The anthology is far more culturally diverse than the few other literary collections on aging. Ranging from ancient Chinese poetry to Mary Oliver, Alice Walker, and Willie Nelson, the anthology includes poetry, fiction, philosophical essays, personal essays, humor, analyses of ageism, and folktales from Asia and Iraq. Fierce with Reality highlights writings by women, from late 19th century American literature to the present. Many facets of aging are explored, revealing the challenges and complexities of late life, and demonstrating that the aging process is both individual and social/cultural. Fierce with Reality, aimed at a general audience as well as students and professors, would be ideal for book groups.