Celadon Books is pleased to announce the acquisition of THIS CHAIR ROCKS: A Manifesto Against Ageism by Ashton Applewhite. President and Publisher Jamie Raab stumbled upon this self-published book and was immediately impressed by the author’s impassioned message, as well as the attention, positive reviews, and sales Ashton had received by word of mouth alone. She approached Ashton, knowing this was the perfect non-fiction title to round out Celadon’s inaugural list.
This manifesto takes on an important and under-represented -ism: Ageism. From childhood on, we're barraged by messages that aging makes you less than. Wrinkles aren’t as pretty as smooth skin; seniors aren’t as useful as young people. Author and activist Ashton Applewhite believed those messages too, until she realized where this prejudice comes from and the damage it does. Whether you’re older or hoping to get there, this book will shake you by the shoulders, cheer you up, make you mad, and change the way you see the rest of your life.
“Ashton brings incredible energy to her subject,” says Jamie. “Her words jump off the page and open your eyes to a reality everyone will one day grapple with—we all (hopefully!) get older, and I am so excited to champion Ashton’s vision of the future.”
Ashton Applewhite has been recognized by the New York Times, The New Yorker, National Public Radio, and the American Society on Aging as an expert on ageism. She blogs at This Chair Rocks, speaks widely around the world, has written for Harper's and Playboy, and is the voice of the podcast Yo, Is This Ageist? Her 2017 TED talk, “Let’s End Ageism,” has been viewed more than 1 million times.
Ashton is excited to return to Macmillan as an author—at the beginning of her career, she was an Editorial Assistant for Celadon’s sister imprint, St. Martin’s Press!
THIS CHAIR ROCKS will be published in March 2019, and will be a vital element of the conversation about later life.