Is getting older a laughing matter? With Jo Brand

What’s so funny about getting older? Why live longer if you can’t enjoy yourself? And is getting grumpier one of the great pleasures of ageing?

This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by comedian, writer and presenter Jo Brand to discuss Decline and Falling Over, her hilarious and refreshingly honest memoir about embracing the aches, indignities and unexpected freedoms of getting older.

From the pleasures of caring a little less to finding humour in life's darker moments, Jo shares her thoughts on ageing, memory and mortality, why laughter and sadness often go hand in hand, and how her years as a mental health nurse shaped her outlook on life. Plus, can reading be a form of meditation?

And, as ever, we tackle your reading dilemmas, with Jo and our Penguin experts recommending everything from books with characters who grow old disgracefully, to literature that will make you laugh out loud and think deep!

Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here

About the guest

Jo Brand is a comedian, presenter, writer and award-winning actor. She has written several highly acclaimed best-selling books: Can’t Stand Up For Sitting Down, Look Back In Hunger, Born Lippy and The More You Ignore Me, which was made into a feature film and released in 2018. She also co-wrote and starred in the TV sitcom Getting On, for which she won a BAFTA.

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