In the first half of life, ambitious people usually focus with determination, work tirelessly, sacrifice, and never stop. However, the second half of life is governed by different rules: in middle age, many begin to discover that success becomes increasingly difficult to achieve, rewards are less satisfying, and family relationships may become strained. Often, in response, they work even harder in an attempt to avoid decline and deny the intellectual and physical changes that are becoming more evident, leading to feelings of anger, fear, and disappointment at a stage in life they imagined would be full of joy, satisfaction, and pride.
The author, Arthur Brooks, who teaches Public Leadership Practice at Harvard Kennedy School and Management at Harvard Business School, went through a similar phase:
at the height of his career, even though he had achieved all the goals he had set for himself, he did not feel fulfilled and embarked on a journey to discover how to turn potential future disappointments into opportunities for personal growth. His aim was to live a happier and more meaningful second half of life than the first. After studying the biographies of some of the most successful people in history, drawing on social sciences, philosophy, neuroscience, theology, and Eastern wisdom, and interviewing heads of state as well as ordinary men and women, Brooks distilled all the wisdom he gathered into a book that can show us concretely that happiness is within reach
for everyone, at any age. By learning to refocus our priorities and habits, exploring deep wisdom, detaching from material rewards, fostering connection, serving others, and pursuing spiritual development, we can be ready for a more mindful, fulfilling, and, to sum it up in one word, happy life.
Arthur C. Brooks
The Second Wave
256 pages
Aboca Edizioni, 2024
Price €22.00
