Writer Colette Petersen had the brilliant idea to write a nonfiction book of stories about successful women turning 30 years old. Through their stories, she clearly illustrates that 30 isn't a time to fear. Our society portrays that particular age as either "the end of something great" or "the beginning of something bad."

Petersen interviewed 19 women who turned 30 years old in 2006. Her research and interview questions concentrated on five areas of success: marriage, family, career, spirituality, and having it all. Even though every woman has a different view of success, the chapters flow smoothly. I especially enjoyed the "Straight Answers" section where Petersen proposed a general question and highlighted some of the participants answers. It is a very easy conversational read that can be read from front to back, or you can pick the chapters that pertain to you.

There are numerous books available about this milestone birthday. Most of them offer ways to get over the hill, or how to get it together. Finally we have a positive book about turning 30 that defines what it means to be successful at this age. The writer successfully helped me to realize that 30 really isn't old. Instead of dreading my next birthday, I welcome it with open arms. 

Title: 30 Isn't Old
Author: Colette Petersen
Published: March 2009
Pages: 151
Edition: Paperback
Rating: ????

Literary Marie

Reviewed on 02/17/2011 by ReviewTheBook.com Member L Marie Harris

Title:  30 Isn’t Old

Author:  Colette Petersen

Publisher:  Outskirts Press, 2007

157 pp  $16.95

ISBN:  978-1-4327-3264-6

Wherever today's late-twentysomethings look, we hear the dire warning that The Big Three-Oh is the end of the world, or at least the beginning of the end.  Start worrying about wrinkles!  Land that promotion!  Find a husband quick - OR ELSE!  Colette Petersen's 30 Isn't Old dares to ask, "Or else WHAT?"

Unlike most pop-culture "solutions" aimed at women nearing thirty, 30 Isn't Old starts from the premise that thirty is not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning.  The book follows the choices of several different women who are approaching age thirty, offering glimpses into their lives and collecting the wisdom these women have gained by staring thirty square in the eye.  Rather than scaring its readers with horror stories about dead-end jobs and unremitting spinsterdom, 30 Isn't Old uplifts its audience by presenting what, on some level, most of us already know: that "success" is in the eye of the beholder, and that approaching age thirty offers us a prime chance to name our dreams and plant both feet on the path that leads to them.

To explore the meanings of success for real live near-thirty women, 30 Isn't Old divides into five sections: success, marriage, motherhood, career, and spirituality.  Within each section, the reader meets a woman who shares her life choices, her fears about turning thirty (if any), and her personal definition of success in each category.  Although their backgrounds and positions in work and life varied, these women are surprisingly more alike than different.  And not one parroted the dismal prophecies so common in women's magazines.  Instead, most of the women described success as enjoying one's life and being proud of one's choices, and most saw themselves already engaged in success as a process rather than an endpoint.

This book is not without its minor faults.  The text is packed densely on the page, making for a thin book but one containing a great deal of information.  In addition, information from women who live deeply "alternative" lifestyles, particularly women who are homosexual, transgendered, or who hold counter-mainstream religious, social or political beliefs would have enriched this book still further and made it speak to a much wider range of near-thirtysomething women.  Nevertheless, Colette Petersen has created an indispensable comfort for any woman about to wave her twenties goodbye.

Reviewed on 12/22/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Dani Alexis Ryskamp

The book "30 isn’t Old," by Colette Peterson delves into that ‘age’ old fear. Does life end at 30?
In her book Peterson gathers together a group of women to dispel that myth that thirty is old.
Entering into my twenty-eighth year of life I grabbed this book up to see what opinions Colette had assembled on the big three ’O topic. In her book she tries to answer the main question, “What defines success?”
Peterson has joined women form every walk of life to show that as many different women there are, so are the many different versions of success.  We find women who have chosen career over marriage or the role of mother over it all;  Peterson’s panel come from every aspect of life to share their tales. From the women who married young, to the ones who have yet to find the one. These stories will uplift and confirm any woman’s choices that she questions if they were the right choice.

This collaboration gives the reader various ways to look at what a successful life before thirty can look like. She challenges the world view of being a winner and turns it on it’s head with these strong women’s stories that  defend the choices they have made.

 Does a  baby define success? A successful business, someone grounded in faith, a survivor? These roles all have their own level of accomplishment. Will there be regrets? Peterson doesn’t pretend that will not happen. Instead she urges us to celebrate our own definitions. Colette Peterson leaves the reader with a sense of triumph and the truth that life doesn’t end at thirty, it is only just the beginning.

Reviewed on 04/08/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Andrea Asay

30 Isn't Old
Author:  Colette Petersen
Publisher:  Outskirts Press
ISBN:  978-1-4327-3264-6

In today's world, the sexes seem to age differently.  Men, as they get older, are referred to as "distinguished", "established" and "silver foxes".  The terms used for women are not as nice sounding.  An older single woman is often called a "cougar" and as we age we hear terms like "not as young", "looking tired".  Unmarried men are "bachelors", and later on, "confirmed bachelors".  Women?  "old maids" or "spinsters".  A single woman is usually too "career driven", but a single man would be "career focused".  Biologically, of course, age makes a bigger difference for women.  Men can father children in theory well into their 60s or 70s.  For women, we need to plan parenthood for earlier on.  Many women see 30 as a stress-filled milestone.  It's not one we look forward to.  We want to be 16, so we can drive, then 18, to graduate high school, and 21 to get into clubs.  After 21, it's not nearly as enjoyable to keep track of the years.  Statistically, more women enter into psychological therapy at 30 and beyond.  Not a real happy proposition, is it?

As author Colette Peterson approached 30, she decided it was time to take a new look at women and attitudes toward aging.  She started talking with, surveying and interviewing women of all ages.  She's written a wonderful book, written in a conversational and informal style.  You can read straight through, or just pick the chapter that pertain to how you feel at a particular time.

Subjects covered are wide ranging, from Fear of Aging, Facing Fear, Loss, Choices, Body Issues, Marriage, Children, Success, Religion, Money and much more.  Ms. Peterson takes a caring, friendly and humor-filled look at accepting 30.  Whether you are in that age group, above or, ahem, far beyond that stage in life, you'll find much to laugh about, much to learn and lots to enjoy in this charming book.

Reviewed on 03/15/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member LAURI COATES