Decline and Falling Over

‘Oh, the joy of unsanctimonious, funny tales of ageing. Jo is always glorious, but I enjoy her all the more for this anti-advice. A real nod to ageing we can all relate to (except me, I’m still way too young)’ MIRANDA HART

'Almost every line made me pee my pants. Not due to age – as she wrongly suggests – but because she’s the funniest woman on earth’ RUBY WAX

‘Lots of hilarious and unwise words from my favourite curmudgeonly she-wolf’ DAWN FRENCH

'A typically hilarious manifesto for the wise and ignored, Jo shows how, when you get knocked down, it’s sometimes best to stay there for a rest’ ALAN DAVIES

‘The fantastically imperfect "what not to do" list for older age. 100% my bible now’ EMMA FREUD

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Jo Brand is getting on a bit and, to be frank, all this stuff about ageing well and staying active has made her feel rather tired.

From lying unconscious under a surgeon’s knife with your fingers crossed to a jam and mongoose sperm emulsion (alright, Jo made that one up), we are surrounded with hot takes on how to age well.

Safe to say, Jo just can’t be arsed.

This is not a ‘life begins after menopause’ pep talk.

This book will not tell you how to live longer or better. (Sorry.)

Instead, join Jo as she ponders how to age her own way.

Things you can expect: not changing her pants, embracing the utter joy of becoming an ‘invisible’ older woman, a celebration of the endless opportunities afforded by selective deafness.

Completely unscientific and largely unresearched, Decline and Falling Over is a bungled assortment of musings on how to make the most of your shitter second half.

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‘Life affirming. No one need fear getting older with this advice. Jo Brand should be Minister for Old People! Actually, she should be Prime Minister’ TOM ALLEN

‘Of course it’s funny, of course it’s brilliant. A guidebook on how to grow old and not give a toss. Wonderful stuff’ SARAH MILLICAN

'Incredibly funny and joy-inducing' ISY SUTTIE

• Publication date: 5 November 2026
• Page count: 320
• Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
• Format: Hardback
• ISBN-13: 9780241822197