This Chair Rocks

A Manifesto Against Ageism

By: Ashton Applewhite

Narrated by: Ashton Applewhite

“Wow. This book totally rocks. It arrived on a day when I was in deep confusion and sadness about my age. Everything about it, from my invisibility to my neck. Within four or five wise, passionate pages, I had found insight, illumination, and inspiration. I never use the word empower, but this book has empowered me.” (Anne Lamott, New York Times best-selling author)

This program is read by the author.

Author, activist, and TED speaker Ashton Applewhite has written a rousing manifesto calling for an end to discrimination and prejudice on the basis of age.

In our youth obsessed culture, we’re bombarded by media images and messages about the despairs and declines of our later years. Beauty and pharmaceutical companies work overtime to convince people to purchase products that will retain their youthful appearance and vitality. Wrinkles are embarrassing. Gray hair should be colored and bald heads covered with implants. Older minds and bodies are too frail to keep up with the pace of the modern working world, and elders should just step aside for the new generation.

Ashton Applewhite once held these beliefs, too, until she realized where this prejudice comes from and the damage it does. Lively, funny, and deeply researched, This Chair Rocks traces her journey from apprehensive Boomer to pro-aging radical, and in the process debunks myth after myth about late life.

Explaining the roots of ageism in history and how it divides and debases, Applewhite examines how ageist stereotypes cripple the way our brains and bodies function, looks at ageism in the workplace and the bedroom, exposes the cost of the all-American myth of independence, critiques the portrayal of elders as burdens to society, describes what an all-age-friendly world would look like, and offers a rousing call to action.

It’s time to create a world of age equality by making discrimination on the basis of age as unacceptable as any other kind of bias. Whether you’re older or hoping to get there, this audiobook will shake you by the shoulders, cheer you up, make you mad, and change the way you see the rest of your life. Age pride!

©2016 Ashton Applewhite (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Applewhite offers a fierce and funny yet practical and thoughtful manifesto on how such negativity can be combated on individual and societal levels. Offering much food for thought and abundant realistic steps to engender positive change, Applewhite's guide is an essential tool for enjoying healthy and happy aging.” (Booklist)

Wonderful book!

The author has a soothing voice and the book rocks too! Definitely worth your time.

A lot to think about

I enjoyed this perspective and will start to adopt what I learned here. Excellent points.

I appreciate this book so much!

There are so many topics about olders that I had not considered before, especially in our ageist society. I have a better understanding of being an older in training, and how focusing on better treatments of olders benefits everyone. Because everyone gets older in life.

Everyone should read this book!

Everyone should read this book, for its truths, and as a blueprint for the future. Applewhite is a gifted writer.

Great piece of work!

Lots of food for thought.
I especially appreciate the ways this author connected her research and advice to those of Atul Gawande in his book, ‘Being Mortal.’

Changed my view

I’m heading toward my 60th birthday with confidence. This book helps everyone, not just those Olders, to become self aware.

“Aged pride is for all of us”

I’m utterly transformed by this book. I plan on ordering ten copies for my Christmas list this year. It’s that good.
Ashton Applewhite has done her homework - and delivers a manifesto that reflects so much good research - and brilliant wisdom. She does it powerfully with humor, humility, and a bit of hubris. I’m fanboying here… and the “older” activist in me is not only woke, but chomping at the bit to get the world to stop the bullshit of ageism and age-phobia. Thank you, Ashton!
-59 years old, proud as f*ck, and again, utterly transformed.

Learned I'm an age nonconformist!

Excellent book, well researched. Not a biggie, just strange to catch that every so often I could tell when Ashton had to go back and rerecord tiny parts of the narration because she had a cold,.

Oddly Smiling throughout

Going to commit this to memory!
This book came at a pivotal place in my life.
It had been a slap in the face moment prior to finding this remarkable fact filled book realizing what I had become ... ONWARD my Dad would have said and Thank you!

Loved this book.

i am looking forward to listening to more of her books. She pulled no punches but who'd of liked that? I liked the book done in her voice.