Prime Times: Love, Life and Sex after Fifty

Myrna I. Baker, B.Sc.N., M.Sc., lived and worked in Toronto.

As the proportion of the population over age fifty continues to spiral, the subject of this book is very worthy of consideration. However, this attempt by Wollison to quash the common myth that older adults are asexual beings and to assure those approaching the fifth decade of life that they should welcome it with anticipation falls short on substance and impact. Furthermore, the lack of information about the author leaves the reader no way to judge the author’s authority in this content area.

The book consists of a series of stories derived through personal interviews or in letters about people’s romantic lives, their sexual and emotional feelings, and their joys, fears and problems with respect to sexuality and aging. Such topics as remarriage, living common-law, remaining single, remaining celibate, changing lifestyles, menopause, and physical effects of aging are discussed. On introducing the various topics the author makes several generalizations, none of which does she support by citing prior literature or research. In this vein there is one small section that cites research on sexual activity after age fifty and some information that marital and sexual therapists have learned from older adults about the psychological effects of aging. An appendix lists some medical problems that affect sexuality with aging. Again, there is no information as to the source of the material.

In short, this book, which probably started out to be a serious and thorough work to instill positivism and to debunk many myths of aging, ends up being a shallow handling of this important subject.