No Thanks, Thanks For Waiting: Why Doree Shafrir’s Memoir About Being a “Late Bloomer” Sells the Same Old Story
The marketing of Doree Shafrir’s new memoir, Thanks for Waiting: The Joy (& Weirdness) of Being a Late Bloomer, leans heavily into the notion that the book is about an “alternative life path.” One tagline reads, “ In a world of 30 Under 30 lists, this book is a welcome reminder that it’s okay to live life at your own speed.”
I fell for it. I pre-ordered the book, intrigued by this premise. I’d always identified as a “late bloomer” myself. I’d started this trend when I refused to walk until I was nearly two years old, causing my family to think I was going to be trucking along on my hands and knees until adulthood. In school, it took me years to find my footing, not applying myself and studying until high school, when the idea that I was smart and I could achieve things if I actually tried finally penetrated my thick skull. It took me until high school to finally form real friendships, too. I didn’t date or drink in college. I didn’t drive until I was a senior in college. I could go on, but you get the picture.
Shafrir co-hosts an extremely popular podcast, Forever 35, which I mostly enjoy. I started listening to it when it launched, in January 2018, when I was taking Lyfts to and from my office because I was still recovering from…
