I love reading books about midlife because they validate where I am in life and how I’m feeling, and they make me feel like I’m not alone in what I’m experiencing. The good ones also give me accurate information about perimenopause and menopause which I find invaluable.
So I have endeavoured to put together a list of good books about midlife that I feel offer science-based facts about what happens to women’s bodies when they hit midlife and go through menopause. (Any solutions or recommendations offered should also be backed by science.) I have also included personal stories that make me feel seen and part of a community. And very importantly, the books should not spread or promote myths, or non-truths or use scare tactics to sell products. I have read a couple of these books so far, but for the most part, they’re ones that I want to read based on what I’ve heard about them (from blogs, podcasts or other research and recommendations from reputable people), and feel other midlife women would benefit from reading them.
I’ve written about midlife books before (see this post and this post), but I thought I’d put together a list that I hope to continue updating as I find new books or change my thinking – a list post that can be a midlife book reference going forward.
These are the books about midlife that I have on my list at the moment
Preparing for the Perimenopause and Menopause – Dr Louise Newson
Dr Louise Newson is the UK’s leading menopause specialist and she’s on a mission to help midlife women through menopause. This book will prepare you for perimenopause and beyond with expert advice and straight facts about every aspect related to menopause. Dr Newson also details all you need to know about HRT, simplifying all the information out there in a straightforward way so that you’re clear about your options, the benefits and downsides.
Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
Menopause Manifesto – Dr Jen Gunter
The author of The Vagina Bible, Dr Jen Gunter now brings this must-have book that aims to empower midlife women through knowledge. She’s all about real science, facts, and dispelling myths. She also believes that menopause is a planned change, like puberty, and we should all be educated on all the changes that our bodies will go through in life so that we’re not unprepared. Her belief is that menopause should be demystified – we should know what is happening, why and what to do about it and she regularly calls out those who spread misinformation. This is basically an essential guide to menopause and when it comes to books about midlife, this one should be on all of our shelves.
Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
Menopause: All you need to know in one concise manual – Dr Louise Newson
Another book by Louise Newson – this one a manual outlining and clarifying the different stages of menopause and also offering treatments that are effective. It covers a diverse range of symptoms – migraines, depression, osteoporosis, low libido and more.
Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
The XX Brain – Lisa Mosconi
Dr Lisa Mosconi is the director of the Women’s Brain Initiative at Weill Cornell Medical College. In this book, she educates us about the female brain, alerting us how little research has been done about it and correcting the misinformation resulting from that tragedy. This book opened my eyes to so many new facts surrounding brain health during menopause and the impact oestrogen has on our brains. Dr Mosconi delves into brain fog, memory lapses, depression, insomnia and the increased risk of dementia, providing evidence-based ways for women to protect their brains.
Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
More books about midlife
I’m wearing tunics now – Wendi Aarons
I’ve read a few articles written by Wendi Aarons and love her sense of humour. And after listening to her being interviewed about her book on a podcast, I’ve decided that this is a book that I definitely want to read. It’s a memoir about midlife, self-acceptance and celebrating getting older and wiser. Apparently, there are very relatable personal anecdotes throughout the book and I’m looking forward to reading this one.
Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
No filter: The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful – Paulina Porizkova
I came across Paulina Porizkova again a few months ago (again on Instagram) where I discovered that she’d written a book. In it, she writes about her life – the good and the bad – and how she’s recently had to start over. It looks at her heartbreak, grief, beauty, ageing, reinvention and how she is finding her purpose in life. Her honesty and transparency are so refreshing and I’m enjoying following her recent experiences and her unapologetic ageing stance. This book is definitely on my list.
Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
Excuse me while I disappear – Laurie Notaro
Yes, you guessed it – this one’s another humourous book about midlife. Women often tend to find the humour in our midlife experiences – and why not? In this book, Laurie Notaro initially finds midlife upsetting, but she finally learns to accept the changes. She believes that the great thing about growing older is that you lose an equivalent amount of fear. I look forward to reading all about how Laurie’s living her life after 50.
Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
Midlife Bites – Jen Mann
From the New York Times bestselling author of “People I want to punch in the throat”, comes this book based on her viral post called “Anyone else falling apart or is it just me?” which she wrote in an attempt to deal with her midlife changes. In this book, Jen Mann writes about hormones, how to make friends as an adult, sex after 40, finding your purpose, chin hairs and many more subjects. I’m excited to read this one.
Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
Menopausing – Davina McCall
There’s a lot of misinformation, shame and fear around menopause and that’s why Davina McCall wrote this book. Menopausing aims to build a community to break the silence around menopause. This book aims to explain the science, debunk the myths and get rid of the taboos surrounding perimenopause and menopause. Women need to be equipped with all the information they need to make educated decisions about their health. Out with the silence and fear, in with the facts. Everyone needs to know about menopause so that it can be seen as a normal part of ageing and so that women get the help they need during this transition. Ignorance is not bliss. On my list.
Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
The midlife method – Sam Rice
I discovered this book from the Stories of one of the women I follow on Instagram and it immediately piqued my interest. Most midlife women find it much harder to lose weight as they get older, and in this book, the author explores why this is and what to do about it. Based on extensive research into the physiological changes that happen in midlife, Sam Rice shows why we get middle-age spread, what we should be eating more of, which exercises would benefit us and what lifestyle changes we may need to make to live a healthier life (and hopefully lose our midlife belly). The book includes recipes, and meal plans and also goes into healthy habits, getting better sleep, managing stress and more.
Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
The change – Kirsten Miller
Fiction! This book is about three midlife women living in Mattauk – Nessa, whose husband has died and her twin daughters have left for college and she’s now hearing voices from the dead; Harriet, whose marriage and amazing career have failed which resulted in her hibernating until recently; and Jo who has spent years at war with her body, is realising how she can channel her feelings. Jo, Nessa and Harriet discover the body of a teenage girl on a beach and refuse to accept the police’s verdict on the murder. They set out to do an investigation of their own, with their newfound powers. Sounds like a bit of fun, right?
Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
Menopocalypse: How I learned to thrive during menopause and how you can too – Amanda Thebe
Fitness tips and nutrition recommendations to help you cope with your menopause symptoms. Amanda Thebe is an energetic, outspoken fitness and women’s health expert who used to struggle with menopausal symptoms but after making certain changes in her exercise routine and diet, changed her experience from bad to good. I recently started following Amanda on Instagram and I find her account full of informative, encouraging and realistic content.
Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
The perimenopause solution – Dr Shahzadi Harper & Emma Bardwell
Dr Harper is a medical doctor who specializes in women’s health and Emma Bardwell is a registered nutritionist. Together they wrote this book to help women find a good balance in midlife. It offers practical information on the changes that middle-aged women go through in midlife with advice on how to manage symptoms.
Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
Doing life with your adult children – Jim Burns
This is a book for those who are perhaps finding it tough to connect with their adult children after they’ve left home. Jim Burns is a parenting expert who offers practical advice to those of us experiencing empty nesting and struggling to “let go”.
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Still hot! 42 brilliantly honest menopause stories – Kaye Adams, Vicky Allan
I loved this collection of short stories about menopause. There is a great diversity of contributors to this book and as books about midlife go, this is one of the most informative ones about real stories I’ve read. I’d highly recommend it to those who are still a good few years away from perimenopause and also to those who are just starting their perimenopause journey. Because being prepared and informed is so beneficial.
Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
The Middlepause: On Life After Youth – Marina Benjamin
Marina Benjamin’s memoir is comforting in that it shows us that we’re not alone in all of the physical and mental changes we go through at this stage of our lives.
Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
Why We Can’t Sleep: Women’s New Midlife Crisis – Ada Calhoun
Being a Gen X, this book really appeals to me. In it, Ada Calhoun writes about how Gen X women are facing different, new problems that Boomers and Millenials don’t face. And ultimately, those problems are contributing to our feelings of overwhelm and sometimes, misery. This one is still on my “want to read” list as I’d like to find out the solutions that she offers about how to navigate this stage of life.
Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause – Dr Louise Newson
Coming soon – this book is due out in June 2023 and I can’t wait. It’s going to take a lot of work and time to change current awareness and accuracy levels around menopause. People tend to hold onto incorrect beliefs and continue to be sceptical of truths despite research to the contrary. This book includes important information about hormones, genetics, HRT, libidos, and mental and physical health. Dr Newson also delves into how menopause affects our relationships and careers. According to Goodreads, this book covers the essentials, exclusive research, common questions women want to be answered, expert views and women’s stories about their experiences.
Pre-Order on Bookshop.org or Amazon
In conclusion – books about midlife
I feel this is a good start to a list that I see growing over the coming years. Indeed, if you have any recommendations to add to it, I’d love to hear them and I’ll update this list going forward.
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