From Strength to Strength

Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life

By: Arthur C. Brooks

Narrated by: Arthur C. Brooks

Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The roadmap for finding purpose, meaning, and success as we age, from bestselling author, Harvard professor, and the Atlantic's happiness columnist Arthur Brooks.

Many of us assume that the more successful we are, the less susceptible we become to the sense of professional and social irrelevance that often accompanies aging. But the truth is, the greater our achievements and our attachment to them, the more we notice our decline, and the more painful it is when it occurs.

What can we do, starting now, to make our older years a time of happiness, purpose, and yes, success?

At the height of his career at the age of 50, Arthur Brooks embarked on a seven-year journey to discover how to transform his future from one of disappointment over waning abilities into an opportunity for progress. From Strength to Strength is the result, a practical roadmap for the rest of your life.

Drawing on social science, philosophy, biography, theology, and eastern wisdom, as well as dozens of interviews with everyday men and women, Brooks shows us that true life success is well within our reach. By refocusing on certain priorities and habits that anyone can learn, such as deep wisdom, detachment from empty rewards, connection and service to others, and spiritual progress, we can set ourselves up for increased happiness.

Listen to this book and you, too, can go from strength to strength.

©2021 Arthur Brooks (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“To the overachievers, success addicts, and tired strivers who are fairly confident you can’t keep it up forever but will try anyway—this book is for you. Arthur Brooks shows you it’s possible to build a life that really does get better with age.”—Simon Sinek, optimist and author of Start with Why and The Infinite Game

“From Strength to Strength is a wise and inspiring guide to reimagining the rest of your life. If you’re a striver tired of striving, this remarkable book is for you.”—Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive, When, and A Whole New Mind

“Brooks appears to have a clear strategy here: first he horrifies you, then he bucks you up. An alternate title for this book could be The Good News About Your Inevitable Decline. Most of us strivers believe we can keep racing until we run out of road. Arthur is trying to save us pain and maximize our contributions to the species. Every ambitious person should read this.”—Dan Harris, author and former ABC News anchor

Overall good, but a religious push at the end

The first 6 chapters were very good, and largely took a scientific and philosophical approach to moving into your second phase of life.

However, starting with chapter 7, it quickly turns into a religious sermon.

Required mid-life reading

Arthur Brooks has assembled THE manual for happiness in the back half of life. May we all find our strengths and have the courage to jump to them when the time is right.

five stars are not enough

I think I learned of this book after reading one of his columns for Atlantic. It was well worth my time. His ideas are congruent with my own faith and with the tenets I respect from other faith traditions. He quotes a number of people whose wisdom and understanding I treasure. His voice is engaging.

I just turned 70, after nearly a year of health and work challenges. I am slowing down and have a realistic lifespan of at least 15 more years. I now have some idea of how to lovingly and productively (in a non-financial way) spend the time that is left to me.

I'm also interested in reading several of his other books.

Excellent

Learn a lot, highly recommended to people thinking of retirement. I wish I had read it sooner.

Highly recommend ....

especially if you are a fellow striver....whether you know you are at your prime, or you are questioning if you are at your prime...or perhaps you think you are beginning to decline in your professional life. There is science behind it and it gives me hope for my next curve....I actually look forward to making the leap and finding it.

Excellent!

Could not stop listening. Excellent book and well done. Words to live by in our changing lives.

Brilliant

Bravo 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 such an incredibly well
Writtena and practical book. Brooks crushes this. Bery relateable and incredibly inaightful.

Great timing

If you are over 40 and beginning to wonder what’s next, this book is for you.

packed full

This book popped up as a recommendation and I am so happy I bought it. I'm recently divorced, with children who are embarking on their grown up lives, which had left me questioning my future. This fantastic book provided guidance I will use.

Great advice...

...for workaholics later in life (40s and on). Excellent info to help prepare mentally for success later on (I'm in my 30s). Would love to hear a conversation with him and Goggins, Jocko, Gary V, Joe Rogan, Cameron Hanes, or others out there grinding hard.