Life Reimagined

The Science, Art, and Opportunity of Midlife

By: Barbara Bradley Hagerty

Narrated by: Barbara Bradley Hagerty

Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

A dynamic and inspiring exploration of the new science that is redrawing the future for people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s for the better - and for good.

There's no such thing as an inevitable midlife crisis, Barbara Bradley Hagerty writes in this provocative, hopeful book. It's a myth, an illusion. New scientific research explodes the fable that midlife is a time when things start to go downhill for everybody. In fact, midlife can be a great new adventure, when you can embrace fresh possibilities, purposes, and pleasures.

In Life Reimagined, Hagerty explains that midlife is about renewal: It's the time to renegotiate your purpose, refocus your relationships, and transform the way you think about the world and yourself. Drawing from emerging information in neurology, psychology, biology, genetics, and sociology - as well as her own story of midlife transformation - Hagerty redraws the map for people in midlife and plots a new course forward in understanding our health, our relationships, even our futures.

©2016 Barbara Bradley Hagerty (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Life Reimagined paints a portrait of middle age that is far from grim and decelerating. Midlife begins to seem like the second big phase of decision-making. Your identity has been formed; you know who you are; you’ve built up your resources; and now you have the chance to take the big risks precisely because your foundation is already secure.” (David Brooks, The New York Times)

“Life Reimagined gave me hope that midlife, even with its struggles, can be a time of growth and deeper joy in relationships old and new.” (BookPage)

“Bradley uses the perfect mixture of anecdote and facts and knows how to tell a story. Inspiring and reassuring, this book is guaranteed to shake up anyone who is coasting through middle age, reminding them that it’s up to them to find their essence and shape their last years with purpose.” (Booklist)

The journey is mins

Brought so much clarity to my journey to happiness. It’s affirming to hear that we all have similar thoughts about our next chapter. This book gives great stories to inspire and show that we are the chief pilot of our lives. Truly enjoy this.

Educational and comforting

Barbara does a good job of engaging you from the beginning with compelling anecdotes and research about those going through mid to later years. I found the book inspiring, insightful, and entertaining throughout. If you are looking for novel ways to assess your own situation and context around midlife, and journeys through mid and late life, this is a good read. Of course her performance as a narrator is rock solid due to her years as an NPR correspondent. Barbara, thank you for writing this book

Welcome, you’re not alone.

Captivating, reassuring, graciously wry, genuine. A nice read and pleasing to listen to. A few storylines were reaching, yet comprehensively well assembled and presented. A welcoming smile and gentle embrace for embarking on an unfamiliar and reluctant journey many are called upon to take.

Listened Twice

Ms. Hagerty's book is a study in science and art and get to it-ness. Best phrase of the book is "auto-pilot equals death" and I see evidence of it in my fellow middle aged travelers- myself included. Grateful for her sharing the research and personal stories that make this book a must listen.

Excellent book

Highly recommend this book, and Barbara does such a wonderful job narrating. You feel like she is a dear friend by the end of the book.

Just what I needed, maybe you need it too...

An antidote for anxious and regretful thoughts of midlife. The most encouraging and motivating thing I have absorbed in a while!

loved it!

Excellent read, great research, and motivating. Highly recommend. I will be reading this again, it was that good.

how to guide for people 50 +

Great survey about what you need to get moving on in your 50's, to ensure you enjoy the next 25+ years. Terrific anecdotes. The "simple rules" at the end of the book are priceless.

Simply sensational!

Having just turned 50, this book arrived at an optimal time for me to help me take stock of all the wonderful things that I have going for me and to give me a roadmap for the future to keep going. It was an an absolute delight to hear Barbara narrate this book - thank you, Barbara for creating a sensational masterpiece of spoken word and content! Bravo!!

Reminded me there's so much more

I greatly enjoyed the gifts of research and story that illustrated the wisdom of this book. It offered a way to refocus my opportunities at a time when I lost my job due the workforce reduction impact of COVID-19.