Book Review: Crones Don't Whine: Concentrated Wisdom for Juicy Women by Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D

When you pick up Crones Don't Whine by Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D., you will most likely mistake it for a short and funny rant about the menopausal years. A sweet little book that fits comfortably in your hands, this tome easily stores in your purse or briefcase for a quick read during a break in your busy day.

Bolen's views of what defines a crone and qualities it takes to become one offers up great wisdom, hope, and guidance into our golden years. Like the subjects of some of Bolen's other books, Crones Don't Whine keeps with her tradition of seeking strength, power, and true recognition for women in their 50s and older.

In this book, Bolen embarks on a spiritual teaching of sorts for women. She begins by explaining her definition of "crone"--a more positive connotation than what most of us are familiar with. Describing crones as full of energy, life, and wisdom, she readies us for our own journeys to achieve the crone status in our lives. She next launches into a discussion of "13 qualities" to be cultivated by women as they age.

The qualities Bolen claims that crones don't do are whine and grovel. Qualities that crones practice without trying are "trust what they know in their bones," "meditate in their fashion," and "speak the truth with compassion," among others. One outstanding characteristic of crones is that they "savor the good in their lives," according to Bolen. She goes on to talk about the importance of recognizing good times and knowing when life could be improved somehow. In a sense, she speaks of living "in the moment" to best experience life.

Finally, Bolen acknowledges that men, too, can become crones. But it is only the "special" males that are bestowed this title. To earn the designation, men must show selflessness, lack of ego, and have a track record of offering nurturance and care to others. A male crone may have suffered greatly in his life or lost much and triumphed. He has come out of the other side of the tunnel knowing what is truly important in life.

Providing what the subtitle promises--"Concentrated Wisdom for Juicy Women"--Bolen has managed to bring insight, knowledge, and humor to a sobering topic for most of us--aging in the best way we can. She poignantly simplifies the qualities women could all stand to strive toward. We can only hope to achieve the status in life that she has no doubt achieved herself--that of a crone.

Resources:

Bolen, Jean Shinoda. Crones Don't Whine, Concentrated Wisdom for Juicy Women. Conari/Red Wheel/Weiser: Yorkbeach, ME, 2003.