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20+ Works 5,823 Membros 61 Críticas 3 Favorited

About the Author

Mary Pipher is a therapist and clinical psychologist specializing in women, trauma, and the effects of culture on mental health. She has been called the "cultural therapist" for her generation. In addition to Reviving Ophelia, she is the author of several bestselling books, including Women Rowing mostrar mais North, Another Country, and The Shelter of Each Other. She lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. Sara Pipher Gilliam is a writer, editor, and global advocate for refugee families, as well as a former Fulbright Scholar and middle school English teacher. She is editor in chief of Exchange, an international magazine for early childhood professionals and educators. She lives with her family in Hamilton, Ontario. mostrar menos

Obras por Mary Pipher

Writing to Change the World (2006) 346 exemplares
Letters to a Young Therapist (2003) 210 exemplares
Hunger Pains (1995) 115 exemplares

Associated Works

Coming of Age in Samoa (1928) — Introdução, algumas edições1,354 exemplares

Etiquetado

Conhecimento Comum

Nome canónico
Pipher, Mary
Nome legal
Pipher, Mary Elizabeth
Data de nascimento
1947-10-21
Sexo
female
Nacionalidade
USA
Local de nascimento
Springfield, Missouri, USA
Locais de residência
Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
Educação
University of California, Berkeley (BA | 1969 - Cultural Anthropology)
University of Nebraska (PhD | 1977 - Clinical Psychology)
Ocupações
Psychologist
Organizações
American Psychological Association

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Mary Pipher, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and author of The Shelter of Each Other: Rebuilding our Families and Another Country: Navigating the Emotional Terrain of our Elders. Awarded the American Psychological Association's Presidential Citation, Pipher speaks across the country to families, mental health professionals, and educators, and has appeared on Today, 20/20, The Charlie Rose Show, PBS Newshour with Jim Lehrer, and National Public Radio's Fresh Air.

Membros

Críticas

Clinical psychologist Mary Pipher reflects on women growing older, in their sixties and seventies, and living their best lives.

I am... well, not the audience for this book in more ways than one. But my book club - which I facilitate as part of my job - chose this to read, I thought it would be a good kickoff to the year. At the beginning, when she talked about transitions, I could relate. I'm entering middle age, however, and in some ways the busiest time of my life with work responsibilities, home ownership, and a growing family (in my case, nieces and nephews).

But mainly, I didn't connect with the book because it stays on the surface, talking about the attitude one should have as life changes and new challenges begin even as the busy-ness of life starts slowing down. For example, when writing about how older women can take the long view of life, she writes:
We don't see the world as it is, but rather as we are. If we are angry and bitter, we find proof of hostility wherever we look. If we are trusting, we look for evidence of kindness. Growth requires us to constantly expand our points of view....If we are curious, we don't just look for evidence that confirms our narrowest opinions, but rather we try to understand more about everyone and everything. We yearn to see the world through the broadest of all lenses. By taking the longest possible view, we can experience gratitude, wisdom, and a sense for the moral continuity of our lives. This strengthens our identities and brings us peace and connection" (238-239).

All well and good. She's not wrong, exactly, but she stays with pat sentences like that and doesn't delve into the practical ways in which one should go about taking the long view. She stays on the surface about all the topics she addresses, gives us case studies from her own lives and others' experiences, instead of telling you how to do it. And maybe, as a psychologist, that's her strength. For me as a (task-oriented) reader, though, I prefer the type of self-help book that will give me practical steps (how) and studies (why) that will show me what to do.

See, the thing is, I've been privileged to live close to family two and three generations older than me. I saw firsthand the way an adult over 60, in their retirement age but still with vitality, could experience the world as my great-grandmother continued knitting into her 90s and enjoyed seeing her grandkids for visits, and my grandparents were active gardeners and brought me along to iris society meetings and taught me about our family history while we drove the back roads. I look forward to aspects of that time in my life, even though I also like the stage I'm in now. I don't really need a feel-good book to tell me what I already know. So, it was an okay read for me. The other ladies in my book club are of the age that she describes in the book, however, and I'll be interested in hearing their perspectives.
… (mais)
 
Assinalado
bell7 | 13 outras críticas | Jan 15, 2024 |
Most of this book felt like filler.

The most helpful chapter was probably the one on letter writing, where she talks about what will persuade government leaders in policy making.

There is a chapter on speeches, with the emphasis on giving, rather than writing, them. If I wanted to learn about public speaking, I could have read a book on that subject, but I specifically read one on writing.

There is also a chapter on poetry and music, in which the author announces she's not going to tell readers how to write poetry. Instead, she spends many pages saying what could be summed up as "Poetry and music are important. If you are gifted for these, write poetry and music." She also quotes her favorite poems.

There were too many quotes in general, but I especially tired of the author's constant quoting of Thich Nhat Hanh.

There were a few good tips here, but nothing that isn't found in other books on writing.
… (mais)
 
Assinalado
RachelRachelRachel | 6 outras críticas | Nov 21, 2023 |
This book was a big disappointment to me, because it is very much a beginners guide to writing. I was hoping for something oriented towards social activists who are already writing, but who are hoping to refine, refresh and reevaluate their work and style within the framework of writing as activism. If you have yet to write your first letter to the editor, column, speech to read at a public meeting, etc. and feel uncertain about how to do that, then this is the book for you, otherwise, skip it.
 
Assinalado
lschiff | 6 outras críticas | Sep 24, 2023 |
nonfiction - a psychologist/writer of some reknown catalogs the experiences of older women, including internalized ageism, dealing with health issues while becoming a caretaker for elders and partners, grieving the loss of friend and loved ones, nurturing connections within a dwindling social group, keeping busy in retirement and finding purpose, etc. Might be marginally helpful in a "hey, you're not alone" way, but also potentially hurtful if not taken with grain of salt (e.g. ch. 9's "happiness is a choice" message does not consider serious mental health issues or addiction -- choice is important but sometimes external assistance can be absolutely necessary). I did think the part about setting boundaries on your time was helpful--making sure you have time for yourself before saying yes to additional obligations, and language you can use while you get used to saying 'no.' But mostly I found the content dull, with a writing style that sort of blathers on, but it might make an ok audiobook for an inattentive listener (like myself).

stopped reading p.238 of 398 (over halfway thru)
… (mais)
 
Assinalado
reader1009 | 13 outras críticas | Jul 24, 2023 |

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Associated Authors

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Estatísticas

Obras
20
Also by
1
Membros
5,823
Popularidade
#4,229
Avaliação
½ 3.7
Críticas
61
ISBN
99
Línguas
6
Marcado como favorito
3

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