You're Only Old Once!: A Book for Obsolete Children

As time marches on, aging is inevitable, so it’s no wonder that Dr. Seuss chose to tackle this most common of subjects for his most adult audiences. He does so with his trademark humour, so no worries about the story being dark and depressing - after all, growing up is great fun, as we learn and grow alongside the world around us. Seuss sets the story in a doctor’s office, with an elderly gentleman who is set to have all his bits and bobs checked out by the doctor as our protagonist, which seems like a straightforward enough narrative but Seuss soon delves into the realm of the absurd as the check-up spirals out of control. As the appointment continues, the man is subjected to increasingly ridiculous tests by increasingly ridiculous show more medical specialists - which is exactly what appointments can often seem like when they drag on and the medical jargon becomes too much to handle. Our protagonist gets a bit anxious as he realizes that the tests are out of his control, but by the final scene he has realized that he shouldn’t fixate on his problems and try to carry on with life in good spirits. After all, a good mindset is crucial to staying young at heart! show less

Like everyone, surely, with a whimsical or imaginative bone in their body, I adored Dr. Seuss as a kid. And now, at a couple weeks shy of forty-nine, I figured I was about old enough to read his book for folks on the other end of the age spectrum, about the experience of being poked and prodded (and billed) by doctors as they investigate what kind of shape your aging body is in. And I was right. I was. The bit about the guy who carefully and scientifically tests you to find out what foods you like best and then forbids you to them made me laugh a loud, rueful, all-too-familiar laugh.

Anyway, this was cute and fun and Seussian, and it kind of made me feel like a kid again for a moment, albeit a kid with bifocals and and annoying low-salt show more diet. show less

This one is a picture book, but aimed at adults. It follows an older man getting poked and prodded and checked by doctors. Having read this immediately after The Lorax, it wasn't quite as engaging. I found there were more made-up words that I stumbled through a little bit, through to the end of the book, not just at the beginning. However, it is still a humourous look at aging. The pictures, of course, add to the humour.

In honor of his 82nd birthday Theodore Geisel celebrated with the publication of this picture book for adults or, to use his term, 'obsolute children'. The story follows an ambiguous 'you' on a visit to the Golden Years Clinic where you have gone for a checkup. From absurd questionnaires about the health history of every extended member of your family past and present to a plethora of prescription pills with a complicated dosage schedule every inch of you is inspected and ogled by a huge staff of doctors. You even visit the dietician's office where you lay on a table and appetizing foods pass by your nose so the doctor can determine which foods you like the most. "And when that guy finds out what you like, you can bet it won't be on show more your diet, From here on, forget it!" It's all in good fun with Seuss' silly rhymes that tickle your funny bone. show less

You're Only Old Once follows an apprehensive, elderly man during his visit to a health clinic. as he is poked and prodded and tested by various doctors with various outlandish devices. At the end he is presented with all the bills that he (and his heirs) will have to pay.

The main point to note is that this is not a children's book. In fact, it's not clear who the target audience was, since adults are likely to find it depressing. Since Mr. Geisel wrote it at age of 82 (four years before he died), perhaps he wrote it for himself, as a way of trying to turn his medical care into a source of private amusement. To be sure, there is bleak humor, and the illustrations are of the typical "Seuss" variety. But I would not recommend it as a gift show more to anyone at either end of the age continuum. show less

Norval the Fish is a minor recurring character on the Nickelodeon series "The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss". He originally appeared in this Dr. Seuss book, the publication of which celebrated Seuss's 82nd birthday. At that age, I find the old master's verse somewhat lacking. It is overly verbose and not as crisp and clean in delivering its imaginative metaphors as his earlier classics are. However, the drawings are as good as any he has done and the storying being only a litany of prescriptions and examinations as health deteriorates with age, it can be enjoyed just as well taking in only the art.

Returned books to the Hershey library and was snorting around, mainly looking in the non-fiction section, trying to find the area for collections of articles, essays, etc (was primarily looking for Vonnegut's book of his college speeches.... which I found), and I came across this. I had never heard of it, so I had to pick it up and give it a read.

It's a Dr. Seuss book (by Dr. Seuss, not one of the fill-ins after he passed away) with his own illustrations and everything, aimed at 70+ year olds, about getting old, and having to wait in a doctor's office and the litany of tests that doctors do to people as they age.

Very funny book, Dr. Seuss was an amazing poet in both the way he did children's books, and this one as well. I'm surprised show more I'd never heard of this before, it should be in all retirement homes..... (ha!) show less