What do you think?
Rate this book
Boundless Potential: Transform Your Brain, Unleash Your Talents, and Reinvent Your Work in Midlife and Beyond
"What is the lifelong potential of the human mind?
Do we have talents or brainpower we're unaware of?
Can we make money and a difference doing something we love?
Is there a science to it or just luck?"
Millions of us in our forties, fifties, and sixties are facing career, financial, and personal challenges beyond anything we anticipated--and now we're filled with fresh uncertainties. We've seen careers derailed and investments devastated by economic chaos. Some of us have grown restless or burned out in our businesses or professions. Others have unexpectedly "flunked retirement," finding the so-called golden years mind-numbingly boring.
However we've come to it, the challenge is the same: What Now?
Personally driven by this question, Peabody Award-winning journalist and Fortune 100 leadership consultant Mark S. Walton set out on his most fascinating assignment yet. Crisscrossing America to meet with remarkably reinventive people and researching the latest breakthroughs in brain science, psychology, creativity, and happiness, he made three life-altering discoveries: "State-of-the-art neuroscience has revealed that we are hardwired for reinvention through the emergence of extraordinary new brainpowers in life's second half. A growing number of men and women are learning to leverage this inborn potential. In midlife, they're raising the bar--inventing profitable new careers, businesses, and avenues for social impact that extend well into their seventies, eighties, and even nineties. Longevity experts are increasingly convinced that doing work that "pays it forward" to future generations pays us back in personal long-term health and happiness."
In "Boundless Potential," Walton weaves firsthand accounts, cutting-edge research, and practical lessons into an actionable blueprint for redesigning our lives and work.
Entertaining, informative, and empowering, this groundbreaking book delivers overwhelming evidence that we were never meant to downgrade our ambitions or goals, but to continually reinvent them.
Praise for "Boundless Potential"
"A great book . . . Will hit home with intelligent men and women contemplating their next steps."
--Elizabeth Pope, "The New York Times"
"No greater challenge faces millions of us in our forties, fifties, and sixties than how to create a successful and meaningful second half of life. In this pathbreaking and timely book, Mark Walton shows us how to reinvent our 'game' with a simple, powerful, practical framework; inspiring examples; and new insights from neuroscience. I recommend it highly!"
--William Ury, Ph.D., international bestselling coauthor of "Getting to Yes"
"A terrific book. "Boundless Potential" provides clear and practical advice on how to navigate the transition from work to good work; and if that isn't enough, Mark Walton is a master storyteller. The people you meet in this book will, I am sure, become your companions and inspiration along the way."
--Suzanne Braun Levine, founding editor, "Ms. Magazine"
"Brilliant, provocative, and highly practical. Applying his award-winning journalistic skills to a topic of vital importance, Mark Walton has punctured the myths and stereotypes of life's second half to reveal our true human potential: how we are hardwired, not for decline, but for continual reinvention, personal achievement, and contribution to others."
--Michael Murphy, cofounder and chairman emeritus, Esalen Institute, and bestselling author of "Golf in the Kingdom"
""Boundless Potential "is must reading. Mark Walton tackles one of the most important issues of our time with thoughtfulness, intelligence, and careful analysis: how to harness the talents and energy of the largest generation in American history. For answers, he turns to some of our most important role models and brilliant thinkers on the interplay of age, creativity, and experience."
--Mark Miller, nationally syndicated columnist: Tribune Media Services, CBS MoneyWatch, and Reuters.com
Do we have talents or brainpower we're unaware of?
Can we make money and a difference doing something we love?
Is there a science to it or just luck?"
Millions of us in our forties, fifties, and sixties are facing career, financial, and personal challenges beyond anything we anticipated--and now we're filled with fresh uncertainties. We've seen careers derailed and investments devastated by economic chaos. Some of us have grown restless or burned out in our businesses or professions. Others have unexpectedly "flunked retirement," finding the so-called golden years mind-numbingly boring.
However we've come to it, the challenge is the same: What Now?
Personally driven by this question, Peabody Award-winning journalist and Fortune 100 leadership consultant Mark S. Walton set out on his most fascinating assignment yet. Crisscrossing America to meet with remarkably reinventive people and researching the latest breakthroughs in brain science, psychology, creativity, and happiness, he made three life-altering discoveries: "State-of-the-art neuroscience has revealed that we are hardwired for reinvention through the emergence of extraordinary new brainpowers in life's second half. A growing number of men and women are learning to leverage this inborn potential. In midlife, they're raising the bar--inventing profitable new careers, businesses, and avenues for social impact that extend well into their seventies, eighties, and even nineties. Longevity experts are increasingly convinced that doing work that "pays it forward" to future generations pays us back in personal long-term health and happiness."
In "Boundless Potential," Walton weaves firsthand accounts, cutting-edge research, and practical lessons into an actionable blueprint for redesigning our lives and work.
Entertaining, informative, and empowering, this groundbreaking book delivers overwhelming evidence that we were never meant to downgrade our ambitions or goals, but to continually reinvent them.
Praise for "Boundless Potential"
"A great book . . . Will hit home with intelligent men and women contemplating their next steps."
--Elizabeth Pope, "The New York Times"
"No greater challenge faces millions of us in our forties, fifties, and sixties than how to create a successful and meaningful second half of life. In this pathbreaking and timely book, Mark Walton shows us how to reinvent our 'game' with a simple, powerful, practical framework; inspiring examples; and new insights from neuroscience. I recommend it highly!"
--William Ury, Ph.D., international bestselling coauthor of "Getting to Yes"
"A terrific book. "Boundless Potential" provides clear and practical advice on how to navigate the transition from work to good work; and if that isn't enough, Mark Walton is a master storyteller. The people you meet in this book will, I am sure, become your companions and inspiration along the way."
--Suzanne Braun Levine, founding editor, "Ms. Magazine"
"Brilliant, provocative, and highly practical. Applying his award-winning journalistic skills to a topic of vital importance, Mark Walton has punctured the myths and stereotypes of life's second half to reveal our true human potential: how we are hardwired, not for decline, but for continual reinvention, personal achievement, and contribution to others."
--Michael Murphy, cofounder and chairman emeritus, Esalen Institute, and bestselling author of "Golf in the Kingdom"
""Boundless Potential "is must reading. Mark Walton tackles one of the most important issues of our time with thoughtfulness, intelligence, and careful analysis: how to harness the talents and energy of the largest generation in American history. For answers, he turns to some of our most important role models and brilliant thinkers on the interplay of age, creativity, and experience."
--Mark Miller, nationally syndicated columnist: Tribune Media Services, CBS MoneyWatch, and Reuters.com
- GenresSelf HelpNonfiction
262 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
20 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 17, 2018
The book was unavailable at the library so I watched the DVD. Within this genre of sincere, self help speakers, we find terms like "paying forward" to society, 'reinventing' one's self, discovering latent skills which propel them to fame and fortune, in addition to giving back to society.
One commonality is that many of the profiled people happened to be very accomplished and well connected in their pre-reinvented selves. This included the author (who was chief white house correspondent in the early days of CNN); the head of the prosecution team (O.J. Simpson) who often had a camera with him in his work parlaying his skills into photography. He took black and white pictures of iron workers which turned into a well known photography book. There is the skilled surgeon who wrote a book on what it's like to die. The clinical psychologist who merged themes of metal and nature in her art.
I think it's wonderful people explore interests, talents and discover opportunity after their careers are complete but I don't think this is plausible for most of us.
One commonality is that many of the profiled people happened to be very accomplished and well connected in their pre-reinvented selves. This included the author (who was chief white house correspondent in the early days of CNN); the head of the prosecution team (O.J. Simpson) who often had a camera with him in his work parlaying his skills into photography. He took black and white pictures of iron workers which turned into a well known photography book. There is the skilled surgeon who wrote a book on what it's like to die. The clinical psychologist who merged themes of metal and nature in her art.
I think it's wonderful people explore interests, talents and discover opportunity after their careers are complete but I don't think this is plausible for most of us.
March 14, 2013
"Beginning at age 45 or 50, you and I have undeveloped, even hidden potential - talents, skills, and forms of advanced intelligence that were not available to us in life's first half. As both human history and modern neuroscience have suggested, we seem to be hardwired for reinvention and continuing success."
Wow - powerful! i picked up this book because of it's title, but I ended up with a spectacular view into getting older. I loved all the stories and the science behind the fact that getting older does not mean slowing down. I love that. I am in awe of the reinventions told and look forward to becoming one that others want to write about! How's that for a declaration?
The secret is in knowing that it's better to fail at your own bliss than succeed at someone else's. Realizing your human potential means using the life you are given to become more and more of who you really are. It means: Just do it! ~Michael Murphy
Wow - powerful! i picked up this book because of it's title, but I ended up with a spectacular view into getting older. I loved all the stories and the science behind the fact that getting older does not mean slowing down. I love that. I am in awe of the reinventions told and look forward to becoming one that others want to write about! How's that for a declaration?
The secret is in knowing that it's better to fail at your own bliss than succeed at someone else's. Realizing your human potential means using the life you are given to become more and more of who you really are. It means: Just do it! ~Michael Murphy
January 9, 2016
My daughter Sakura gave me this book for Fathers day. After 30+ years in high technology marketing and sales, I was moving to a new chapter in my life.
Reinventing yourself is often discussed; this book helps you understand how to build on your strengths and go into the next phase of your life. Making a difference to the world and other people, engaging fully in a rich set of new challenges are things that energize you and make you want to wake up and attack every new day with the vision of "what great things can I do today?"
Reinventing yourself is often discussed; this book helps you understand how to build on your strengths and go into the next phase of your life. Making a difference to the world and other people, engaging fully in a rich set of new challenges are things that energize you and make you want to wake up and attack every new day with the vision of "what great things can I do today?"
Read
January 26, 2016If you're middle age and KNOW that your current status will NOT last forever (e.g. your company lays off aging workers and then they become essentially unemployable in the same type of work at the same pay), this is for you.
A few very simple and powerful concepts for our 'kind'. Plan to NEVER retire, but know that you'll need to reinvent yourself into a new kind of work as you age. Easy read but definitely resonated with me. Enjoy!
A few very simple and powerful concepts for our 'kind'. Plan to NEVER retire, but know that you'll need to reinvent yourself into a new kind of work as you age. Easy read but definitely resonated with me. Enjoy!
July 11, 2012
Good book to get you thinking about the next part of your life. Not a "self-help" book per se... more along the lines of getting your mind engaged and how you can start to think about doing what you love. Fairly generic but uses lots of great examples of people who have succeeded in doing so.
July 10, 2012
GREAT BOOK
August 21, 2017
Really interesting book about rethinking how you spend the second half of your life. Is 'retirement' the only possible happiness? Nope!
June 12, 2017
This book seemed similar to another book I recently finished, except that I found the other one much more interesting. In case you're interested, that book is Originals by Grant.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews