by Lesley Stahl
First published 2016
Lesley Stahl thought her most transformative experiences came from decades covering the White House and interviewing world leaders for 60 Minutes. Then she became a grandmother to Jordan and Chloe. The intense joy caught her off guard and sparked her curiosity. Stahl applies her investigative skills to understand this life change. She interviews fellow grandmothers including Whoopi Goldberg and Diane Sawyer, plus grandfathers like Tom Brokaw. She consults scientists about the physiological changes women experience when grandchildren arrive. Anthropologists explain the evolutionary purpose of grandmothers. Psychiatrists describe the therapeutic benefits for both grandparents and grandchildren. Stahl examines how her relationship with her daughter Taylor shifted and how her husband Aaron adapted to grandfather status. She offers personal stories alongside research findings. The book arrives as baby boomers enter grandparenthood while young parents seek support raising children.
Genres: family, non-fiction, biography-memoir, parenting
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
288 pages · Hardcover · Blue Rider Press