Featuring the writing of 40 of the finest black women writers, this anthology ranges over every aspect of black women s lives family, friendship, love, sex, beauty, health, spirituality, work, and many other topics. Maya Angelou, J. California Cooper, Pearl Cleage, Patricia Raybon, Elyse Singleton, April Sinclair, Rita Dove, Gloria Naylor, Jewelle Gomez, Nikki Giovanni, Tina McElroy Ansa, Terry McMillan these are just a few of the many writers showcased here. Age Ain t Nothing but a Number tells the real story of midlife. Spirited, candid, moving, funny, and immensely readable, this anthology should make every reader stand up and dance. Carleen Brice is the author of Walk Tall: Affirmations for People of Color , which was a Blackboard Bestseller, and Lead Me Home: An African American Guide Through the Grief Journey, and was a contributing editor for R.I.P.: The Complete Book of Death and Dying. She has written for various publications, including Mademoiselle, the Chicago Tribune, and BET.com, and lives in Denver, Colorado. Used Book in Good Condition