MIDLIFE

This was a short book that examines mid life philosophically and has various arguments the author makes to suggest some solutions. These solutions includea) Balancing your ego with the priorities of others. Helping other people.b) Focusing on activities that solve a purpose as well as solve no purpose but make life good (painting)c) Realise that the present is a source of your identity eventhough you could have chosen otherwise in your pastd) Just having options matters but it may not have changed your path in lifee) Realizing loved ones exist because of your past choices even though you had other optionsf) Realize you may be having the best of the choice you made rather than a riskier but better choice in pastg) Realizing death is equivalent to not being bornh) Give up the need for supernatural powers like being immortali) Focus both on process (atelic) and outcome (telic) of a project otherwise there will be a lack once you complete projects

4/5 stars because of sloppy writing in the middle of the book, and could benefit from general editing. The first two chapters and the last two chapters are clearer and easier to read by a non-philosoher. But the middle chapters are not written well for a general audience. Perhaps the author should have collaborated with Alain de Botton and we the readers would have greatly benefited from a fine masterpiece. Perhaps, the author will do that in the second act of his life. This was a good draft for anyone who has ever wondered about the meaning of life and where we are all going?!

I would ordinarily give this book four stars and not five were it not for the unjustified ratings given by others already. Granted it's not always an easy read and many of the harsher critics don't fall within the target audience. Having worked in cultures where there are different attitudes to age, gender, family and community, I can imagine some might not find it so relevant or agreeable. I can also imagine some others who are not middle-aged men may take issue through their own bias and agenda.I probably found this easier to read than some, as I bought this book following listening to the author talk about this topic on a podcast and am already familiar with some philosophy. As a 46-year-old British male, for me, this book asks some really important questions. I'm at the bottom of the u-curve described in the book. Those critics telling me to 'get over myself' haven't particularly noticed that some of the philosophies involved are discussing ways of precisely doing that. Moreover, it's not exactly a helpful comment anyway!While I may not agree with every conclusion, I am just so grateful that this discussion is even here.

Excelente

I am glad I read this. I warn this book requires a fair amount of logical reasoning skill. I'm a degreed engineer who has always loved the logic associated with computer programing and I found this book so difficult to casually read, I had to stop half way and start over. Having trouble the second time, I decided I needed to take notes. Spoiler: the conclusion chapter summarizes the 11 points and suggestions.I bought the book because of a prolonged midlife malaise. It is like a wave -- up and down. The philosophy, history lessons and logic in this book are quite interesting. But are they helpful? I'm not so sure. Even the author admits he is still struggling. I suspect if we had the ideas in this book and then applied some CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) exercises we would be better off. The two together better than CBT alone? I think so. With this book I now have a better idea of what is bugging me (chapter 6 is my issue). But I don't really feel like I got the solution from this book. Will shifting my focus form the telic to the atelic pull me out of my 7 year long funk and keep me out? I suspect I'll need to "untwist my thinking" more (reference to David Burns, author of Feeling Good, Feeling Good Handbook and other books).Others might get more help. If you are about to do something big in your life to resolve midlife dissatisfaction, read this first. Lucky for me I procrastinate enough that I didn't take any action yet.But I am grateful the author wrote it -- I just don't see much out there on this issue. And thanks for analysis of the idea in the beginning -- "is a midlife crisis really a phenomena"?UPDATE: I upgraded my rating. Months and months later my thoughts keep coming back to this book where the author organizes the common thoughts we have, one chapter each. Few other books I've read cause me to want to go back to them so much.

Its a very boring text...am really deceived.