A Time of Living Graciously: Reflections on Growing Older (Brigid Lowry, Fremantle)

In a culture obsessed with youth and productivity, it’s easy to forget that rest is not laziness, aging is not failure and our worth is not measured by output. Brigid Lowry’s latest collection of short essays, A Time of Living Graciously, offers a refreshing antidote to this obsession. It confronts the realities of aging while encouraging readers to approach life with kindness, humour and grace. Rather than dwelling in complaint or denial, Lowry approaches aging with a philosophical curiosity that transforms potential sources of anxiety into opportunities for reflection. Blending modern psychology with advice from Zen Buddhists, poets, writers and her aging friends, she shows that some of life’s most meaningful experiences and insights come from time. The book is filled with tips for readers, both younger and older, on how to live with more happiness and amazement, practice gratitude and radical acceptance, slow down and engage in creative play. While the book does not offer anything radical or eye-opening on the subject of aging, it is an uplifting read filled with quiet, affirming thoughts. A Time of Living Graciously is for readers who enjoyed Lowry’s previous nonfiction titles, A Year of Loving Kindness to Myself and Still Life with Teapot, or those who love short, comforting books filled with gentle wisdom that you can pick up and read in short bursts for inspiration.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Chloe Cooper is a freelance writer who has worked in the book industry for nearly 10 years as a librarian, bookseller and publishing sales manager. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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