Making the Best of Whats Left, Judith Viorst
Making the Best of Whats Left, Judith Viorst
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Making the Best of What's Left
When We're too Old to Get the Chairs Reupholstered

Author: Judith Viorst

Narrator: Judith Viorst

Unabridged: 4 hr 40 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/01/2025

Synopsis

From the bestselling author Judith Viorst comes a witty and poignant exploration of the joys and sorrows of life’s twilight years—one that leaves us laughing, pondering, and grateful for the moments we have left.

In a career that has spanned more than fifty years, Judith Viorst has captivated readers with her bestselling children’s books and collections of poetry reflecting on each decade of life. Now in her nineties, Viorst writes about life’s “Final Fifth,” those who are eighty to one hundred years old. Her signature blend of humor and vulnerability infuses personal anecdotes and observations, drawing you into her world of memories and candid conversations.

She confesses, “I never ever send a text while driving, and not just because I don’t know how to text.” She discusses the afterlife (She doesn’t believe in it, but if it exists, she hopes her sister-in-law isn’t there). She complains to her dead husband (“I need you fixing our damn circuit breakers. I need you! Could you please stop being dead?”). And she explores the late-life meanings of wisdom and happiness and second chances and home.

With a wit that defies age, Viorst navigates the terrain of loss. It’s a poignant dance between grief and levity that will resonate with those in their Final Fifth as well as anyone who has parents, relatives, or friends in their eighties and beyond. This is Judith Viorst at her best.

About Judith Viorst

Judith Viorst is the author of the beloved Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which has sold some four million copies; the Lulu books, including Lulu and the Brontosaurus; the New York Times bestseller Necessary Losses; four musicals; and poetry for children and adults. Her most recent books of poetry include What Are You Glad About? What Are You Mad About? and Nearing Ninety. She lives in Washington, DC.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Sheila on December 18, 2024

I received a free copy of, Making the Best of What's Left, by Judith Viorst, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Judith Viorst is an author, she is now in her nineties, and is making the best of her time left. This book is full of stories and poems, an enjoyable read.......more

Goodreads review by Nancy on February 16, 2025

I can only hope that if I get to be in my nineties that my mind and sense of humor is as intact as Judith Viorst’s. Viorst considers the challenges of the last decades of life and celebrates the ways those in the ‘Final Fifth’ can contribute to the world and enjoy what’s left. Declining health forced......more

Goodreads review by Jackie on December 08, 2024

Beautifully written, Judith Viorst shares her personal thoughts at 94 years old on how she and others have adjusted to living in retirement. It’s been well vocalized: you spend years raising kids and working hard and finally you get to retire and your body starts to fail. Then there’s downsizing from......more

Goodreads review by Bam cooks the books on March 17, 2025

Now in her 90s, Judith Viorst has written a memoir with essays and poems about the last stage of life, what she calls the 'fifth fifth.' It is funny, poignant, wise, thought-provoking and, at times, terribly sad. When I reach that age, I intend to still buy green bananas and plan to carry on as if I......more

Goodreads review by Elizabeth • LizziePageReads on April 24, 2025

They say youth is wasted on the young, and the older I get, the more I tend to agree. So what better way to live our best lives than by listening to what older people have to say? Big thanks to Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook! Making the Best of What’s Left is a memoir from a 94-year-old author......more

Quotes

"Listening to bestselling author Judith Viorst narrate her own stories and poems—and share tales from others about life in the “final fifth”—is a special experience. Listeners will appreciate the bittersweet humor and candid reflections on the ups and downs of life in one’s 90s. Viorst shares her own journey, including moving from the home where she raised her children to a retirement community, and, most poignantly, the heartbreak of losing her beloved spouse. Her voice is perfectly suited to exploring both the joys of the happiness curve and the challenges of aging, including the body’s frailty. Viorst speaks with warmth, honesty, and wit, making this an engaging, touching listen. It’s a celebration of resilience, memory, and meaning—rich with life’s final lessons."

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