Love Stories of Later Life

Non-Fiction: Books
Written By Amanda Barusch

  • Title – Love Stories of Later Life

  • Subtitle – A Narrative Approach to Understanding Romance

  • Author – Amanda Smith Barusch

  • Genre – Love & Romance, Marriage & Adult Relationships, Sexuality, Gerontology, Social Work, Psychology

  • Type – Book

  • Publication Date – March 13, 2008

  • Publisher – Oxford University Press

  • Medium – Ebook, Hardcover

  • Available at – Amazon

  • Link – https://a.co/d/bVfdryf

  • Synopsis – Even with baby boomers retiring and greater media and research attention being lavished on older people, most gerontologists have studiously avoided examining romance among the elderly. Love Stories of Later Life is an appealing and eye-opening remedy to this neglect, as leading gerontologist Amanda Smith Barusch presents original research into what love and romance mean in seniors' lives. The result is a glimpse into a world many people didn't know existed - that of romantic love in later life.
    Unlike superficial guidebooks that purport to help seniors find a new mate, Love Stories of Later Life integrates theory and the latest research on love and the aging process. Drawing on a wealth of personal narratives collected during a landmark five-year study, the book presents the lived experiences of older adults from all walks of life. It addresses the impact of common age-related changes, both emotional and physical, on romantic relationships and argues that love continues to sculpt our personalities and our lives, even in life's later decades.

  • Professional Reviews:

    • “The 224 pages of Barusch's narrative provide a deep understanding of romance and love that younger generations can learn from and that older generations can reflect on and relate to in their lives. . . The stories and commentary from study participants that are woven into the text give this book a unique flare.”

      —Karon L. Phillips, Trust for America's Health, writing in the Journal of Women & Aging

    • “The book is delightful, hopeful and inspiring . . .I encourage both academic and public libraries to adopt this fine work.“

      —Stephen M. Marson, University of North Caroling, writing in Age and Aging

Love Stories of Later Life book cover featuring older couple enjoying intimate moment.
Amanda Barusch

Amanda Barusch has worked as a janitor, exotic dancer, editor, and college professor. She lives in the American West, where she spends as much time as possible on dirt paths. She has an abiding disdain for boundaries and adores ambiguity. Amanda has published eight books of non-fiction, a few poems, and a growing number of short stories. Aging Angry is her first work of creative non-fiction. She uses magical realism to explore deep truths of the human experience in this rapidly changing world.

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