Barbara Bradley HagertyKirja-arvosteluja

This is a cute little book that covers locations in the south as a play on the original story “The Night Before Christmas.” It also has nice artwork.

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.

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.

A book about reinventing yourself in midlife and later. Some interesting ideas.

Pretty good. I liked the info on brain plasticity and mid life marriage. I think it lacks interest with the authors personal story but the info she has amassed is interesting and encouraging. I didn't think she provided much inner insight into her own journey. It felt rather surface. It is interesting that the notion of a midlife crisis is pretty much an urban legend.

I did disagree with the premise that we have a u shaped graph of happiness. Very happy at a young age, the low comes at middle age and then jubilant again in old age. Can't possibly be true for those with unhappy childhoods. Personally I'm enjoying my 40s. More than any age so far. Yes the aches and pains are annoying but I finally feel comfortable in my own, if somewhat sagging skin. I feel very grateful for the many joys and blessings in my life. An appreciation that only comes with perspective.

This is my favourite kind of book: a conversational memoir / summary of meaningful research on a topic. This was incredibly well done. Lots of insight and fun to read.½

Great book! The author who is an NPR journalist explores the intersection of science and religion; is it possible to believe in God while scrutinizing the evidence or lack thereof with science. She addresses topics such as brain chemistry and DNA, near death experiences, the impact of a personal god on lives, the power of prayer, and many others. For the author this is both a personal journal and a more general search. I found this to be a powerful and intelligently written book that provokes much thought.

Like 60% of Americans, as Barbara Bradley Hagerty informs us, I have had my own mystical and transcendent experience. Mine left me searching in the Religion and New Age section of bookstores for years (places you would normally have to drag me into) trying to figure out exactly what had happened to me. I was obsessed for many years by altered states of reality. I really did think I was going just a little bit crazy.

So I was fascinated with this somewhat personal account of Hagerty's own search for meaning in her personal experiences. There is science here to some extent, although mostly of the anecdotal variety. It is hard to force someone to have a spiritual experience in the MRI scanner. But, of course, in the end there is not much you can say. Yes, we have these experiences. Yes, they profoundly affect the way we see ourselves and our lives. Are they the fingerprints of God? Or brain chemistry run amok? Or maybe both? Who knows. The experiences are real enough, and at least for me, convincing enough that I've forever after had a strong connection to and a believe in the Eternal Mystery of the Universe.