I’ve always liked Brooke Shields, but I have to admit I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. Was it just going to be about her own struggles with getting older and not being able to find as much work in modeling and show business? Well, she starts out with that discussion, but it’s a segue into a pervasive issue that affects all women as young as 40: “Invisible Woman Syndrome.” And it’s not just in her head or anyone else’s.

“Less than one percent of advertisements in 2021 and 2022 featured women over 60,” she says. “Women in their forties and fifties are treated like we are invisible, even though we’re one of the fastest growing demographics in the country. When we are targeted, it’s for wrinkle cream and menopause supplements.” Citing statistics and using personal stories from her and her friends, she illustrates how the older women get, the more they are overlooked for jobs, promotions and, of course, romance. It’s ironic, she says, because in reality, this is when women are really ready to shine. “For a long time, women have only talked about aging in whispers and behind closed doors.We’re more than just a demographic obsessed with looking young. We are smart and vibrant and powerful and ambitious.”

Many of us are starting our own businesses, changing careers, taking up new hobbies, etc. Life is really just beginning for us, but in the past, society and the media didn’t portray us that way. Fortunately, thanks to “manifestos” like this one and more women speaking out, all of this is starting to change.

“I’m the one making the calls in my life, which is something I’ve never felt before,” she says. “And this should be true for all.”



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