The Happiness Curve

Why Life Gets Better After 50

By: Jonathan Rauch

Narrated by: Robert Fass

Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

This audiobook will change your life by showing you how life changes.

Why does happiness tend to get harder in your 40s? Why do you feel in a slump when you're successful? Where does this malaise come from, regardless of your gender, race, class or nationality? And, most importantly, will it ever end?

Drawing on cutting-edge research and dozens of stories about a diverse set of people, award-winning journalist Jonathan Rauch answers all these questions. He shows that from our 20s into our 40s, happiness follows a U-shaped trajectory, declining from the optimism of youth into what's often a long, low slump in middle age, before starting to rise again in our 50s - and then yielding unexpected contentment and wisdom.

Dismissing the popular myth of the midlife crisis, Rauch shows that the "happiness curve" does not usually indicate a period of disruption or dysfunction. Nor is it the result of bad personal choices or lack of gratitude. He reveals that the slump is completely natural, serving a vital psychological and social purpose. By shifting priorities away from competition and toward compassion, it equips you with new tools for wisdom and gratitude. You'll develop new values and see a change in who you are.

Full of insights and data and featuring many ways to endure the slump and avoid its perils and traps, The Happiness Curve doesn't just show listeners the dark forest of midlife; it helps them find a path through the trees. It also shows how we can - and why we must - do more to help each other through the woods.

©2018 Jonathan Rauch (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Robert Fass proves the perfect guide to exploring these concepts of age and happiness. Presenting the author’s personal journey, and his research and interviews, Robert keeps listeners engaged and tuned in to this fascinating study." (AudioFile Magazine)

Required reading for midlife

This book has been such a comfort for me and I think reading it could be a good first step for those feeling the pull of midlife malaise. Packed with statistical and scientific information, this book crunches the imperical data in sort of a sort of meta-analysis that gives a very big picture about how we are more a like than we are different. We will all go through this in some way, shape or form if we live long enough and this book gives me a lot of enthusiasm for the possibilities and adventures yet to discover in the second part of my life

Now We Need It In Spanish

This is an increible work, really important to read for everybody who wants to understand that, there is more after 40s

Excelent book , much recomended

I really liked this book it reflects reality and center your situation in mid agre times

Fanatastic listen-I'm glad I am out of the "trough

Being in my middle 50's this book accurately describes my journey thus far. Never knew it was called the U curve. It is a very "heady" listen and you have to pay attention as there are many points that are important and relative. Worth a couple of listens to save more clips and refer back to later.

Very good listen and self help Reference

Great listen for those approaching the mental traps within mid-life. May want to skip the chapters about self report anecdotal. Chapter on wisdom is worth the purchase alone.

Life Affirming

Must read for every 40-something. The book was well researched and meticulously written. This is not another pop psychology book. It’s not one of those “hack your life” books either. But the information is presented in a way that resonates with a general audience. As a woman, I found the first half of the first chapter a bit “privileged white male” sounding, which was initially off-putting. But I am so happy I did not make a hasty judgement and stop listening. The rest of the book is excellent and for me personally, chock full of the answers I’ve been seeking for years to no avail. I’ve been validated. I am encouraged. And for the first time in years, I have hope for my future.

Laborious listening

I always finish books I start. This was of little value and seemed unending. I found little to learn.

Applicable to people in their early 40’s

I am about to turn 40 and found this book to be absolutely profound. Highly recommend.

Good reading of a good book

Not a lot of bells and whistles but listening to this, and the message it conveys, was pleasant

Excellent and genuinely helpful

I read some reviews about this book being repetitive, but I didn’t find it to be that way. There are some clear recurrent themes, but the author consistently presents them with new angles and nuances. I found this book highly informative and useful. My only critique is that the author didn’t cite Mary Catherine Bateson’s original and excellent work Composing a Further Life given its relevance to the topic. Also, how can he mention Life Reimagined without referencing Barbara Bradley Haggerty’s book of the same name and topic?