One for the Ageless

Syndicated humor columnist Zezima (Every Day Is Saturday) pokes fun at life as a senior in this playful offering. Styled with self-deprecating humor—Zezima refers to himself as “an out-of-shape geezer who drinks red wine to avoid heart trouble and believes that exercise and health food will kill you”—and highlighting the easy banter between the author and his wife, Sue, this lighthearted read covers (and lobs jokes at) topics from aging health concerns to quality time with grandkids. Zezima shares the unique way he navigated the coronavirus pandemic, including the painful absence of family visits and vaccination challenges in his home state of New York, all through a comedic lens that brings welcome levity to even the most difficult subjects.

Fans of humorous essays about real life will be thoroughly entertained by Zezima’s quips and insights. He states his ninety-seven year old mother is sharper than he is, announcing “this isn’t such a great accomplishment because the same could be said for cucumbers,” and he proudly declares to his personal gym trainer that his overall fitness goal is “to stay alive.” Zezima is a devoted family man, recounting his many outings with grandchildren who challenge him to dance contests and paint his fingernails, and his closeness with Sue is evident throughout as he describes their lively antics, including a police stakeout for Sue’s stolen phone and learning how to handle couples grocery shopping.

Although rich with laughs, Zezima’s writing addresses weightier material along the way: he touches on Sue’s heart attack and recovery as well as how they managed days without electricity during Tropical Storm Isaias. Some of his stories elicit fond memories of the past, particularly his success at creating a prized pasta dish for Paul Newman’s Own and Good Housekeeping Recipe Contest. Readers keen on fun-loving stories sprinkled with substance will enjoy this selection.

Takeaway: A lighthearted take on the ups and downs of growing old, rich with humor and entertaining stories.

Great for fans of: Lawrence G. Doyle’s Adventures in Retirement, Steven Petrow’s Stupid Things I Won’t Do When I Get Old.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

- Booklife Reviews

A humorous collection of reflections focuses on the sillier aspects of getting older.

In his meditation on the funny sides of the golden years, Zezima takes readers on one retirement adventure after another,
introducing them to his long-suffering wife, his kids and grandkids, and all the antics he gets involved in from story to story.
He writes about his experiences using the Duolingo app to learn French (one of the work’s comic highlights); he recalls the
ups and downs of attending his 50th high school reunion; and he shares a store of quips about getting exercise at his age.
His tales are filled with boomer-style comic reductions (men, he writes, have no idea what they’re doing when they’re
driving a shopping cart or why they’re in a supermarket, “although most of them know instinctively where the beer is”), and
he peppers his text with mock quizzes for readers. At one point, the author decides to spruce up his retirement free time by
trying his hand at selling cars for a dealership. This works about as well as most of his other misadventures, but at one
point, a customer tells him that he has what it takes: “You have a good personality and a great sense of humor, and you’re
outgoing. You could sell anything.” Readers will agree with this sentiment while making their way through these charming
tales. Zezima is a natural storyteller, never more delightful than when readers suspect he might be, shall we say,
exaggerating. His comic timing is impeccable, and it’s neatly balanced with his self-deprecating humor. Even though
serious subjects come up (failing health, Covid-19), the author very winningly never takes himself too seriously.

A fun and irreverent series of comic meditations on aging.

- Kirkus Reviews