Since the day James Joseph Robinson Jr. was born in 1952, life had gone on swimmingly. His childhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was mostly normal. He attend a prestigious university, married, and had three children. But then he hit his mid-thirties, and suddenly everything went topsy-turvy.

Witty, engaging, and just plain fun, Fighting the Effects of Gravity examines the physical and mental manifestations of middle age. From that one fateful day, when gravity became his nemesis and his beloved jeans could no longer hold their end of the bargain, Robinson shares the joys and sorrows of growing older.

Aching muscles, weight in all the wrong places, memory lapses, and slow reflexes all become a part of Robinson’s existence. Different emotions, both positive and negative, vie for room in the limited brain capacity he has left, but one thought rises above it all: we all must confront mortality sooner or later. Robinson accepts his coming old age with grace and a healthy dose of realism. After all, getting old really is better than the alternative.

Robinson delivers an enjoyable commentary on middle age that will resonate with the young, old, and everyone in between!”

From the reviewers:

A humorous look at aging. James Robinson has written a book that is an easy read- read it in one afternoon. He starts of talking about the physical effects of gravity- something everyone who is getting older can sympathize with- the droopy butt and saggy middle that happen no matter how hard you fight the effects of aging. The hat snap crackle and pop of stiff joints as you go throughout your day. He then discusses the mushy brain- I particularly enjoyed his description of three middle agers having a conversation where not one of them can get a name they are looking for and the fear that this may be the beginning of alzheimers. He describes how his family now and his family growing up have affected how he looks at life. — Kathryn A. Sweet

What’s So Funny About Getting Old? A LOT!   Brilliantly written, humorous at every turn, FTEOG shows that aging, the fear of it, the way it ravages a body and betrays a soul, and makes a mind mushy is the same for men and women! As I read this, I folded down pages to remind me of the funny parts I identified with and by the time I was finished, the book was dog-eared from front to back. What surprised me most was the way that Robinson started “skin-deep” then really delved into life’s invisible wounds–mostly how to get through them by laughing, at least a little bit, along the way. Do not miss this book!  –  Kathie

James Robinson Jr. is a 1974 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a BA in English literature.

He resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with Deborah, his wife of thirty-four years. Robinson has three adult children and four grandchildren.

And here, in the comfort of your own browser, is your free sample of FIGHTING THE EFFECTS OF GRAVITY by James Robinson Jr.: