Description:
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
One of our greatest contemporary novelists, Patrick O’Brian is the author of the twenty volumes of the best-selling Aubrey/Maturin series, as well as many other books, including Testimonies, The Golden Ocean, The Unknown Shore, and biographies of Joseph Banks and Picasso.
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Condition Timely Delivery
This book was decades old but it looked like had never even been opened. Great price. Perfect condition. Delivered quickly. Amazing!
5.0 out of 5 stars I cannot review this
It is not my place to review this as it is a masterpiece and I'm not qualified to do that. It is not for those who are impatient as the content is dense and deep and complex. thanks.
5.0 out of 5 stars De Beauvoir on aging
Reality about aging.
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Great book in perfect condition.
4.0 out of 5 stars A bit musty, but generally good.
The book is in fine shape, but it smelled a little funky when it got here (mildew?) so I let it sit open for a day or so. It's fine now.
5.0 out of 5 stars "Of all realities, old age is perhaps that of which we retain a purely abstract notion the longest in our lives"...
Simone de Beauvoir places the subject quote, from the "searcher for lost time, himself," Marcel Proust, most fittingly, at the beginning of this seminal work. De Beauvoir was one of the most outstanding French intellectuals of the 20th Century, famous for her novels, "The Mandarins," and "She Came to Stay", as well as one of the longest autobiographies ever, a total of four volumes. She was also, for better or worse, the lifetime companion of Jean-Paul Sartre. Rare is the person who writes one seminal (double-entendres are not intentional, and would hopefully be forgiven) work on a field, and she is most famous for "The Second Sex," originally published in 1949, an extraordinary examination of the role of women in the world's society; a work which was a precursor to the feminist movements in the `60's. Rarer still is the person who can write two seminal works, and despite the fact it never has gained as much "traction" with the reading public, I consider "The Coming of Age," published in 1970, when De Beauvoir was just over 60, to be the equal of "The Second Sex" in terms of its comprehensive, and original examination of a subject that society, as well as many individuals, prefer to, well, as Proust said, retain as an abstract notion. Speaking of an abstract notion, I first read this work when I was under 30, in part since that is what I did; work with the elderly. I decided to re-read it now, since it is far less abstract, being around the age De Beauvoir was when the book was published. It has lost none of its power; now I understand, and have read more of her references.In the introduction De Beauvoir says that she intends to "break the conspiracy of silence" on what she has been told is a "dismal subject." And indeed she does. As she did in "The Second Sex," she used her phenomenal erudition to cover how old age is perceived in different societies, for example, the Koryak, a northern Siberian people. She also examines the historical record of how societies dealt with aging, from the ancient Greek, Chinese and Jewish societies. Her observation about the power of the elderly in these societies remains fresh. Consider: "Sometimes they had real power, sometime they played the part that, in certain mathematical operations, is played by imaginary numbers-they are necessary for the working out of the problem, but once the answer has been reached, they are eliminated." Concerning the present day, she notes the seeming paradox of how society shuffles the handicapped and the orphans to the sidelines, not to be thought of much, but the same is done to the elderly, though that is the most likely fate for all of us, unlike the other sub-categories. From her voluminous reading she relates the experiences of numerous individuals to aging, and I found the trials and tribulations of Juliette Drouet, who tolerated the infidelities of Victor Hugo, as well as Sophia Tolstoy, who experienced the same with her husband, illuminating.There is melancholy, and its antidote. She quotes the poet Mallarmé: "This scent of melancholy that the realizing of a dream for who has realized it, even when there is neither failure nor regret." The antidote, she quotes from the ethnologist Georges Condaminas, author of "We Have Eaten the Forest," about the Montagnards in the highland of Vietnam: "It must be understood that when a day is spent traveling is transposed to memory it takes up a far greater "space" than one spent at home.... The play-back time is a magnification of real time."There is much in the book that is a cause for optimism, and among others, she cites Goya's masterpieces on "The Disasters of War," which he began at 66, and reports in an appendix on numerous centenarians, living fulfilling lives in Brittany.De Beauvoir concludes though with the rather unrealistic statement that: "Once we have understood what the state of the aged really is, we cannot satisfy ourselves with calling for a more generous `old age' policy, higher pensions, decent housing and organized leisure. It is the whole system that is at issue and our claim cannot be otherwise than radical--change life itself." Well, not much progress has been made on that front over the last 30 years. Whether you're 30, and the notion is still quite abstract, or 60, and the "coming" part is less theoretical, or even 90, this is an essential work on the inevitable process of life.
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Book came in excellent condition!
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Good product and good service.
must read
a real must read for all those interested in the topic of social ageing, questions many vital aspects that leaves the reader to explore with their own mindexcellent!
dated, but has some interesting ideas
Billed as “the definitive study of the universal problem of growing old”. Published in 1970, nearly 600 pages, much of it dated. I skimmed some interminably detailed anthropology and history, and much sociology and politics. But her exploration of the psychology of becoming and being old is interesting. One of her theses is that everyone spends their life fearing death, but no one spends much time fearing old age, because we see the aged as different from us, another species, not as people we will become. Even into our own old age we kid ourselves it is something that is happening to other people, not to ourselves. The number of years we have lived tells us we’re old, but, health permitting, and even in spite of declining health and acuity, we persist in feeling ourselves young and resist the knowledge that we don’t appear that way.
Visit the W. W. Norton & Company Store
The Coming of Age
AED22794
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Visit the W. W. Norton & Company Store
The Coming of Age
AED22794
Quantity:
Order today to get by 7-14 business days
This item qualifies for free delivery
Imported From: United States
At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.
BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.
Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.
While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.
Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
One of our greatest contemporary novelists, Patrick O’Brian is the author of the twenty volumes of the best-selling Aubrey/Maturin series, as well as many other books, including Testimonies, The Golden Ocean, The Unknown Shore, and biographies of Joseph Banks and Picasso.
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Condition Timely Delivery
This book was decades old but it looked like had never even been opened. Great price. Perfect condition. Delivered quickly. Amazing!
5.0 out of 5 stars I cannot review this
It is not my place to review this as it is a masterpiece and I'm not qualified to do that. It is not for those who are impatient as the content is dense and deep and complex. thanks.
5.0 out of 5 stars De Beauvoir on aging
Reality about aging.
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Great book in perfect condition.
4.0 out of 5 stars A bit musty, but generally good.
The book is in fine shape, but it smelled a little funky when it got here (mildew?) so I let it sit open for a day or so. It's fine now.
5.0 out of 5 stars "Of all realities, old age is perhaps that of which we retain a purely abstract notion the longest in our lives"...
Simone de Beauvoir places the subject quote, from the "searcher for lost time, himself," Marcel Proust, most fittingly, at the beginning of this seminal work. De Beauvoir was one of the most outstanding French intellectuals of the 20th Century, famous for her novels, "The Mandarins," and "She Came to Stay", as well as one of the longest autobiographies ever, a total of four volumes. She was also, for better or worse, the lifetime companion of Jean-Paul Sartre. Rare is the person who writes one seminal (double-entendres are not intentional, and would hopefully be forgiven) work on a field, and she is most famous for "The Second Sex," originally published in 1949, an extraordinary examination of the role of women in the world's society; a work which was a precursor to the feminist movements in the `60's. Rarer still is the person who can write two seminal works, and despite the fact it never has gained as much "traction" with the reading public, I consider "The Coming of Age," published in 1970, when De Beauvoir was just over 60, to be the equal of "The Second Sex" in terms of its comprehensive, and original examination of a subject that society, as well as many individuals, prefer to, well, as Proust said, retain as an abstract notion. Speaking of an abstract notion, I first read this work when I was under 30, in part since that is what I did; work with the elderly. I decided to re-read it now, since it is far less abstract, being around the age De Beauvoir was when the book was published. It has lost none of its power; now I understand, and have read more of her references.In the introduction De Beauvoir says that she intends to "break the conspiracy of silence" on what she has been told is a "dismal subject." And indeed she does. As she did in "The Second Sex," she used her phenomenal erudition to cover how old age is perceived in different societies, for example, the Koryak, a northern Siberian people. She also examines the historical record of how societies dealt with aging, from the ancient Greek, Chinese and Jewish societies. Her observation about the power of the elderly in these societies remains fresh. Consider: "Sometimes they had real power, sometime they played the part that, in certain mathematical operations, is played by imaginary numbers-they are necessary for the working out of the problem, but once the answer has been reached, they are eliminated." Concerning the present day, she notes the seeming paradox of how society shuffles the handicapped and the orphans to the sidelines, not to be thought of much, but the same is done to the elderly, though that is the most likely fate for all of us, unlike the other sub-categories. From her voluminous reading she relates the experiences of numerous individuals to aging, and I found the trials and tribulations of Juliette Drouet, who tolerated the infidelities of Victor Hugo, as well as Sophia Tolstoy, who experienced the same with her husband, illuminating.There is melancholy, and its antidote. She quotes the poet Mallarmé: "This scent of melancholy that the realizing of a dream for who has realized it, even when there is neither failure nor regret." The antidote, she quotes from the ethnologist Georges Condaminas, author of "We Have Eaten the Forest," about the Montagnards in the highland of Vietnam: "It must be understood that when a day is spent traveling is transposed to memory it takes up a far greater "space" than one spent at home.... The play-back time is a magnification of real time."There is much in the book that is a cause for optimism, and among others, she cites Goya's masterpieces on "The Disasters of War," which he began at 66, and reports in an appendix on numerous centenarians, living fulfilling lives in Brittany.De Beauvoir concludes though with the rather unrealistic statement that: "Once we have understood what the state of the aged really is, we cannot satisfy ourselves with calling for a more generous `old age' policy, higher pensions, decent housing and organized leisure. It is the whole system that is at issue and our claim cannot be otherwise than radical--change life itself." Well, not much progress has been made on that front over the last 30 years. Whether you're 30, and the notion is still quite abstract, or 60, and the "coming" part is less theoretical, or even 90, this is an essential work on the inevitable process of life.
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Book came in excellent condition!
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Good product and good service.
must read
a real must read for all those interested in the topic of social ageing, questions many vital aspects that leaves the reader to explore with their own mindexcellent!
dated, but has some interesting ideas
Billed as “the definitive study of the universal problem of growing old”. Published in 1970, nearly 600 pages, much of it dated. I skimmed some interminably detailed anthropology and history, and much sociology and politics. But her exploration of the psychology of becoming and being old is interesting. One of her theses is that everyone spends their life fearing death, but no one spends much time fearing old age, because we see the aged as different from us, another species, not as people we will become. Even into our own old age we kid ourselves it is something that is happening to other people, not to ourselves. The number of years we have lived tells us we’re old, but, health permitting, and even in spite of declining health and acuity, we persist in feeling ourselves young and resist the knowledge that we don’t appear that way.
Similar suggestions by Bolo
More from this brand
Similar items from “Literary”
Share with
Or share with link
https://www.bolo.ae/products/U039331443K