Life Is in the Transitions

Mastering Change at Any Age

By: Bruce Feiler

Narrated by: Bruce Feiler

A New York Times bestseller!

A pioneering and timely study of how to navigate life's biggest transitions with meaning, purpose, and skill

Bruce Feiler, author of the New York Times bestsellers The Secrets of Happy Families and Council of Dads, has long explored the stories that give our lives meaning. Galvanized by a personal crisis, he spent the last few years crisscrossing the country, collecting hundreds of life stories in all fifty states from Americans who’d been through major life changes—from losing jobs to losing loved ones; from changing careers to changing relationships; from getting sober to getting healthy to simply looking for a fresh start. He then spent a year coding these stories, identifying patterns and takeaways that can help all of us survive and thrive in times of change.

What Feiler discovered was a world in which transitions are becoming more plentiful and mastering the skills to manage them is more urgent for all of us. The idea that we’ll have one job, one relationship, one source of happiness is hopelessly outdated. We all feel unnerved by this upheaval. We’re concerned that our lives are not what we expected, that we’ve veered off course, living life out of order. But we’re not alone.

Life Is in the Transitions introduces the fresh, illuminating vision of the nonlinear life, in which each of us faces dozens of disruptors. One in ten of those becomes what Feiler calls a lifequake, a massive change that leads to a life transition. The average length of these transitions is five years. The upshot: We all spend half our lives in this unsettled state. You or someone you know is going through one now.

The most exciting thing Feiler identified is a powerful new tool kit for navigating these pivotal times. Drawing on his extraordinary trove of insights, he lays out specific strategies each of us can use to reimagine and rebuild our lives, often stronger than before.

From a master storyteller with an essential message, Life Is in the Transitions can move readers of any age to think deeply about times of change and how to transform them into periods of creativity and growth.

Regardless of the transition you or someone you love is going through it’s worth the read.

Life is in the transition it’s a great read for anyone who either themselves or someone they love is going through life changes. it helped remind me that we’re only alone if we choose to be and life is richer when you share your story.

Storyworth and Life is in the Transitions

I signed up for Storyworth before reading Life is in the Transitions. The book inspires me to take more control over my weekly entries, focusing on ways challenges in my life have led to positive outcomes. The book also emphasizes ways my stories are for me as much as they are for my progeny. It is a great book for all thoughtful adults.

Incredible

Truly enjoyed listening to this book and learning from the stories included in the book. I have learned many lessons that I’m going to implement in my life and how I think about life’s transitions.

Putting words to common experiences

It was helpful to be able to categorize and compare the experiences of people who have come through significant transitions, and how they processed it.

One of the most important survival guides

As a mental health professional for over thirty years, I have read countless books on psychology. This one is so unique! It will be used in academic and professional circles for many, many years to come, I predict. The research was thorough, new patterns discerned, and the book offers stories of real people (disclosure, my story is used too) who have experienced all kinds of traumatic events and come out stronger and wiser as a result. In this time of pandemic economic upheaval, I think this book can be a survival guide for readers. It offers practical and hopeful paradigms that give meaning and purpose and some control amidst the chaos and fear of the unknown. I know about storytelling and it’s power. Bruce Feiler is a master story teller and his traumas has helped him become very grounded and wise. Although I purchased the hardcover, when I realized Bruce read his own book, I got the audio too. I loved listening to hear read this book! It brought the stories to a personal level which touched me deeply. He is a good man who cares about humanity. Kudos.