This book strikes me as "funny but uneven." Its intended audience--and there are many of us--are "women of a certain age." Ephron sets as her target our private thoughts as we watch ourselves age, and some of her observations hit spot-on with her usual delightful humor. It is a short collection (137 pp.) of her essays, originally written as articles for Harper's Bazaar, the New Yorker, O, Vogue, etc. . . . so that's what it reads like. Why I gave the book four stars instead of five is because, in some articles, Ephron's wit seems a little forced or predictable. I like a laugh to sneak up on me, to catch me unawares, but too many times I could see hers coming. Nonetheless, she has some great chapters: about maintenance (when did manicures become indispensible?), failing sight (she can no longer read the telephone book or a restaurant menu), rapture (where she extols the ecstasy of reading), a description of her life in 3,500 words or less (brilliant!), and things she wished that she had known earlier ("if the shoe doesn't fit in the store, it's never going to"). Her last chapter is on death, which the reader is not expecting--but it fits right into her topic and it is a mostly serious and thoughtful piece. She ends that chapter and her book with the single word "goodbye." I hope she doesn't mean it . . .

Having a bad day? Need to laugh out loud? Buy this and keep it on hand when you need a smile. Nora's done it again. She's a fine writer, and gets better at humor each time.

After reading some of the "critical" reviews, I feel compelled to add my own review. First of all, I absolutely loved this book. I have recommended it to many friends, and I usually describe it as "chick humor". While, yes, I am young (just 40!), I feel I can read this book again in 5-10 years and get something totally different from it! I think this book is fun, and yes, lightweight. I DON'T feel this book was intended as a guide or, as one reviewer put it, a list of complaints about aging. Observations is what I'd call it!
So, if you are a woman looking for a light, fun (and funny!)book, you should consider picking this one up!

I just finished this book and I'm really glad I didn't listen to the negative reviews that some readers posted. This book is a quick (I read the entire book in one sitting) and fun read. Basically a series of essays on a variety of subjects, (purses, lipstick, NY apartments, divorce, kids, etc). I didn't find the stories depressing. They are written in a light fun manner. This is not heavy literature or an in depth psychological discussion. Its just observations about her life.

This book was whiny and condescending - I stll don't know if she's still married or not because she only talks about herself and her silly cooking problems (get a life!). She can't blow dry her own hair? How absurd is that? Alright already with New York - we get it - you love it. The last chapter of this book depressed me so much - I just turned 60 and it made me feel like there's no reason to go on. I wonder why the mood of the book changed so much in that last chapter. The book was all fluff and no meaningful in the least. it's hard to feel sorry for someone who can pay $10,000 for an apartment if she wanted to. I felt like she was trying to sound like someone out of the bohemian '60's, naming specialty stores around her and dropping names of people constantly. I wish I could get my money back. I didn't even like her silly movies. And what does "don't marry anyone you wouldn't want to be divorced from" mean anyway?

The last time I read Nora Ephron was "Heartburn," and I loved it. That was years ago, and I can't imagine why I didn't read all her books back then. But that just means I can enjoy them now. I loved "I Feel Bad..." because I too feel bad about my neck, and I hate my purse, and I couldn't agree more...there are few things in life that are as satisfying as a really good book. And this is.

This delightful book was charming and witty. Although I am only twenty and could not relate to a lot of the experiences Nora describes, she gave some good advice that I will take with me and remember as I age.

I feel bad about the money I spent on this book. Nora Ephron is a genious when it comes to observing and writing about other people in modern society, but this collection of essays falls completely flat if one is to believe it is about thoughts on being a middle-aged woman. She makes a couple of good observational hits, but the majority of it is too personalized and elitist. How many of her readership can truly understand and relate to living in New York and being a successful journalist, author, and producer? I wanted to read and laugh about the inevitable things that happen to women as we age and be able to relate to my sisterhood around the world and throughout time. Ms. Ephron includes too much fluff from her own unique life circumstances here to accomplish this. This book just demonstrates that even the most talented writers cannot be successful in every genre they attempt.

Is Nora is great writer? Yes What I love about her is the content, her stuff, is so meaningful. Not just mindful esoteric banter, but real issues, real life, learning and laughing about her self. I have recommended this book to several people and family...Everybody laughs and loves it.
Thank You Nora Ephron. We love you!

Feels like I have read 20-30% of these essays already, just by being a somewhat lazy reader of the NYer. HOWEVER, these are good, pithy, funny. I felt compelled to share some of this wisdom with friends. ENJOY!

Honest, funny and just right for us gals who've hit the "Big M". Also a good glimpse into NY City living for someone (like me) who has never experienced it.

Producer, director, and screenwriter Nora Ephron brings forth a collection of essays about dealing with the progression of age, and a few glimpses of her life. Many of the essays were previously published in various periodicals, and they're all collected here in one place. Sharp and witty, she confronts a few issues that surround her life in a slim volume written similar to a personal journal.

She introduces us with an explanation that applications of lotions and creams and botox can help fight the effects of age, but nothing short of surgery can help with the neck. In fact, the neck can't be helped with surgery at all, unless a facelift is included. Its a double whammy, which is why many older women prefer to wear turtlenecks. A humorous, but solemn essay that depicts what lengths women will go through to achieve that youthful look.

Then in a wry twist of humor, she explains her search for the perfect purse. She hates purses and considers them " ...just a big dark hole full of stuff that you spend hours fishing around for." She talks about her trip abroad with her friend to purchase the perfect "Kelly " purse. However, after they find that "perfect" purse, it begins to rain. The purse isn't waterproofed, turning a fun purchase into a lip-biting, frustrating experience.

Filled with several essays about parts of her life, loaded with her dry humor and wit, this collection is meant for women everywhere. It's packed with an assortment of defined and sparkling pieces revealing the private misery, eccentricity and powerful emotions of a woman on the edge of senior citizenhood. I will definitely be purchasing several copies for my women friends and sisters.

Armchair Interviews says: For women who want wonderful writing and stories.

Poor Nora, such a hard life. I officially hated this book when she started calling herself fat at 126 pounds!

A funny, quick read. The book will resonate more with the ever-wrinkling Baby Boomers than the Generation X, Y, Z or whatever the heck the younger age groups are being labeled nowadays. I doubt very much if my twenty-year-old self would have found most of Ms. Ephron observations to be amusing or worth my attention. However, speaking as a slowly-decaying, forty-seven-year-old male, the author's book was a wonderfully sarcastic and hilarious reproach about "the Golden Years." Well worth reading if you are old enough to remember when gas was 32 cents per gallon.

I loved this book. I rang a friend to tell her about the emery board problem that Nora writes about, how when you buy a packet of them only the one you are using survives, the rest disappear. Makes me want to read everything she has ever written. I love her movies, Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got mail and Hanging Up. If you are over 40 or even older in my case, read this book!

This book provides good recreational reading and a hearty chuckle or two for those of us in Ms. Ephron's age group. What it doesn't provide is any insight into Ms. Ephron's thoughts or feelings -- obviously considerable resources that have given her the inner strength to meet the (very public) challenges and embarrassments she has faced. Perhaps this would have made the read less attractive to her supposed market.
I also couldn't help wondering if she knows what a terribly privileged life she has led.

I have seen Norah Ephron interviewed on television shows such as Oprah, etc.
She has always been a delightful person to listen too, and she never fails
to make me laugh until I cry!!
This book is just so very TRUE and relates very much to women who are approaching their later years.

Wow, could I ever identify with much of what Ephron wrote in this book. Her essays on aging were so on-target...I kept thinking "I could have said this". But the thing is, I could not say it in such wry, lively, entertaining prose. Ephron excels at this kind of writing, poking fun at herself and at the world in which she lives. She shows us that a bit of humor and learning from our past goes a long way toward making life easier and fuller.

I loved what she had to say about maintenance, her purse, and losing friends. I only wish the book had been longer...more essays. maybe there will be a sequel?!?!

So much of this rang true that I went out and bought several copies for friends. It is the perfect gift!

This book is wonderful! I'm in my early twenties and this book had me laughing, crying and everything in between! I loved it so much I bought it for my mom and my mother-in-law! It is wonderful for women of all ages!

This book takes a poignant look at aging - if you are a baby boomer, you will love this book - you will laugh, you will cry!