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The Time of Our Lives

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The Time of Our Lives

By: Robert Dessaix
Narrated by: Paul English
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About this listen

What’s the key to the art of growing older well? Is it an art that anyone can cultivate? How should we confront dying and death in a secular age? What about sex when we’re older? What about loneliness? (And, for that matter, what about facelifts?)

At the height of his powers in this remarkable (and often witty) book, Robert Dessaix addresses these increasingly urgent questions in inimitable prose and comes up with some surprising answers. From Java to Hobart via Berlin, Dessaix invites us to eavesdrop on his intimate, no-nonsense conversations about ageing with friends and chance acquaintances.

Reflecting on time, religion, painting, dancing and even grandchildren, Dessaix takes us on an enlivening journey across the landscape of growing older. Riffing on writers and thinkers from Plato to Eva Hoffman, he homes in on the crucial importance of a rich inner life.

The Time of Our Lives is a wise and timely exploration of not just the challenges but also the many possibilities of old age.

©2020 Robert Dessaix (P)2020 W. F. Howes Aging & Longevity Personal Development Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Witty

Critic Reviews

"Dessaix writes with great elegance, with passion, compassion and sly wit." (John Banville)

"Dessaix’s voice and literary personality are unique in contemporary Australian letters." (The Sydney Morning Herald)

"The pleasure and elegance of all Dessaix’s writing is in the language, the erudition, the delicate, often unexpected and lovely connections, and the intimate conversational voice." (The Weekend Australian)
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This is another good book by Robert Dessiax, with his usual irreverence and humour, plus lots of interesting quotes and references. As an old person myself, I am tired of the usual cliches one hears on all sides, about growing old gracefully in posh retirement villages, and feel refreshed by his demolition of these.
I have heard Paul English reading several books via Audible, notably Tom and Meg Keneally's detective novels set in colonial times. He is always good, but this time he has excelled himself. The tone seems to me exactly right, and he has made sure of pronouncing the many names and titles well, which not all Audible readers do. His pace is quite fast, but not too fast for the material to be understood well.

Fine reading of an entertaining book

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Thank you for sharing your life Robert, a light hearted insightful and thoroughly enjoyable read.

A lovely read

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I really loved this work of Robert Dessaix, as he eloquently traverses the road of the living and dying. It's fresh and interesting research, delivered in a way that made me reflect on my own values and beliefs. Getting old and seeing my own aging parents, I could really relate to his questions around the emptiness and lonliness at the end of our lives. Drawing on ancient wisdom and cultures to enrich the reader with wonderful insights and new possibilities. It's the bridge we all will have to cross eventually, but there may be more to it than we like to think.

Loved and Appreciated 🙏

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.