The Third Chapter

Passion, Risk, and Adventure in the 25 Years After 50

By: Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot

Narrated by: Laural Merlington

Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

In the 21st century, a developmental phase of life is emerging as significant and distinct, capturing our interest, engaging our curiosity, and expanding our understanding of human potential and development. Demographers talk about this new chapter in life as characterized by people - those between ages 50 and 75 - who are considered "neither young nor old."

In our "third chapters" we are beginning to redefine our views about the casualties and opportunities of aging; we are challenging cultural definitions of strength, maturity, power, and sexiness. This is a chapter in life when the traditional norms, rules, and rituals of our careers seem less encompassing and restrictive; when many women and men seem to be embracing new challenges and searching for greater meaning in life.

In The Third Chapter, Dr. Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot offers a strong counterpoint to the murky ambivalence that shrouds our clear view of people in their third chapters. She challenges the still-prevailing and anachronistic images of aging by documenting and revealing the ways in which the years between 50 and 75 may, in fact, be the most transformative and generative time in our lives - tracing the ways in which wisdom, experience, and new learning inspire individual growth and cultural transformation. The women and men whose voices fill the pages of The Third Chapter tell passionate and poignant stories of risk and vulnerability, failure and resilience, challenge and mastery, experimentation and improvisation, and insight and new learning.

©2009 Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"In this singular book, Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot introduces a new stage of life, delineates its intriguing and unexpected contours, and draws lessons that are meaningful for every human being." (Howard Gardner, author of Good Work)
"Remarkable.... This is not only the best book yet about the changing lifecourse, but an inspiring roadmap for individual and social renewal." (Marc Freedman, author of Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life)

Great message but too much social science jargon

This book has a great title, and an excellent message with good stories of individuals who have "reinvented" themselves in midlife. But I pretty much got the point after about 3 chapters and wasn't sure what value was being added by making the book longer. Also, the social science language and vocab kind of got on my nerves after awhile.

Narrator has some odd pronunciations, e.g. "pedagogy." But overall, a good message, if you can ignore some of the academic aspects of the book.

Good topic, Better Editing Needed

The topic and interviews were good, insightful. The narration was good. The content needs better editing from a high level to gather the information into more logical sections - chapters.

MIS-LEADING

Should have paid attention to the other reviews:

It's a scholarly, hard to access book which they gave a pop-sounding title.

Shame, because it's an important subject, and offers some new thinking..but it's not a good listen.

And it's made worse by the narrator who speaks too fast, and sounds like she doesn't really understand the material. Otherwise she would slow down and add some emphasis and interest to what she's reading.


Stick to Gail Sheehy - and others who are not so pretentious.

Disappointing

Would you try another book from Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot and/or Laural Merlington?

doubtful on sara Lawrence. maybe on laural

What was most disappointing about Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot’s story?

it wasn't _her_ story. she just interviewed a few people and told a few things about _their_ story.

What three words best describe Laural Merlington’s performance?

ok

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

nothing

Any additional comments?

skip it. there 1000s of other books you could read

"Disappointing"

Highly disappointed in this book. All people who are interviewed in the book are people who I and probably 90% of other readers will not identify with. Did Ms Lightfoot find these folks at the university or from Who's Who? All with advanced degrees, many who attended the fancy schools, high achievers with wonderful significant others who are now entering the third phase of life. Blah, blah, blah so unrealistic. I was so hoping that this book would be real and I could take away some ideas and insight to help with this next phase of my life.

goofy, annoying

I turned it off after the first five minutes. I felt embarrassed just listening to this. Not sure of the author's age, but the style came across as an elderly person trying too hard to use "cool" words to sound "hip." What ever happened to presenting useful information? There might be some in there if you can stomach they author's style.