Being Old...and learning to love it!

By: Prue Leith

Narrated by: Prue Leith

SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, MARCH 2026

'I binged on it.' - NIGELLA LAWSON

'Few people have aged so gracefully and enterprisingly as Prue. How she's done it is a revelation, full of humour and practical advice.' - DELIA SMITH

'Oh my days, this book is an absolute JOY! It is like sitting down with your fabulous, straight-talking auntie who tells it exactly how it is... but with a big cuddle and a glass of something cheeky on the side. - ALISON HAMMOND

'Refreshing, honest and tremendously encouraging for those who are terrified of growing old.'
- ALAN TITCHMARSH


Getting older may have its challenges - but it can be a lot of fun.

In this candid, uplifting, and thoroughly entertaining book, Prue Leith explores the trials and taboos of growing older - along with its unexpected joys. Part memoir and part reflection, Being Old and Learning to Love It is packed with Prue's trademark wit, wisdom, and no-nonsense charm as she takes a spirited canter through the triumphs, trials and tribulations of ageing well.

Sometimes serious, sometimes funny and always engaging, Prue speaks with refreshing honesty about life as a modern woman in her eighties. Nothing is off limits: from love and sex, staying active, and finding fame on The Great British Bake Off, to friendship, family, and the occasional regret. She tackles the big questions we all have about getting older - about senility, time running out, dealing with grief, and her passionate belief in assisted dying - with the same frankness she brings to discussing when to retire, fashion & beauty, travel and gardening.


'We all are heading for old age, if we're lucky. It's a mystery for the young and hard to navigate for many of the elderly. Prue lays it all out for us, in her wonderful, honest, way.' - VIN + OMI©2026 Prue Leith

Wanting more!

Being able to hear a writer, read her own story in an Audible book, is the best! Her voice read with passion, heart and candidly explains the story. A zealous author in her own right. How lucky is she, to have truly lived her entire life being guided by a shooting star! What fun!
By the time I got to the end of the book, I felt I had known her, like an old friend.
I am an American married to a British man for 20 years. I spent 10 years traveling around the world bringing these kind of experiences into my life. To be in my mid 60s now, I could honestly grasp and share and dream with my imagination of Prue’s story. I want to thank Prue for bringing one of her readers into her life.
She left me wanting more.
Kelly Wadsworth Fryatt

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

I absolutely LOVED this book. Cheers to Prue Leith - what an inspiration she is!!! And to have this marvelous woman narrate - what a joy!! I felt like I was in her kitchen, sharing a glass of red wine, listening to her tell her story to ME!

A Delight!

Loved Prue sharing her thoughts on life and wisdom from her 86 years. Having her narrate was a special treat! A book I will listen to again and again.

Learn a Little But to Laugh a Lot!

I bought this Audible book based on the title and little more. I was not familiar with Prue Leith, but I am interested in well-being and aging well and I'm a sucker for a British accent!

First, this is more of an autobiography, not a "how to" book. Prue tells lthe story of her long and accomplished life with wisdom, insight, honesty and just plain laugh out loud humor. Secondly, this is a decidedly British book (even though Prue was born in South Africa). There is no attempt to help an American reader with measurement translation (i.e., 1 stone=14 lbs) or geography. However, that does not diminish the human story.

Finally, the fact that an 86 year old woman can write a book of this length, complexity, and insight is a total inspiration. I recommend it, especially in Audible.

Not what I was expecting...

As an aging baby boomer, I was looking forward to reading about Prue's tips on getting older. While there is some of that in the book, the majority of it is autobiographical with lots of stories about her childhood, her husbands, and her amazing career. Some of that was enjoyable, though repetitive. It was not what I was expecting.