Thank you Harper Horizon for access to this book electronically. I have struggled with the right words to say here. This was not my type of book, what I mean to say here is that this was not a book really meant for me as a reader. I think there is an audience for this but it is probably more of an audience in the 50s to 60s age bracket. I often find books with "older wisdom" to be some of my favorites to read, the life advice passed on from someone older and thus wiser is gold (in my opinion).

This book however, was not that. I wanted to read it for those nuggets of wisdom and possibly for some laugh out loud moments but I did not get those. I mostly gathered that everything is harder when you are older and a female, emphasis on female (obviously being a broad is in the title). Overall this read like a medical text or maybe a "how to" on aging females, but not a very light/funny or even anecdotal book. I am sorry to say but I would not really recommend this to anyone in my circle but possibly for someone like my grandmother?

With a subtitle like “Stuff You Need to Know That You Didn’t Know You Needed to Know”, I expected Two Old Broads to contain some hidden wisdom about ageing from a woman’s perspective; and having Whoopi Goldberg as a coauthor (along with nonagenarian MD, M. E. Hecht), I expected it to have some degree of entertainment value. But I was wrong on both counts. The advice given is very basic, the humour is strained, and the tone is superior and argumentative: more than anything, this seems to be Hecht’s advice for how to remain independent and relevant in the face of one’s family or society’s best-intentioned efforts to put you out to pasture — and as money doesn’t seem to be an object for either of the authors, I don’t see how their advice relates to the average reader — with Whoopi intermittently throwing in her own “two cents” on a topic. Not recommended for anyone.

TWO OLD BROADS by friends Whoopi Goldberg and Dr. M. E. Hecht is that urgent, essential guide to aging that baby boomers -- and everyone -- needs to manage past presumptions and assumptions into what has been called "golden years" or other euphemisms best summarized as sidelining the old people because they're done and gonna die soon. For me, their quick banter and apparent respect for one another was enjoyable -- less so was the emphasis on medical and infirmity and topics most often associated with being older. I wanted more than quick asides and anecdotes, feeling like some of the pieces were very valuable, but perhaps better handled as an in-depth exploration than quick peek. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

This book was not what I was expecting based in the description. It was described as a witty, laugh out loud commentary on being an experienced woman today, but it’s did not read that way for me.
it felt like more of a How-to manual for aging gracefully.
The other thing I found somewhat unclear was who was the intended audience. The description sounds like this is intended for everyone to read and learn from the wisdom contained therein; it also sounds as if the book is somewhat comedic, but it is not particularly funny. In actuality, the book is written more as a How-to manual for women who are currently in the Old Broad category (60+ years old, to clarify). Furthermore, it tells Old Broads to value their knowledge and experiences, but then proceeds to cover very basic concepts such as how to have good conversations with people of different ages, how to stay fashionable when older, how to communicate with family members and caretakers, and all sorts of health advice and suggestions for communicating with healthcare professionals. Adding to the confusion, parts of the book felt like they were written more to prepare women for becoming older, and not for individuals who are already older. Maybe it should have been called “How to be an Old Broad,” or “Old Broads: 101.” Both those titles would have more clearly indicated that this was advice for older women as opposed to indicating advice disseminated from older women to all the world.

My one other complaint is that the healthcare section of the book felt like it was significantly longer and more detailed than other parts of the book. The book felt somewhat out of balance as a result.

All these things considered, I did not feel that this book was a waste of time, merely that the title and description are misleading. I believe that the advice and suggestions within the book are quite easily adapted to be meaningful to people of all ages; a little tweaking could have helped this book be more fully enjoyed by a broader audience. I feel like much of the advice given was of the sort that I would have found helpful when first coming into adulthood, and I would very much enjoy a book along those lines - maybe “From Two Old Broads to Young Broads (and Others)”.

A lot of things can happen between 60 and 90 and this book covers it all. I found a few tips to be helpful but am not ready to talk about walkers and home health care. I’ll put it on my shelf for future reference. There is only a very small amount written by Whoopie…maybe 10%.

I had high hopes for this -- I was looking for entertaining writing, personal experiences about growing older (with humor, flair, and style) balanced against the doctor's perspective -- but am disappointed that it wasn't that well written and didn't offer much that was new. It might be useful for someone just getting to the "old broad" stage.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Horizon for accepting my request to read and review Two Old Broads.

Author: Dr. M. E. Hecht; Whoopi Goldberg
Published: 11/08/22
Genre: Self-Help

This didn't work for me. There was a list of seven points the book was going to make. A couple were obvious and there are several topics which make people uncomfortable, but still need to be talked about.

The book is dry. It was reading blah blah blah. It wasn't that I expected to laugh. I had high hopes of seeing tough subjects broached reasonably.

I feel like the seven points could have been put in a pamphlet garnering more success.

I had high hopes for this book, I love the premise but the writing just didn’t work for me. I do still recommend people give it a try because it has a lot of promise, it just wasn’t for me.

I'm torn on how to rate this. On one hand, I can see the spirit behind this one. It's a hopefuly view to help those struggling with getting older. It has some interesting tips to making doctor appointments to still being active in your 60's.

But I just didn't connect with this one. The tips felt silly at times and I didn't find any humor in it. Things like making lists to help get things done be sure to schedule annual doctor appointments - I don't feel like either tips are things "old broads" need advice for. Many of us have been going to annual doctor appointments since we were teens and I've definitely been using list, calendars and planners to organize my life since I had kids. I thought this one would have tips about finding your own self worth, giving up the expectations of others. I thought I would be laughing a lot.

I did like that it highlighted, at one point, to double check you are still getting value out of your life. And if you don't feel like you are getting value, to start tryint to incorporate new things - like new activities that may help you make new friends or making time for old hobbies to come alive again.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Let me start by saying that this was difficult read because it was an unedited version and the was a problem with the type set and numerous letters would randomly be missing. The rest was okay but I just found it hard to believe that this wasn't anything that anyone over 30 didn't already know.

All though I did find some information in this book useful, the majority seemed like filler.

It may because I am younger then the books aimed audience and just could not relate, but I found this book a bit dull.

I think if I were a bit older I would find this book amusing and more suited to my concerns and lifestyle. To be honest I saw Whoopi and jumped on the opportunity to read this book

Two “old broads” who became friends later in life offer alternating perspectives on creating a world full of zest and sparkle in the senior years. These award-winning women, a physician and a well-known TV and stage personality, combine their wits and bold life experiences to invite women to live with as much inventiveness as possible.

Practical tips like how to work with doctors and discuss difficult issues with family members are juxtaposed against lifestyle approaches such as accentuating the positive, indulging in artistic dates and hiring some help. Actively defy age exclusion! Pursue social connections and continuous learning. A good life may be as simple as laughing more and checking for hearing loss.

Hecht (retired orthopedic surgeon) and Goldberg (The View) submit a series of reminders for self-care and preventative as well as spirited living. While this advice is not new, it is a fun, often sassy reminder, that no one is just a number.

I f*cking LOVE Whoopi Goldberg and even though I wasn't yet familiar with Dr. M. E. Hecht, I know this was going to be amazing. I definitely believe that this is for an older generation but I had so much fun reading "Two Old Broads" and think it's a wonderful book even if you aren't necessarily looking for lifestyle advise!

Well, I had high hopes for this book with two interesting authors. I started reading and didn't get very far. Even skipping ahead didn't' make me find anything worthwhile. Pretty disappointing, unfortunately.

Two Old Broads is part memoire, part advocacy manual about living fully and aging unapologetically.

This book is centered around the theme that "social standards broaden with age" and encourages readers to take up space, raise their voices, and seek out excitement to defy society's narrow expectations of mature adulthood.

Organized into six parts (Broad Mentality, Broad Life, Broad Bones, Broad Well-Being, Broad Shoulders, and Broad Insights), each section contains comical anecdotes from Hecht and Goldberg, as well as chunks of practical advice. Threaded throughout the book is the theme that readers - of any age - should still be in charge of their own lives. This theme is most prominent in the sections that teach readers about medical advocacy, making autonomous decisions when caretakers and family want to assume control over "what's best for you," and making new friendships, dating, and sex well into and past your sixties.

Though many of the messages were strong, this book seemed a little confused about what it was trying to be, and wavered between wanting readers to be unapologetic about their age, while also on several occasions discouraging readers from speaking about and focusing on their age. While I understand the authors' point that age is just a number, there were a few points in the book where this contradiction seemed quite pronounced and I was left confused about the book's central tenet. Moreover, some of the sections seemed organized around the author's stream of consciousness instead of a more sequential flow of topics. For example, the "Broad Bones" sections went from body aches, to medical advocacy, how the author chooses her surgical patients, fearing anesthesia, safe forms of exercise, hearing loss, and dental phobia. As a reader, I felt like I was bouncing around without a strong transition from section to section.

Finally, the sections and anecdotes were not equally divided among Goldberg and Hecht. This book is mainly written by Hecht with a few paragraphs and sections from Goldberg sprinkled throughout. As a huge Whoopi Goldberg fan (I recognize that I'm biased here!), I'll be honest that I was slightly disappointed about this ratio.

Overall, I thought this book was informative, fun, and perspective-altering. As someone who is not entering mature adulthood quite yet, this book gave me a perspective on how to strengthen relationships with my parents and grandparents, and allowed me to reflect on how I can better center their needs, autonomy, and well-being.

I appreciate NetGalley and the publishers for sending me an advanced copy to review.

This is actually more of a vanity project than a book that will give good, substantial advice. However, I found some of the work interesting. Basically, don't be afraid to age, do what you want and live to the fullest. I would have liked more actual anecdote about how to handle specific aging situations. from two very smart women.

I really loved this book! It focuses on being proud of your age and embracing where you are in life as opposed to trying to fit into a younger box or be something your not. I was hooked from the line “oh this age is the new”….no you don’t have to be the “new” anything. You have to be proud of where you are at and make the most of life, it is a privilege to age and to embrace each age and the gift you are given.
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Written by renowned surgeon and expert on the art of aging, Dr. M.E. Hecht, with her friend Whoopi Goldberg lending her unique point of view, Two Old Broads is laugh out loud funny and tells it like it is for all of us who left middle age in the dust and want to be present, positive, and as extraordinary as ever in our golden years.

Whoopi joins Dr. Hecht in a lively conversation about growing older with no apologies. Dr. Hecht, who passed away a few short months prior to publication, shares her 93 years of wisdom with Whoopi and their fellow “broads.” Together, these two kindred spirits will help you:

stay active physically and mentally
make finalizing your will more rewarding than it sounds
navigate tricky subjects, such as whether you need a home aide
win friends and influence people or take a nap, depending on the day
discover joy in relationships even when your excretions outweigh your secretions
get up financially, physically, and emotionally after a fall
keep a sense of humor about getting older (of course!)
Imminently practical and rooted firmly in the adage that getting older is not for sissies, Two Old Broads is the aging book for the ages. You've survived the past; why not embrace the present and prepare for the future so you thrive and find more time to laugh along the way?