Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Aging as a Woman

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Shields describes aging as a journey toward embracing the power of saying “no.” Have you found yourself becoming more comfortable with setting boundaries as you’ve gotten older? If so, how?

2. The book explores society’s obsession with youth and beauty, particularly for women. Have you personally felt this pressure, or do you know someone who has? How has it shaped your self-perception, perception of others, or decisions over time?

3. Shields recounts microaggressions and systemic misogyny in medicine, particularly around age and gender. Have you ever experienced or witnessed similar treatment? How did you respond, and what changes would you like to see in the medical field?

4. Shields balances humor with serious discussion about aging, beauty standards, and societal expectations. How do you personally navigate the tension between finding humor in life’s changes and grappling with deeper issues?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The book critiques how society treats aging women. How do you see this playing out in media, the workplace, or everyday interactions? Do you think attitudes are changing? 

2. Shields argues that the media not only reflects but also shapes perceptions of women over 50. Do you agree? Can you think of examples in film, television, or advertisements that reinforce or challenge these stereotypes?

3. Should men read this book? How might it shift their understanding of women’s experiences with aging, beauty standards, and societal pressures?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The book opens with Shields falling on a Manhattan sidewalk and ends with her embracing joy in her life. How does this full-circle structure reflect the book’s themes of resilience, growth, and acceptance?

2. Despite her celebrity status, Shields strives to make her experiences relatable. Do you think she succeeds? Are there moments where her experiences feel universal or ones where her fame creates a disconnect?

3. The book blends memoir with cultural commentary. Did you find this balance effective? How does Shields’s personal storytelling enhance or complicate the broader societal critiques she makes?

4. Shields recounts her public feud with Tom Cruise over her postpartum depression treatment (“Cruise-gate”). How does this moment symbolize the wide-ranging struggles that women face when speaking out about their health, choices, and autonomy?