Nora Ephron is known as a writer of novels, screenplays, and plays. She is also a critically acclaimed director. In this somewhat autobiographical book, Nora provides humorous insight into being a women; specifically, about being a woman who is aging. But throughout the book there are anecdotes and stories that women of any age can relate to and laugh about. It starts with a discourse on Nora's feelings about her neck, like is mentioned in the title. The remainder of the book dives into thoughts on health, beauty, fashion, relationships, wisdom, marriage, and finally death. No subject matter seems untouchable. If it is something a woman can experience, it can be found in this book.

Nora candidly shares her own experiences. Good and bad it is all here. One learns about her failures in cooking and marriages, her shortcomings in her appearance and fashion, her struggles to begin and maintain a career in writing, and her fear of inevitable death. But even when the subject matter is heavy, her delightful delivery keeps an upbeat pace throughout the book. Nora takes one on a journey that shares life in New York as a single, married, divorced, and remarried women. The reader experiences life as daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend.

While some of the stories may not be something at first glance someone would think of experiencing, such as the quest to find cabbage strudel or the perfect purse, while reading the story one feels as if one is right there with Nora. The stories often bring up memories or thoughts of a personal cabbage strudel quest. It may not be a purse a reader is searching for, but reading with a sense of humor about someone else's struggle can make a personal search that much more bearable. In each chapter this is what Nora delivers—hope, support, and humor through the trials and tribulation of being not just a women, but a women who is aging.

The reader can feel that Nora has written the book to not just share humor and wit with women, but to provide an opportunity for dialog and thoughts on what matters most to women and what should be foremost in our lives. Nora mentions in the end that death is unavoidable. So too is aging. This book shows the battles that are fought with aging. Although one can try and lessen the effects, or try and deny that aging exists, the truth is that one cannot stop life. This book shows that through firsthand experiences. This book takes a woman from hating her neck to just being glad she is still alive. Being a woman can have its challenges. But in between illustrating the challenges, this book also exposes the joy and lightheartedness that life can offer.