It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now

How to Create Your Second Life at Any Age

By: Barbara Sher

Narrated by: Barbara Sher

Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Barbara Sher has transformed the lives of millions with her phenomenally successful books, workshops, and television appearances. Now, in a work that explores and demystifies one of life's most challenging and bewildering passages, she shatters the myth that turns midlife into a crisis and offers a bold new strategy for creating a new life after 40. 

Barbara Sher shows you how to rediscover the inspired, enthusiastic adventurer you wanted to be before you became the responsible adult you had to be. According to Sher, it's never too late to start over. In fact, midlife is the perfect time to do so, a time when dreams for the future and experiences of the past finally come together. "The second life", as Sher calls it, can be even better than the first. More important, it would have been impossible to make these crucial realizations until now. 

Discover:

• How to make life's built-in "time limit" work for you
• Which of your "regrets" can point the way to a more rewarding life
• How to identify - and overcome - the illusions that stop you from living your dreams
• Dozens of ways to recapture your freedom...without succumbing to "road fever", trophy-mate collecting, or other midlife maladies.

Combining step-by-step strategies with provocative exercises and motivational techniques, this extraordinary book reminds you of the dreams you abandoned along the path to adulthood, providing all the tools you will need to weave those aspirations into a richly textured, meaningful life. 

Beginning with the empowering notion that everyone has a future, Barbara Sher shows you how to turn each of midlife's challenges into a catalyst for dynamic change. Indeed, no matter what your age, it's only too late - to reclaim your creativity, recapture your long-lost dreams, and embark on an exciting new life - if you don't start right now!

©2010 Barbara Sher (P)2012 Random House Audio

Best book on finding a purpose in life

What did you love best about It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now?

Barbara Sher's down to earth style that illustrates a profound wisdom about what it is to live without purpose, and to not fulfill your dreams. I found her insights into the human condition and why we behave the way we do to really resonate with me, and what I am going through. Barbara sees it as it is and provides the reader with not only strategies on how to fulfill his or her dreams but also the knowledge of why they must do it. I will re-read this book time and time again. It has become one of my favourites.

What does Barbara Sher bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love Barbara's voice, particularly how it is caring and comforting.

What did you learn from It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now that you would use in your daily life?

It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now has propelled me into action. There is a section in the book where Barbara says that once you know that you must act you won't be able to go back to who you were before. I have realised this more than anything as I am already making changes, and they are heartfelt and purposeful, not just on a whim changes.

Any additional comments?

If you are going through a period of life where you feel that you are not living with purpose and feel a deep, pervading unhappiness, this book will be like a light at the end of a very long tunnel. When you reach that light you realise that it is the entrance to the life you should be living, and you will happy to leave the life that you have been living for everyone else.

Reads like wise advice from a good friend

This book is so full of wisdom, I plan to immediately listen to it again. I picked up this book because I'm 35 and starting to feel restless in my career, despite being "happy" with it overall. I got more than I bargained for with this book! Not only did it talk about making changes in your life's work, but also about coming to terms with changes in your appearance, self-image, and sense of value as you enter midlife. I haven't quite started dealing with those issues yet, but I'm really glad to have gotten a glimpse into some issues that may be coming and how to mentally prepare for them. It gave me a sense of hope about aging, (instead of dread) and the sense that life can get better with time.

I love that this book is practical, down-to-earth and not full of "woo-woo," fluffy, feel-good advice. Some other books in this genre venture off into pseudo-spiritual talk about purpose and calling that always rings false to me. I was afraid this might be one of those books. It's not at all. The authors advice is realistic, even a little gritty, and will make you laugh at times.

She also did a terrific job of narrating the book. I didn't notice that the author narrated until after I listened, and I was quite surprised. I came away from the book feeling like I had had a nice long conversation with a slightly older best friend who was sharing a bit of life's secrets on how life can be even better over 40.

I also gained some nice insights into myself. The author does dive into romantic love more than I expected and I was afraid the book was not going to address the area I was interested in - happiness in work/career. Don't worry, the last few chapters really get to the meat of discovering your personal dreams and making practical plans to incorporate them into your life, whether that's in your work or outside of work.

Just before this book I listened to "So Good They Can't Ignore You" by Cal Newport. These two books are very different, but compliment each other nicely. Newport's book recommends caution when "pursuing passion" but shows you what you should pursue instead (and how) if you want to be happy in your work. Sher's book balances that well by helping you figure out the very personal side of your dreams and how to overcome feelings of "it's too late" or "I'm too old." Newport's book also seems to speak more to the new college graduate, while Sher's book gives the perspective that you are in a prime position to pursue a new dream/career direction after 40. So now I can go back to the advice in Newport's book and think "hey, this is for me too."

Thank you Barbara for a beautifully written, inspiring, and helpful book! Now I plan to celebrate my 40th with friends and family with joy and not run off and hide. :)

More of a quarterlife here but still relevant

I'm 33 not 40 but still many of the topics applied to me. I found this pretty inspiring and liked how it provided motivation for people who are older but not "old". Most books are for people in their 20's or retired but this provides something for those inbetween. Also I don't have kids and liked that this book wasn't all about kids or life after kids. There were parts where kids are mentioned but the book isn't centered around it.

Great read!

Not just a rah rah book. Good straightforward look at taking your second bite at the apple!

It’s not too late for me!

I’ve spent all of this year beating myself up for the mistakes I’ve made in my past. I felt like, “Well, my life is for my children now.” I had kids at 37. But this book not only confirmed that I wasn’t going crazy, it also gave me a new hope. I am going to follow my dreams again. I’m starting a blog about my experience and shaking off leaches in my life!

Anyone 18 years and older can benefit from this

I wished I had this information when I was 18. Yes, I would have to re-read it again every decade as I would need a refresher and I would get more out of it. But I think in today's world those embarking on adulthood would be less depressed if the knew they didn't have to figure everything out up front. I am so grateful to be reading this book right now, in my late 40's. And not any later! I love her explanation about the history of how age is perceived changed over time. And the role war, the government, and movies played into it. It's refreshing, actually.
She's right, of course. Those people who stay very active in their later years tend to be much happier- and live longer.
She gives me hope with a strong dose of positivity. I like that I'm learning from her as well.
My mom passed away when she was 65 (cancer) and I can hear her saying similar things. It's nice to find an older woman who is like my mom (very unique) and willing to share her wisdom to the world. Kudos to Barbara. And I'm so happy she narrated it!

I love this book!!!! A game changer!!!

It is so well read and the message is fantastic. I feel like a new person.

Disappointed

The first half or more of the book seemed to be reflecting back to the readers a long list of why they have such low self-esteem, why they are afraid, and why they stay stuck. I kept wondering if this is what most Americans really deal with. This appears to be a commentary on Americans and American society. I had trouble understanding why the author had to dwell on these aspects of people as they mature. The most useful part came near the end as the author provided some clear steps for finding one’s interests and focusing on how to capitalize on them. I wish the book had had more concrete suggestions and less discussion of why people moan and grumble about their lives.

For anyone feeling stuck at any age!

I really loved her breakdown of each stage of life and how we are indoctrinated to accept certain roles or of expectations from family and society. Until we are able to distill our dreams our unique gifts when we are past certain stages or experiences we are able to clearly see what we want and desire; Our genius. Be your own advocate. Pursue it with passion!! She states "Greatness is a byproduct of happiness" So true!:) Certainly this book is a worth gold in wisdom!:) I'm looking forward to what's next for me- embracing life whole heartedly and with joy! -SAHM 36 -Future Music Director/ Trainer :)

Timely & Thought Provoking

This book gives a nice prospective about approaching the second phase of one's life. It resonated with the current events happening to me now.

Great

Fantastic and resonant message, great writing. The author is inspiring and has a fascinating personality. I loved her rendition of the book. However, it stretches out simple points over too much time. I still enjoyed it a lot.