Barbara Bradley Hagerty

This was truly the right book at the right time, saying all the right things. Hagerty has thought (and researched) thoroughly about midlife, approaching it from the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual aspects. From our sudden overly-fueled desire to volunteer to the frustrating occasional lapse in our synapses, she speaks to the many challenges faced by those who fall in that grey and often dissatisfying demographic of 40-ish to 60-ish. If you find you're longing for meaning, change, stability, the chance to contribute, and the possibility to pursue passions long marginalized, I think this book may offer wisdom and solace.

Hagerty is practical, but appropriately idealistic. Inspiring, but grounded in the realities of the malaise and fears of life at this surreal crossroad known as middle age, when one's parents and children are looking to them for support, when one is apt to start to feel a little less sharp, a little more obsolete, and a little bewildered by what appear to be a lack of choices. Hagerty does a wonderful job of showing us the possibilities, and even illuminating some of the pathways to get there.

I plan to spread the word about this one. And I plan to revisit it often for inspiration as changes, challenges, and opportunities are navigated.… (more)

There is a large amount of information presented in this book, some of it very dense and clinical, but nearly all of it fascinating and potentially useful. However, there are so many variations, so many "but on the other hand" tidbits of data, that it became overwhelming. I felt that the book lost its narrative thread a number of times, and wandered off on tangents that didn't really end up anywhere. I did enjoy the author's interspersal of her own life story; I think that helped to ground the data in real life. Halfway through, I thought this was a book that I'd enthusiastically recommend to everyone of a certain age. My enthusiasm waned somewhat in the last half, but I still think this is a solid piece of research and reporting, and highly recommend it.… (more)