Red Hot Mamas

Dowling (The Cinderella Complex), who is herself 50-plus, strives for a celebratory attitude in this self-help manual designed to guide women through the changes that occur at midlife. Drawing on interviews with 65 women and sociological research, she tackles a variety of subjects including menopause, caretaking of elderly parents, career change, appearance, sexuality, relationships and managing money. Dowling's target group is the baby boom generation, and her upbeat anecdotes deal chiefly with the experiences of middle-class to upper-middle-class women. She argues that, despite the challenges inherent in growing older, the 50s can be years of growth if women are open to change, willing to take chances and ready to invest in their strengths and abilities. In a controversial chapter, Dowling advises the use of estrogen replacement therapy both to relieve the symptoms of menopause and to protect women from disease. She labels those feminists who disagree ``reactionary.'' (Feb.)