What are you thinking about today? Whatever the topic, Pamela Blair has an essay and thought-provoking questions to ask yourself. A wonderful blend of inspiration and insight, this may be the best gift to yourself or your friends to light the way to the future. Excellent! (And I wasn’t paid to say that!!!)

Bridges discusses how some of life’s most challenging, painful moments are your turning points. Through his personal accounts and advice, Bridges offers support for enduring the transitions of life. Fine illustrations of his excellent transition model.

Just as Friedan sparked the women’s movement with The Feminine Mystique, she opened the door and challenged people’s perceptions of aging with The Fountain of Age. Friedan discusses a more able older generation and suggests that women and men in their 50s, 60s and 70s can discover new experiences and possibilities to bring to their lives. Incredibly well researched – and tough to get through all 600+ pages.

Hudson’s guide views adulthood and aging as “an opportunity for continual revitalization, reorientation, and positive change.” He discusses everything from dreaming and planning to different decades of life to the challenges of the 21st century. Good concepts for better understanding of aging.

In a youth-centered American culture, the baby-boomer generation is facing increasing struggles. Pipher observes these struggles and offers a guide for bridging the generation gap and supporting one another. Liz Monroe Cook suggested I read this when I was dealing with my elderly father. Very insightful, especially as we’re all moving toward this “other country”.

Pogrebin discusses aging with an honest, optimistic analysis. Delightful reading and pretty funny.

Emphasizing that “now” is the perfect time to makeover your life, Sher discusses age, beauty, love, power and achieving your goals to make the most of your time. Her public TV workshops are inspiring!

Oprah’s “Makeover Guy” believes women are more beautiful as they age, though they may feel less attractive. He offers hair, wardrobe, makeup and “spirit revival” ideas for women to look and feel their best at any age. Fun, great photos and good news to use.

A guide to natural body and beauty health, James’ book addresses specific issues that trouble countless women. It advises women on how to “shed the mindsets and the popular regimens that sabotage [their] body and looks.” She’s big into healthy, REALLY healthy eating. Good resource if that’s your thing.

The country music superstar and mother of Ashley and Wynonna Judd offers information on how to recognize your true potential. She seeks solutions to body, mind and spirit concerns, proposing ways for readers to live their happiest life. Whoda’ thunk Naomi Judd would give advice? But her positive action-oriented writing style is refreshing and inspiring.

“What Not to Wear” stars, Clinton and Stacy, deliver great advice with humor – just like the show. Big plus – they include men!

This bestseller offers suggestions to do just what the title claims: make you look younger and better. Krupp gives concrete examples of things you can do now to enhance your look and build confidence. Really good guide – sent it to my college roommate on her 60th and she greatly appreciated it.

Richardson’s guide discusses such wardrobe issues as how to enhance your body shape with clothes, what colors to wear, how to accessorize and how to make your dollar work for you. Would be A LOT better with some pictures. And she’s a little conservative for my taste.

Trinny and Susannah (now seen on TLC in Making over America) give advice on specific body issues while telling you how to accentuate the positive. Lots of photos.

This guide supplies answers to some of the most common and many obscure questions about menopause. Chapters in this book cover memory, moods, sleep and sex. Everything you need or want to know on all sorts of women’s health issues, presented in very readable text.

A reference for women enduring the challenges of menopause, Sheehy’s book offers knowledge, history and a hormone replacement regime. Chapters include The “What About Me?” Syndrome, Sex and the Change-of-Life Lover, and Has Anyone Seen My Memory? Important book for when you think you’re going crazy.