Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Academic and columnist Brooks ponders a way to get off the hampster wheel of success and accept inevitable professional decline with grace. [xiii] Drawing from his media columns and research, Brooks approaches the conundrum of the later-life career striver from a social science angle and presents the bounty of his analysis through advice and guidance for those struggling with midlife relevance. [17] He begins with the kind of bad news successful professionals fear most: that the majority will peak in their careers much earlier than theyd imagined, like entrepreneurial tech founders who experience creative decline in their early thirties. [7] It can be personally devastating, he cautions, and bases this conclusion on interviews with psychologists and, most notably, career professionals [88] feeling the pinch of dissatisfaction while hooked [43-6] on producing Sisyphean accomplishments amidst waning determination. [21] Brooks believes this decline process can bruise the pride, elicit fear, and become difficult to comprehend and even more challenging to accept as it contradicts our innate instinct to continue creating successful ventures. In accessible, affable prose which also incorporates spiritual aspects alongside the teachings of ancient Indian and Buddhist philosophers, [149, 211] Brooks discusses the psychology and addictive allure of satisfaction. [79] One of the less attractive but essential keys to achieving contentment, he notes, lies in the power of downsizing. Brooks urges those facing this midlife career quandary to move forward and discover new strengths and skills, zero in on the things that bring real, lasting happiness instead of adding brushstrokes to an already full canvas. [92] While the duality of wellness and death might not be on a strivers agenda, mindful chapters directly addressing its significance to resistant overachievers makes one of more critical and sobering points in the book. [108] Using his goal-oriented structure [116] and sage guidance, [204] Brooks instructs readers on escaping the strivers curse [xiv] of career-driven professionals suffering with disillusionment later in life. There is meaning and happiness in the second half of adulthood, he acknowledges. Thoughtful reflections and practical counsel on career downshifting at midlife and beyond. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Academic and columnist Brooks ponders a way to “get off the hampster wheel of success and accept inevitable professional decline with grace.” [xiii] Drawing from his media columns and research, Brooks approaches the conundrum of the later-life career striver from a social science angle and presents the bounty of his analysis through advice and guidance for those struggling with midlife relevance. [17] He begins with the kind of bad news successful professionals fear most: that the majority will peak in their careers much earlier than they’d imagined, like entrepreneurial tech founders who experience creative decline in their early thirties. [7] It can be personally devastating, he cautions, and bases this conclusion on interviews with psychologists and, most notably, career professionals [88] feeling the pinch of dissatisfaction while hooked [43-6] on producing Sisyphean accomplishments amidst waning determination. [21] Brooks believes this decline process can bruise the pride, elicit fear, and become difficult to comprehend and even more challenging to accept as it contradicts our innate instinct to continue creating successful ventures. In accessible, affable prose which also incorporates spiritual aspects alongside the teachings of ancient Indian and Buddhist philosophers, [149, 211] Brooks discusses the psychology and addictive allure of satisfaction. [79] One of the less attractive but essential keys to achieving contentment, he notes, lies in the power of downsizing. Brooks urges those facing this midlife career quandary to move forward and discover new strengths and skills, zero in on the things that bring real, lasting happiness instead of “adding brushstrokes to an already full canvas”. [92] While the duality of wellness and death might not be on a striver’s agenda, mindful chapters directly addressing its significance to resistant overachievers makes one of more critical and sobering points in the book. [108] Using his goal-oriented structure [116] and sage guidance, [204] Brooks instructs readers on escaping the “striver’s curse” [xiv] of career-driven professionals suffering with disillusionment later in life. There is meaning and happiness in the second half of adulthood, he acknowledges. Thoughtful reflections and practical counsel on career downshifting at midlife and beyond. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.