I’ve been reading Arthur Brooks’ Atlantic articles on happiness for some time and have always loved them. He offers sensible and practical advice for finding happiness, backed both by scientific evidence and centuries old wisdom from philosophers. His articles are both informative and fun, and almost always spurs reflection. So, as a fan of Brooks, as well as being someone in my early 50’s, I had to read his new book, which is specifically about finding happiness in the second half of one’s life. Brooks starts here with brutal facts of aging and its impacts on your career. As a person approaches their late 40’s and early 50’s, their cognitive abilities will decline. This is a fact and a source of frustration for many strivers and successful professionals who try to keep up in their professions but find doing so increasingly difficult. This is obvious in some professions, such as athletes, who rely more on their physical abilities. But it is also true for just about any profession, and it is the cause of much unhappiness in middle age. The upside to a person losing their fluid intelligence, as Brooks calls the more rapid and agile intelligence of youth, is that at the same time there is an increase of crystallized intelligence, which essentially translates to wisdom. The key to happiness in middle age and beyond then, according to Brooks, is the transition from relying on fluid intelligence for your success to utilizing your crystallized intelligence to find a higher purpose. And Brooks is here to help you with that. As with his articles, Brooks’ writing is engaging and a joy to read. What he writes here makes sense, and as someone in my early fifties, resonates a lot. His advice is practical and seems a little scary but also achievable. He backs his points up with both scientific data and the wisdom of the great philosophers. He refers frequently to the importance of faith in the process. He gives someone who is suffering through this transition hope. Most importantly, he shows us his vulnerability by sharing his own journey through this process, which led to the writing of this very book. I cannot recommend this book enough for anyone in middle age who feels stuck in their careers or life in general. From Strength to Strength is a great place to start getting back on track.

The book prepares the reader to feel confident in oneself and more forward thinking. The set up in the first part explains how we grow and strenghten personally and professionally. Then we are shown how to capture all of our knowledge and leverage it to improve ones life (or help others improve). It is an easy read in the sense that the writer explains the concepts simply and in terms that can be consdiered very common sense. I have purchased copies to give as gifts to friends and families.

The book begins with Brooks telling the story of someone well known (he does not identify him) melting down on a plane because he felt like all his work had been for nothing. Having been at the top of his game, in his later years he knew he no longer measured up to that standard and judged his past accomplishments by his present ability. This is a warning. Brooks follows this anecdote with a chapter demonstrating that most people hit their decline much sooner than they recognize professionally. The bad news is that the decline comes sooner than we would expect. The good news is that it is a particular type of decline. In general, younger people tend to be more adaptable and experience a higher degree of fluid intelligence. This is why software “upgrades” becomes “frustrating changes” at some point in life. On the other hand, there are new intelligences that open up. People tend to become wiser––having messed more things, perhaps––and they also tend to become more articulate. Some professions, especially humanities, tend to gain in acumen as time goes on, largely because of the volume of background knowledge that must be obtained. So, the bad news is tempered by some good news, as long as we are prepared to accept it and adjust ourselves to its reality. Brooks argues that to age gracefully we must adapt our expectations. It simply isn’t feasible for a fifty year old to expect the same results with the same effort as someone in their mid-twenties. In fact, we are likely to work ourselves to death is we try to even those things out. That is why burnout around middle age is so common. Rather than crash and burn, we should attempt to adjust our expectations gradually. We should remember that we are going to die and live with both the anticipation of what that means and the realization of the limitations that brings. As a result, we should focus more on deep relationships, our spiritual journey (which for Brooks is a blend of Eastern religion and Roman Catholicism), be honest about our changing expectations with those around, and ultimately look for new opportunities that can best use our changing abilities. This is a useful book. There is wisdom in much of what Brooks writes, and this is no exception. As someone who has experienced real decline in several areas of his life, Brooks is speaking as one who is on the journey and is seeking to encourage on the road. From Strength to Strength may be just the sort of book that helps someone struggling with decline from despairing when the inevitable changes come. On the other hand, for those still on the rise, this may be the sort of warning that drives people to reconsider the path they take to make the decline less precipitous.

The book addresses the transitions associated with the second half of your life. It’s a well written and referenced guide.

I bought several copies of this book. For friends and family. And I've read dozens of the reviews - from one star to five stars. Those who gave it four or five stars seem to better understand the real meaning behind the stories and purpose of the book. It's not a self-help book. Not a "Do this and you will be happy" book. You really need to do the work and uncover what he is saying. As if you were chipping away at your Jade Boulder.

Enjoy the book. Hard to put it down. Could easily read it in one sitting because it is so good.

A little bit of science, a dash of humor, and a heap of wisdom coalesced into advice to give you a new source of strength in the second curve of your life. Good news-- (almost) everything is better later. I truly believe that. 🌲 "Workaholics" / ambitious folks-- this book may bring grace to the second half of your life.

Exactly what was needed. We'll written and authentic to real life! Now it needs to be implemented in one's own life.

Loved this book- easy to read and full of evidence based useful insights.

As I am about to turn 62, this is a book that helped me reflect on how to deal with the fact that I’m becoming the oldest person in the room at work, and not necessarily the smartest one anymore, and what to do with these facts. It truly offered me new perspectives and opened doors I had not considered before.