I was really excited when I got approved to read this one as I thought the concept was so unique and fun, and, if I'm being honest, I was a little sucked in by the title. As a Dirty Dancing girlie having Patrick Swayze be in the title sucked me right in and had me curious as to who would all be included in this book. While I think that the overall concept and ideas in this book are good ones and this was an overall enjoyable read, there was enough lacking in the pages to keep me fully invested. My rating can be described as: "I liked this, but I didn't love this."

I really did love the layout of this book and the idea behind how the formatting is set up. I thought having each page be a different person of interest based on how old they are in a chronological order was so interesting and truly made me feel like there was going to be some great substance on each page, especially since this book started off really strong in the beginning. I felt myself ready to dive in headfirst and find out what each person did at each respective age. However, the pages quickly started falling flat for me and did not hold enough interesting information to keep my attention as the pages progressed. This is not to say that I was ready to DNF this one; I only mean that I found myself picking it up here and there in between other reading.

Now, maybe that's how this book is supposed to be read – in increments. I believe readers will enjoy reading this in smaller sections or in between tasks. This strategy, it can be argued, might even heighten the reading experience as personally I found each person's little bubble started to get repetitive about half way through the book. Not so much in context, but more so in the ways the content was presented. I started to feel that a lot of sentences either word for word or at very least the structures were repeated. These writers clearly had a specific formula that they stuck exceptionally close to while crafting this book and it become easy to see as the book went on. It began to feel like I was reading the same blurb over and over again, which could have been avoided if a little more research might have been done about each person. For me, the blurbs lacked a zest for information and read more as a writing assignment a high school teacher english teacher might have given their students. The blurbs, especially of the lesser known people included, felt more like a high schooler's grab at finishing an assignment that's due versus a passionate dive into interesting people and what they accomplished at certain points in their lives.

Continuing that thought, it also felt like some of the people were included simply to fit the age needed for the page instead of actually being an interesting person. I do think it's very cool that the authors were able to find someone for each age from 35 all the way up to 100 and, once again, loved the concept for this book! However, I also think that some of it was just poorly researched making it feel more like a cash crab versus a project that the writers actually cared deeply about. Now, I'm not saying that everything has to be a deeply researched piece of personal motivation, but I do think that the authors could have put slightly more work into the research that went into this book, which would have easily taken this from, "Yea, it was good," to "That was awesome!"

Overall, I still found this to be a fun read and a great way to spend an afternoon. There are many interesting people in these pages, and I found myself curious to venture out on my own to do some more research about some of the public figures included in these pages. This isn't necessarily a rush out to get it so I can read it right now kind of book, but one that I would still recommend picking up and perusing if you get the chance.

I received a free electronic download copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the authors for providing me a copy.

This book grew on me as I read it. The premise is interesting, starting from age 35, with someone listed for every year until 100 (possibly further, I honestly don't recall), the authors give a quick "funny" intro and then a paragraph or two about the person and what they did when they turned 35, 36, 37, etc. A different person for each age, it celebrated those older than 35 and what they achieved at that age.

The intro for each person sometimes was funny, but other times it left me scratching my head because it made no sense, or shaking my head because I understood it, but it wasn't funny in the slightest, at least to me.

Also, the format REAAAAALLY plumped the book page number up. Page with a design/drawn picture of the subject (not a lot of drawn pictures, mostly random designs), their mini-bio on the next page, turn and repeat.

I started to warm up to this book when I was interested in the person they were introducing the reader to and I went on Google searches to find out more about the person, as one to two paragraphs doesn't do much other than whet the appetite for more.

All I can say is, Google Willie Murphy, 82 year old weightlifter. She is amazing and I need to start lifting weights, lol.

This was ok. It would make a good bathroom book, as the mini-bios don't take much time to read. The reason I took so long to read this was I kept looking up the people they discussed. It would make a cute/fun Christmas gift or stocking stuffer.

3, interesting concept executed for those with short attention spans, stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

I was a little disappointed by this book. There really should've been more drawings, or other content that was unique to it. Some of the people were new to me, but not as many as I would've liked. There were more than a few blurbs when I wasn't even sure what it was that made them famous. The blank space between entries could've been used to spotlight why they were featured in more detail, like the description of a book or an illustration of the famous object.

That said, I did think it was okay as simply a short book to flip through and maybe get inspired. I liked the final entry, and I had a good laugh at the authors not wanting us to make more spooky spider stuff like some of featured people.

Quick and easy coffee table read...

Truth: I was drawn to the title and the cover of this book, The Swayze Year, as well as intrigued by the description provided. Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the gifted copy!

Patrick Swayze was 35 years old when he got his big break in Dirty Dancing. Estelle Getty was 63 years old when she gained recognition as the feisty, wise-cracking Sophia Petrillo -- the most golden of The Golden Girls -- when the show took home and Emmy and a Golden Globe in its first season. Clara Peller was 81 years old when she got her big break as a cultural hit and national icon in her role as Wendy's, "Where's The Beef?" lady.

What I enjoyed most about this book is that it is a reminder to everyone that age ain't nothing but a number and you're never too old to reach your potential and walk in your purpose. At times it was humorous and other times it was revelatory. There is a profile for each year 35-100, highlighting and celebrating individuals that reflected huge personal and professional accomplishments. It would make for a great addition to anyone's coffee table. Many of the stories I was familiar with, some I was not.

3.5/5 ⭐️s

Book 108 of 200 - 2023

🌟🌟💫

I went into this thinking it was a graphic novel about Patrick Swayze but found out it was focussing on how he got his start later in life... and others like Tina Turner for example on when she became a megastar as a solo artist.

So with each year - at each age, there is a summary of their achievements etc.

The achievements are impressive but I felt the little people series for kids presented it in a better way.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.

It's cute, inspiring. Birthday gift for people who like things like horoscopes and trivia books. I wouldn't run out by it, but I know others will love it.

Thank you to the authors, Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this clapback to the thinking of "you're too old for..." - profiling people who achieved great things at an "older" age. No, we should not be defining ourselves by our age, but everything in the world around us does, so I feel this is a legitimate response. I particularly enjoyed reading about people who are not so well-known, but whose lives are hugely motivating because they refused to "act their age". Not a book to read through in one go, but to dip into, and then explore other sources. And I loved the fact that two friends wrote this together, both also confronting the "too old for..." issue.

nice book to get s small little snippet of information for people over 30 to get a bit of an inspiration for every day of the year about people that achieved and changed their lives over 30+.

i expected a little more than some basic info and mostly just a handful of sentences per day and for each person -sometimes even less than that.

but i am also someone that prefers more details than just a little overview for people and what they did. if i get info about someone i need more- i want to know where they are from how they got to the point they achieved the point they said „okay let’s just go for it!“ and that’s i want at least some details about how they achieved that goal and managed to make it.

BUT i also know that there are a lot of people that prefer small amounts of info to larger ones -so depending on what you personally prefer, make your own decision.

i do think it’s a wonderful book that is perfect as a gift to anyone that takes the leap and need a bit of a boost to remind themselves that a lot of people change their lives in their mid 30s!

A quick, fun and inspiring book for anyone who is feeling “too old” to do this or “too old” to do that.

I’ll be turning 50 (the evolution year) in a few months and LOVED reading these stories of folks who did amazing things in their later years…age is just a number.

The Swayze Year - Colleen A.F. Venable + Meghan Daly

"These lighthearted, humourous bios and inspiring stories are meant to help you get out of your own head, laugh and hopefully restore a sense of optimism and possibilty. Don't fear the calendar. It's never too late to get started."

As someone who has always had an ...interesting relationship with the concept of getting older, this was a neat book! I learned a lot of things and I really liked the illustrations! I do with there was an accompanying illustration for each entry though. This would be a great coffee table book.

You might like this book if you: want to reframe how you feel about aging and the concept of "success".

*I receieved an ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review*

This book is a perfect gift for anyone who’s sitting one of those “scary age” years or is just plain thinking there’s no use starting over at their age. This book shows that change can happen at any age (just look up Patricia Davis if you don’t believe me) and it makes me happy to say I’m going into my “It’s Totally a Flower” Year & change is possible.

I started this while at the airport and thought the concept was really interesting and also motivating for readers! However I am probably younger that the intended audience as I’m currently 20. I found this still to be motivating yet also something to learn that there is no rush for success and happiness, I do not need to be at my peak in my twenties and have my life all figured out as there is still many many years ahead.

I did not finish reading it as I didn’t feel too connected to the story but I highly recommend for people who are 35-100, they cover every age and have an inspiring story for each!

A plus if you love graphics/art as there are some portraits of the individuals that are mentioned for each year.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this!

This was a cute idea with a little something for everyone to enjoy. Getting older doesn't have to suck. My favorite part being that two BFFs wrote and illustrated it together, after each experiencing their own Swayze-Morrison/Ball'er years.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

This is a great compilation to note that it's never too late to achieve your dreams. Titled after the fact that Swayze landed his most notable role after turning 30, each year is highlighted by a person who reached a significant goal or achievement at that age. It was astounding to read how much people accomplished later in their lives. It's thought-provoking and highlights that sometimes things happen for a reason.

Barely 3 stars. This was a very fast read about some interesting people, most of who, I've never heard about, who deserved much more than the bland little blurb they received in this book.

So helpful and inspiring! You get to wonder if you can do or create anything once you are out of your early thirties and this book proves you wrong! I think this would make a great college graduation gift!

I appreciated how good this was, Colleen AF Venable and Meghan Daly has everything that I was looking for in this description. It was well written and I’m glad I read this.

No matter how old you are, you're never too late to be celebrated for breaking new ground or just breaking through, as detailed in "The Swayze Year", an inspirational read about people who have found success in their more advanced years. The idea behind it is that Patrick Swayze was 35 when he found fame in "Dirty Dancing", proving you're never too old for that breakthrough moment.
In the main, this is a great inspiring read, however I do have a couple of gripes... Firstly - 35 isn't old! Or maybe I'm just sensitive about my advancing years... But from where I'm sitting that's hardly washed-up-on-the-shelf territory. Secondly - if you're looking for inspiration for a fresh start in life, this is much more about people who have been plugging away at something for decades before finding success. I would also challenge how success is defined - as several of the British actors were hugely respected theatre stars before getting their breakthrough into movies and more obvious fame.
But these are all relatively small gripes in what is an extremely interesting read, with many truly inspiring people who have achieved amazing things in their advanced years. Highly inspiring.

Kind of like Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women but for adults (and with a single illustrator). Just as that book encourages and inspires girls to see themselves in women who dared to do great things, The Swayze Year attempts to do the same for aging and how we define success. Another somewhat similar book might be Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World - with its profiles of bold women.

And I quite enjoyed those two books, but honestly, this book just wasn't for me.
Why?
- I'm presumably 10-15 yrs older than the author, depending on how long it took to write... and I haven't lived in the US for about that long.
+/- As other reviews have mentioned, it feels like a friendly conversation -- and I'm sitting on the edge derpily smiling and pretending to follow along. Somehow the style, the tone just didn't appeal to me;
+/- If you're over 40, you'll be familiar with most of these people, that was a negative for me, but it might be comforting to be reminded that Julia Child was 51 when she first appeared on TV.
- What I took away from some of these profiles was actually that priviledge, education, have a large role to play and that actually these people sometimes had quite a lot of success before their Success with a capital S. Luck played a role of course, but surprisingly less than I expected.
-/+ The illustrator's style is quite particular, like an 80s/90s fever dream

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the access to an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review...Additional note for transparency: read the first third and skimmed the rest.

Thank you Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for a copy of The Swayze Year!

"The Swayze Year celebrates later-in-life wins with short profiles of one person for every year from age 35 to age 100 who climbed mountains—metaphorical and literal—wrote their own storylines, and found their happy little trees at a more mature age. With wit, humor, and warmth, The Swayze Year proves that no matter how old you are, you’re not done yet."

A cute, comforting "coffee table" sort of book about people accomplishing their goals later-in-life! I do wish there were photos or illustrations for each person and a section for "more resources", so readers can learn more about the people featured. Overall, it is neat and straightforward, and a great book to buy as a gift for friends/family who are anxious about getting older!