Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life

How to Finally, Really Grow Up

By: James Hollis PhD

Narrated by: Gary Galone

What does it really mean to be a grown-up in today's world? We assume that once we "get it together" with the right job, marry the right person, have children, and buy a home, all is settled and well. But adulthood presents varying levels of growth and is rarely the respite of stability we expected. Turbulent emotional shifts can take place anywhere between the ages of 35 and 70 when we question the choices we've made, realize our limitations, and feel stuck - commonly known as the "midlife crisis".

Jungian psychoanalyst James Hollis believes that it is only in the second half of life that we can truly come to know who we are and thus create a life that has meaning. In Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life, Hollis explores the ways we can grow and evolve to fully become ourselves when the traditional roles of adulthood aren't quite working for us. Offering wisdom to anyone facing a career that no longer seems fulfilling, a long-term relationship that has shifted, or family transitions that raise issues of aging and mortality, Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life provides a reassuring message and a crucial bridge across this critical passage of adult development.

©2005 James Hollis, PhD (P)2015 Tantor

Engaging, thought-provoking, at times profound

Content...fascinating. Narrator... so bad that only the quality of the content kept me listening. Galone must have had a bet with someone on how fast he could finish reading this book. He read at the pace and with the (dis)passion of an auctioneer, plowing through complex ideas at the speed of a bullet train, leaving the listener hanging on for dear life. I don’t need or want an excessively slow rendition, but much of this book requires some processing time for the listener. The content is absolutely worthy. Since I want to listen to more of Hollis’ work, I have been relieved to see that all have other narrators.

Good but very hard to follow

it's a good book but could be shortened by half. it's very hard to follow, it definitely has extremely important message but I have to skip multiple chapter's. The most useful chapter for me was about career

Cringe worthy mispronounciations

The book is good. The overall performance of the reader is professional enough. But the performance is loaded with mispronounciations. It diminishes the credibility of the authors message. With that written, I think I might listen to it again. The author had a lot to say and I don't think it all stuck in my brain.

Thought provoking and validating

While perhaps lacking a rigid structure, or definite sense of flow, the Author gives one a lot to think about. Insights into the how's and why's of life.

True to his word, this isn't a book which tells you how to make things better. (I feel) It's designed to make you think, to connect the dots of your own life, your own situation(s), and through those thoughts affect change for yourself.

The narrator is not the best choice for this book

Though it is insightful the aggressive reading of the content makes it difficult to listen to.