Jo's Library
Books I return to, recommend, and reference in my writing on midlife and ageing.
This is a small, evolving library of books I’ve returned to over the years, sometimes for clarity, sometimes for reassurance, and sometimes simply for company. I don’t agree with everything
in every book, but each has shaped my thinking about midlife, ageing, identity, and how we might live with a little more steadiness and self-trust as we grow older.
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I only recommend books and resources I genuinely value and believe will be helpful to you.
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| Breaking the Age Code – Dr Becca Levy |
Ground-breaking research showing how our beliefs about ageing directly affect our health, longevity and wellbeing, and how to change them. I love this book and refer to it often.
Deeply researched yet easy and fascinating to read, it had me nodding my head and left me feeling less alone.
Available from: Bookshop.org (UK) | Bookshop.org (US) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (US)
| This Chair Rocks – Ashton Applewhite |
A lively, well-researched manifesto against ageism that challenges cultural myths about ageing and calls for a more honest, inclusive narrative.
Available from: Bookshop.org (UK) | Bookshop.org (US) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (US)
| The Menopause Brain – Dr Lisa Mosconi |
A research-led exploration of how menopause affects the brain, explaining brain fog, memory changes and why these shifts are not permanent.
Available from: Bookshop.org (UK) | Bookshop.org (US) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (US)
| The Middlescence Manifesto – Dr Barbara Waxman |
An introduction to the concept of “Middlescence,” a newly defined life stage that reframes midlife as a period of growth, passion and renewed possibility.
Available from: Bookshop.org (UK) | Bookshop.org (US) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (US)
| Creatrix Rising – Stephanie Raffelock |
A bold reimagining of midlife womanhood, inviting women to step into creativity, power and self-authorship beyond limiting stereotypes.
Available from: Bookshop.org (UK) | Bookshop.org (US) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (US)
| The Upgrade – Dr Louann Brizendine |
A neuroscience-based look at how the female brain can become stronger and clearer in midlife, reframing menopause as a powerful transition.
Available from: Bookshop.org (UK) | Bookshop.org (US) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (US)
| Menopausing – Davina McCall & Dr Naomi Potter |
A clear, evidence-based guide to menopause that cuts through fear and misinformation, helping women make informed decisions about their bodies.. Probably the best book on perimenopause I have read (and I've read a lot!) I wish I'd had this book when I was going through it.
Available from: Bookshop.org (UK) | Bookshop.org (US) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (US)
| Bolder Not Older – Nicky Hambleton-Jones |
A style and confidence roadmap for midlife women ready to refresh their look, step out of their comfort zone and reclaim their presence.
Available from: Bookshop.org (UK) | Bookshop.org (US) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (US)
| Me and My Menopausal Vagina – Jane Lewis |
An honest, taboo-busting exploration of vaginal health in midlife, offering clarity, humour and reassurance about changes many women experience.
Available from: Bookshop.org (UK) | Bookshop.org (US) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (US)