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Halftime: Changing Your Game Plan from Success to Significance
According to Bob Burford, broaching midlife doesn't have to be a crisis. In fact, in Half Time, Burford insists that it is actually an opportunity to begin the better half of life. The first half is busy with "getting and gaining, earning and learning," doing what you can to survive, while clawing your way up the ladder of success. The second half of life should be about regaining control, calling your own shots, and enjoying "God's desire ... for you to serve him just by being who you are, by using what he gave you to work with." What lies between the two is "halftime." Buford argues that whether you are a millionaire, a manager, or a teacher, you will one day have to transition from the struggle for success to the quest for significance. Halftime, then, is a quiet time of deliberate decision-making, restructuring, and passionate contemplation of your heart's deepest desires. Buford's writing is grounded in the real-life experience of success and failure, and most poignantly, the death of his son. While he has led a very successful life in the eyes of the world, Buford's personal stories reveal that his faith in Christ is his central priority. Instead of a transition to be feared, Buford makes midlife an introspective journey of abundance that will unleash God's best for you. --Jill Heatherly
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
April 22, 2017
An average book on mid-life planning with a healthy dose of, what I call, "Christian pop psychology"; i.e. American style pseudo Christian theology used to rationalize the American culture of business success and personal ego gratification. If you are a typical American church goer that uses his/her religious beliefs to justify his/her chosen lifestyle, then this is a good tool for you to assess your mid-life life-plan.
June 19, 2013
This book was recommended by Matt Stover...who has been through his own "halftime" of sorts, I imagine, as his football career came to an end. The book is written primarily for individuals who have achieved some level of success or accomplishment and recognize that it is not satisfying...that there is more to life. The period where one feels these promptings and examines his life with a view toward making the remainder more meaningful is what the author calls "halftime." Buford writes from a unique perspective of both substantial personal success and deep personal tragedy. He observes that "a good second half depends on what is done at halftime."
The book is a quick read (two evenings for me), and it has a number of positive, helpful aspects:
• It has a keen focus on living life with the end in mind, beginning with Augustine's quote that beginning to think about what your legacy will be is the beginning of adulthood
• It helps to dispel remorse over past failure or wasted time and resources by noting that the game is won or lost in the second half, not the first
• It exhorts us to make life truly productive, not merely profitable
• He encourages intentional self-examination to identify the one thing that is your fundamental life commitment, because identifying what is "in the box" as he calls it governs how you will spend your life
• He clearly ties what you do to who you are, which for him is fully committed to Christ
• He gives numerous practical suggestions for putting action behind his suggestions - how to begin to do what he recommends
While there are a number of positives, I note a couple areas in which I believe caution is warranted:
• He validly notes that many people give the first half of life to accumulating wealth, possessions, recognition, etc., but he almost seems to endorse this as good or expected. I don't ultimately believe that he's doing more than observing reality, but at times his tone borders on acceptance or encouragement of that less-than-ideal lifestyle of compromise...Almost as though you have to sell out before you can be independent enough to work for significance ...in the FAQs at the end, he helpfully notes that people ARE trying to make the first half significant, also
• He comes dangerously close in chapter 14 to prosperity theology, that God's good plan for His children involves material blessing on earth. Of course this fails to describe reality for so many faithful people. Similarly, he talks about "finding your compass within," ignoring the reality that we remain sinful, fallen individuals throughout life. Once again, based on the overall message of the book, I don't believe this is his view, but it's confusing and unhelpful to fly so close to the flame of of several false doctrines.
Overall, I think there are more good takeaways than negatives, as long as one views the areas of caution noted above in the context of his larger message. That message is a good one...that your past doesn't determine your future, that it's vital to know who you are and what you believe, that you can and should act on your deepest convictions, and that the latter years of life were made for self-fulfillment through service to God and others, not a life of self-indulgent leisure or immobilizing regrets.
The book is a quick read (two evenings for me), and it has a number of positive, helpful aspects:
• It has a keen focus on living life with the end in mind, beginning with Augustine's quote that beginning to think about what your legacy will be is the beginning of adulthood
• It helps to dispel remorse over past failure or wasted time and resources by noting that the game is won or lost in the second half, not the first
• It exhorts us to make life truly productive, not merely profitable
• He encourages intentional self-examination to identify the one thing that is your fundamental life commitment, because identifying what is "in the box" as he calls it governs how you will spend your life
• He clearly ties what you do to who you are, which for him is fully committed to Christ
• He gives numerous practical suggestions for putting action behind his suggestions - how to begin to do what he recommends
While there are a number of positives, I note a couple areas in which I believe caution is warranted:
• He validly notes that many people give the first half of life to accumulating wealth, possessions, recognition, etc., but he almost seems to endorse this as good or expected. I don't ultimately believe that he's doing more than observing reality, but at times his tone borders on acceptance or encouragement of that less-than-ideal lifestyle of compromise...Almost as though you have to sell out before you can be independent enough to work for significance ...in the FAQs at the end, he helpfully notes that people ARE trying to make the first half significant, also
• He comes dangerously close in chapter 14 to prosperity theology, that God's good plan for His children involves material blessing on earth. Of course this fails to describe reality for so many faithful people. Similarly, he talks about "finding your compass within," ignoring the reality that we remain sinful, fallen individuals throughout life. Once again, based on the overall message of the book, I don't believe this is his view, but it's confusing and unhelpful to fly so close to the flame of of several false doctrines.
Overall, I think there are more good takeaways than negatives, as long as one views the areas of caution noted above in the context of his larger message. That message is a good one...that your past doesn't determine your future, that it's vital to know who you are and what you believe, that you can and should act on your deepest convictions, and that the latter years of life were made for self-fulfillment through service to God and others, not a life of self-indulgent leisure or immobilizing regrets.
December 17, 2018
A good life planning book. I found the thoughts interesting, but really the advice offered was focused on those that have been “successful” in their existing careers but felt that there was something more to do to have lived a complete life. As I consider myself a partial success, perhaps with schlub-ish tendencies, I felt this book spent a lot of time talking over me, to the golden boys that run large businesses. If you can put yourself in the target market’s shoes, you will read some good advice, with plenty of interesting examples of how people have taken a new path for their career when they’ve gotten beyond the value of their first one. The author describes ways to change your career to what you are interested in, as well as ways to support those interests while continuing existing jobs. This is very much a mid-career book – it is not aimed at questions of retirement. I found it of interest, similar to other career books but with a more spiritual/Christian tact, and focused on the winners.
August 29, 2018
This book is a must read for anyone who is around 35 to 45. Trust me. Top 5 all time book I read initially about 25 years ago. Game changer/life changer that was instrumental in my decision to make a career change and move toward significance, risk-taking. At retirement I thought it was productive to read it again. It has stood the test of time. Still a top tier spiritual self-help standard.
August 2, 2009
this book was a quick read, however the concepts behind it are essential in planning the second half of your life. he has some interesting ideas, if you are in the 40 to 50 yrs old range, to change you lifestile, to something more lasting and meaningfull; of course its up to you to decide what's meaning full. even though i read this book over a period of two days, i feel that I need to go back and re-read it again in order to digest what he is tryin to convey. If you are starting the second half of your life i would recommend you read this book. Its an easy read.
May 27, 2017
I was hoping for a little more substance and a little less personal story-telling. I'm happy for the author that he started his second half at age 40 and had the lifestyle and occupation to do so, but hearing about his own journey is not helpful to me at all. I kept hoping that something would change and there would be something helpful, but when he suggested questions for self reflection like "Who am I?" and "Where do I want to be in 5 years" I realized the depth I was looking for would never actually show up. I don't abandon books often, but this one just wasn't worth my time.
September 13, 2015
I read this because a friend asked me to, and I had to force myself to finish. It's the kind of old school self help book I hate - anecdote after anecdote then a small amount of not exactly groundbreaking advice . Plenty of irritating assumptions about how people think and what they value, all written from an extraordinarily privileged wealthy, white, Christian male perspective. The key ideas could have been condensed into one page.
September 15, 2020
Are you likely about about halfway through your life? Then it's time to reflect, get off autopilot, and make decisions and changes for a meaningful and impactful second half!
Note: Buford is a Christian who refers to God and Bible verses frequently in this book. The ideas in the book have value for people of all religious backgrounds, but if you prefer not to read books that refer to God or the Bible, you won't like this one.
I first read HALF TIME five years ago (a bit closer to my actual mid-life point unless I live to 106), but the ideas and questions Buford poses in the book have stuck with me. I've been wanting to review the ideas from Half Time for awhile, and today I finally pulled it off my shelf to read through my highlights, remind myself of the key points and take-aways, and write this review.
Half Time is divided into three parts:
The First Half
Half Time
The Second Half
Part 1: The First Half
"In the first half of life, there is barely enough time to go beyond second base. We are hunter-gatherers, doing our best to provide for our families, to advance our careers, and to pass our beliefs and values on to our children."
The first part of our lives Buford describes as being focused on "achieving, gaining, learning, earning." He talks about the reality that we are often busy with creating our homes and communities, raising kids, and building our careers during the first half of our adult life. During this part of our lives, most of us are primarily focused on ourselves, our families, and our careers. We tend to be self-focused during this period and are often trying to achieve whatever we define as "success" in our personal and professional lives.
"The biggest mistake most of make in the first half is not taking enough time for the things that are really important."
Part 2: Half Time
"You need to honestly face the tough, nitty-gritty questions about finances, other family members, long-range goals, and so on."
Half Time is the time of life that Buford urges us to consider more carefully in this book (thus the title!). This period of our life, a point at which to reflect, "take stock, listen and learn," is often ignored (and thus the reason Buford wrote this book). Just like how football teams regroup and reassess their approach for the second half during a football game, Buford urges us to do the same for our lives.
He generously describes half time as anywhere from our late thirties through our fifties (ha!). It is directly to those of us somewhere in our "half time" that Buford speaks in this book. Keeping the football game language, he gives a two-page "Half Time Drill" to help us "take stock of your first half as you prepare for a better second half."
This is a book - upon re-reading through, that would be great to read and discuss with a fellow half-timer or two. Each question in the pages of the book and especially in the "Halftime Drill" offer an opportunity to think about important topics that don't often come up in our day-to-day lives.
A few examples:
•What do I want to be remembered for?
Write a description of how your life would look it turned out just the way you wished.
• Where do I look for inspiration, mentors, and working models for my second half?
• What do I want for my children?
Buford offers several different ideas and analogies for how to use our half time to figure out how to best approach and utilize our second half of life. A few of his ideas include: figuring out the most important thing in your "box" or your "one thing" (something Buford says most people never discover), seeking reliable counsel, doing some "low-cost probes" to explore and gain some hands-on experience, slowing down, and being deliberate.
Part 3: The Second Half
"The second half is riskier because it has to do with living beyond the immediate. It is about releasing the seed of creativity and energy that has been implanted within us, watering and cultivating it so that we ma be abundantly fruitful. It involves investing our gifts in service to others..."
Topics covered in this part of the book include:
• Figuring out your "life mission" so that you can "focus on what you wish to be and do."
• Regaining control of our lives by accepting the limitations of our economic and social capital.
• Delegate! "Do what you do best; drop the rest."
• Find people who energize you with whom to work on something larger than yourself.
• Keep reading, learning, and growing.
Upon re-reading, I know why the concepts in this book have stuck with me these past years. Today will not be the last day I pull HALF TIME off my shelf. I was looking for contact information this morning to invite Buford on my podcast, but I was too late. He passed away in 2018. I wish I had gotten in touch back in 2015 when I first picked up HALF TIME. He certainly had a significant impact on my life with this book. Thanks, Bob!
As Jim Collins states so eloquently in the foreword to the second edition (2008), "We only get one life, and the urgency of getting on with what we are meant to do increases every day."
Note: Buford is a Christian who refers to God and Bible verses frequently in this book. The ideas in the book have value for people of all religious backgrounds, but if you prefer not to read books that refer to God or the Bible, you won't like this one.
I first read HALF TIME five years ago (a bit closer to my actual mid-life point unless I live to 106), but the ideas and questions Buford poses in the book have stuck with me. I've been wanting to review the ideas from Half Time for awhile, and today I finally pulled it off my shelf to read through my highlights, remind myself of the key points and take-aways, and write this review.
Half Time is divided into three parts:
The First Half
Half Time
The Second Half
Part 1: The First Half
"In the first half of life, there is barely enough time to go beyond second base. We are hunter-gatherers, doing our best to provide for our families, to advance our careers, and to pass our beliefs and values on to our children."
The first part of our lives Buford describes as being focused on "achieving, gaining, learning, earning." He talks about the reality that we are often busy with creating our homes and communities, raising kids, and building our careers during the first half of our adult life. During this part of our lives, most of us are primarily focused on ourselves, our families, and our careers. We tend to be self-focused during this period and are often trying to achieve whatever we define as "success" in our personal and professional lives.
"The biggest mistake most of make in the first half is not taking enough time for the things that are really important."
Part 2: Half Time
"You need to honestly face the tough, nitty-gritty questions about finances, other family members, long-range goals, and so on."
Half Time is the time of life that Buford urges us to consider more carefully in this book (thus the title!). This period of our life, a point at which to reflect, "take stock, listen and learn," is often ignored (and thus the reason Buford wrote this book). Just like how football teams regroup and reassess their approach for the second half during a football game, Buford urges us to do the same for our lives.
He generously describes half time as anywhere from our late thirties through our fifties (ha!). It is directly to those of us somewhere in our "half time" that Buford speaks in this book. Keeping the football game language, he gives a two-page "Half Time Drill" to help us "take stock of your first half as you prepare for a better second half."
This is a book - upon re-reading through, that would be great to read and discuss with a fellow half-timer or two. Each question in the pages of the book and especially in the "Halftime Drill" offer an opportunity to think about important topics that don't often come up in our day-to-day lives.
A few examples:
•What do I want to be remembered for?
Write a description of how your life would look it turned out just the way you wished.
• Where do I look for inspiration, mentors, and working models for my second half?
• What do I want for my children?
Buford offers several different ideas and analogies for how to use our half time to figure out how to best approach and utilize our second half of life. A few of his ideas include: figuring out the most important thing in your "box" or your "one thing" (something Buford says most people never discover), seeking reliable counsel, doing some "low-cost probes" to explore and gain some hands-on experience, slowing down, and being deliberate.
Part 3: The Second Half
"The second half is riskier because it has to do with living beyond the immediate. It is about releasing the seed of creativity and energy that has been implanted within us, watering and cultivating it so that we ma be abundantly fruitful. It involves investing our gifts in service to others..."
Topics covered in this part of the book include:
• Figuring out your "life mission" so that you can "focus on what you wish to be and do."
• Regaining control of our lives by accepting the limitations of our economic and social capital.
• Delegate! "Do what you do best; drop the rest."
• Find people who energize you with whom to work on something larger than yourself.
• Keep reading, learning, and growing.
Upon re-reading, I know why the concepts in this book have stuck with me these past years. Today will not be the last day I pull HALF TIME off my shelf. I was looking for contact information this morning to invite Buford on my podcast, but I was too late. He passed away in 2018. I wish I had gotten in touch back in 2015 when I first picked up HALF TIME. He certainly had a significant impact on my life with this book. Thanks, Bob!
As Jim Collins states so eloquently in the foreword to the second edition (2008), "We only get one life, and the urgency of getting on with what we are meant to do increases every day."
May 7, 2025
Bob Buford does a great job laying out the his ideology of Halftime: people are living longer and retiring at the same age as they were in the mid 1900s when lifespans were much shorter. He believed, and has begun to see, that this has started to push people to pursue significance after they retire as opposed to 20+ years of leisure.
This book definitely presents a compelling challenge for one to take that leap, continue to learn new things, and be fully used up by the time you die. The goal is to never stop learning, exploring, and giving until the day you no longer can. Bob also emphasizes the need for 'first halfers' to pursue success in their careers when they are young in order to build out their financial security. However, after a certain point you should be taking a sort of leap in life to pursue something greater than yourself.
Halftime is targeted toward a bit of an older audience, and is actually admitted early on in the book that if you are in your 20s then you should read the book, save it, and come back to it later in life. Nevertheless, Bob emphasizes the importance to always be listening for a small voice calling you to 'jump' to something bigger.
This book definitely presents a compelling challenge for one to take that leap, continue to learn new things, and be fully used up by the time you die. The goal is to never stop learning, exploring, and giving until the day you no longer can. Bob also emphasizes the need for 'first halfers' to pursue success in their careers when they are young in order to build out their financial security. However, after a certain point you should be taking a sort of leap in life to pursue something greater than yourself.
Halftime is targeted toward a bit of an older audience, and is actually admitted early on in the book that if you are in your 20s then you should read the book, save it, and come back to it later in life. Nevertheless, Bob emphasizes the importance to always be listening for a small voice calling you to 'jump' to something bigger.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2023
This is an appropriate book to read for someone like me, who just turned 40 and is considering a change in career. Basically that's exactly who this book is targeted to. He describes life as two halves. Most people are pretty focused on gaining skills and becoming financially stable in the first half. Then at "halftime" they start thinking more about purpose and how they can effectively use the second half.
This book is very much a self-help book, but it has many good points. Note that the author is very religious, and this book is very targeted at Christians. I didn't mind that, but I wasn't expecting it.
This book is very much a self-help book, but it has many good points. Note that the author is very religious, and this book is very targeted at Christians. I didn't mind that, but I wasn't expecting it.
May 31, 2023
Love the concept and put the book down inspired… but truth be told, not a lot of substance.
July 22, 2013
Another book that I picked up at a thrift store for $1 or less. However, the book and its message was pertinent to me at this stage of my life.
The author deftly paints a picture of one's life as a basketball game. He quotes the following in chapter 1, "The first half of life has to do with getting and gaining, earning and learning...the second half is more risky because it has to do with living beyond the immediate."
And Half Time - the name of the book - has to do with the time period when you "take stock, listen, and learn." p. 72.
I enjoyed this book because the theme of the book is reaching beyond what the world calls success - money, fame, popularity, etc. and pursuing a life of significance. A life that will affect eternity.
The author deftly paints a picture of one's life as a basketball game. He quotes the following in chapter 1, "The first half of life has to do with getting and gaining, earning and learning...the second half is more risky because it has to do with living beyond the immediate."
And Half Time - the name of the book - has to do with the time period when you "take stock, listen, and learn." p. 72.
I enjoyed this book because the theme of the book is reaching beyond what the world calls success - money, fame, popularity, etc. and pursuing a life of significance. A life that will affect eternity.
June 7, 2021
The book self-identified as a read for someone in their mid-30s to mid-40s, but I didn't find this book to be relatable at all. I don't think evaluating your calling in life has much to do with your age but rather where you are with your walk with the Lord. If you make a commitment to walk with the Lord in your 20s (or earlier), you can ask the same questions that Bob Buford asked himself. Aren't we all supposed to live for "significance" for the Lord no matter what stage or season we are in?
I didn't find the book or its examples very relatable to me as a woman and stay-at-home mom trying to transition back into the workforce.
I didn't find the book or its examples very relatable to me as a woman and stay-at-home mom trying to transition back into the workforce.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2015
Must Read for Over 40's Who Want Significance in Their Next Decades
I enjoyed this book for its relevance to my stage in life, at the end of year 25 in one profession and sorting out what to do next in the 10-15 years that I'd like to continue working. Practical steps mixed with inspiration that will help me focus and proceed. Good to know I'm not the only one with the itch to do something new and to contribute in a significant way.
I enjoyed this book for its relevance to my stage in life, at the end of year 25 in one profession and sorting out what to do next in the 10-15 years that I'd like to continue working. Practical steps mixed with inspiration that will help me focus and proceed. Good to know I'm not the only one with the itch to do something new and to contribute in a significant way.
January 13, 2018
Wonderful...but..
Excellent, excellent information and inspiration for living the second half of life. It supports my belief that, if you are still on this planet, God has a plan for your life. Why waste all of that wisdom and experience?
My one criticism of the book is that it is definitely slanted toward professional folks. It's a stretch, but the guiding principles can be applied to the "blue collar" population.
Excellent, excellent information and inspiration for living the second half of life. It supports my belief that, if you are still on this planet, God has a plan for your life. Why waste all of that wisdom and experience?
My one criticism of the book is that it is definitely slanted toward professional folks. It's a stretch, but the guiding principles can be applied to the "blue collar" population.
August 6, 2011
Half Time talked about the ability of some folks, nowadays, to retire in their fifties and contemplate the “second act” of their life, where just providing for the family is no longer the driver, but rather leaving something behind of value. I like that concept and hope to find a way to accomplish this, maybe through my writings.
February 25, 2018
For those of us who are defined as mid-life...or beyond, this book teaches about how we can make the next phase of life more impacting and significant. I enjoyed this read and found it insightful, especially if you are considering making some changes, or achieving levels that have thus far been elusive.
February 4, 2017
Good central message about significance but too religious
I would have enjoyed the book much more if he didn't harp on about God all the time.
Buford has some great ideas about how to make a difference and leave a legacy.
I would have enjoyed the book much more if he didn't harp on about God all the time.
Buford has some great ideas about how to make a difference and leave a legacy.
March 1, 2021
If you are a super successful businessman who is for the first time thinking “Is there more to life than this?”, then there might be something in this book for you. If you do not fit into this very tight audience, keep scrolling.
July 11, 2012
Great book, for a great time in our lives. What joy to know that the second half doesn't have to be lived under the same pressures and stress.
November 26, 2012
Inspiring read for those of us hitting middle age and looking for a way to make a difference in yourself and all those around you.
December 5, 2012
Really opens up options for those who feel like they should be doing more significant work with their life.
December 31, 2020
Plan the Remainder of Your Life for Significance
In "Half Time," Bob Buford proposes taking time near the midpoint of life to develop a game plan for finding the focus of one's life, evaluating how to use past experiences to pursue that focus, and developing a game plan for finishing well in life. He provides excellent advice for those who want to ensure their lives make a positive impact on this world.
While Buford says that his book applies to anyone, his message focuses on those who achieved great financial success in their early years but who focused the first half of their lives more on career success than on positively impacting others. He provides excellent advice for that target audience. Great wealth certainly comes with many responsibilities and challenges, but it also provides great freedom that most people never experience. However, most people will not achieve the same level of wealth and personal connections to other wealthy people that Buford achieved at the midpoint of life. That lack of first-half financial success and prestige holds especially true for those who chose to focus their lives on significance early in life. For example, public school teachers, pastors, firefighters, police officers, social workers, humanitarian relief workers, missionaries, and military personnel often choose their careers early in life for reasons more related to significance than to financial success. As such, they often face the midpoint of life with minimal financial freedom to pursue greater goals.
Buford's advice also leans heavily on Christian principles, but his advice does not uniquely depend upon faith in Christ. Those readers holding other religious convictions will likely have no objections to his advice.
In reviewing my own life, I found that I had followed Buford's advice beginning very early in life as a teenager and several times throughout the following three decades. Sometimes my strategy worked as planned, but other times it did not. I suspect that one day I will discover that my plans failed but God's plans succeeded. At each stage of life, I must develop a strategy and plan based on where I believe God calls me. I believe that Buford's book would have had a more powerful message if he had discussed instances where his life plans had seemed to fail. He paints such a perfect picture that I had trouble identifying with it. I find that many people think that their plans for significance have failed, yet the fruits of their labors appear late in their lives or after their lives have ended. We often do not live long enough to see our own significance. Nevertheless, Buford's thesis remains sound. Regardless of where we find ourselves in life, we should plan the remainder of our lives for significance.
Despite his focus on those who pursued pure wealth and prestige in the first half of life, Buford's general advice applies to everyone, regardless of life stage or religious convictions. I recommend "Half Time" for anyone who has not yet found the focus of his or her life, regardless of age, financial success, or religious conviction.
In "Half Time," Bob Buford proposes taking time near the midpoint of life to develop a game plan for finding the focus of one's life, evaluating how to use past experiences to pursue that focus, and developing a game plan for finishing well in life. He provides excellent advice for those who want to ensure their lives make a positive impact on this world.
While Buford says that his book applies to anyone, his message focuses on those who achieved great financial success in their early years but who focused the first half of their lives more on career success than on positively impacting others. He provides excellent advice for that target audience. Great wealth certainly comes with many responsibilities and challenges, but it also provides great freedom that most people never experience. However, most people will not achieve the same level of wealth and personal connections to other wealthy people that Buford achieved at the midpoint of life. That lack of first-half financial success and prestige holds especially true for those who chose to focus their lives on significance early in life. For example, public school teachers, pastors, firefighters, police officers, social workers, humanitarian relief workers, missionaries, and military personnel often choose their careers early in life for reasons more related to significance than to financial success. As such, they often face the midpoint of life with minimal financial freedom to pursue greater goals.
Buford's advice also leans heavily on Christian principles, but his advice does not uniquely depend upon faith in Christ. Those readers holding other religious convictions will likely have no objections to his advice.
In reviewing my own life, I found that I had followed Buford's advice beginning very early in life as a teenager and several times throughout the following three decades. Sometimes my strategy worked as planned, but other times it did not. I suspect that one day I will discover that my plans failed but God's plans succeeded. At each stage of life, I must develop a strategy and plan based on where I believe God calls me. I believe that Buford's book would have had a more powerful message if he had discussed instances where his life plans had seemed to fail. He paints such a perfect picture that I had trouble identifying with it. I find that many people think that their plans for significance have failed, yet the fruits of their labors appear late in their lives or after their lives have ended. We often do not live long enough to see our own significance. Nevertheless, Buford's thesis remains sound. Regardless of where we find ourselves in life, we should plan the remainder of our lives for significance.
Despite his focus on those who pursued pure wealth and prestige in the first half of life, Buford's general advice applies to everyone, regardless of life stage or religious convictions. I recommend "Half Time" for anyone who has not yet found the focus of his or her life, regardless of age, financial success, or religious conviction.
March 31, 2023
I honestly would give this book 3.5 stars. Be prepared to THINK. I made copies of some of the pages to reflect back on the questions and comments. I adore the concept of this book: that we are in the first half of life achieving - milestones, promotions, money, and power. This is the part of your life driven by achieving success. Then, at some point, you begin to question something like, "is this it?" and no longer feel fulfilled. At that point, you are entering Halftime (like the halftime in a football game) in order to reassess what you have done well, what are your strengths, what is your purpose, and what do you believe you can do as your life's mission. Halftime is a different length of time for each person, but the aim is to come out and have a second half that is rooted in achieving significance and helping others.
I am 44yo and definitely in halftime. So, the book really spoke to me. While it is may seem like a self-help book, it is deeply rooted in Christianity and finding that meaning or "one thing" in your life. This is a hard thing to figure out, and I appreciate the simple structure Bob Buford suggests and the thought-provoking questions he puts forward. Even if you are not religious or Christian, I think the book speaks to everyone who is trying to find meaning in their life and utilize their strengths to help others. A good read for those in their 40s and 50s. The only part that bothered me slightly was the wealth that clearly this author has. While he writes a lot about wealth not playing into a factor for halftime, I do believe those with greater wealth (for whatever reason) may have slightly more freedom and liberty to pursue their mission than some people who really need their paycheck. This, however, did not turn me off to the book as finding the purpose of one's life is (and should be) the higher goal.
I will be discussing this book and reflecting on it for many months to come. It is helping me reframe my next job and try something a little out of my usual comfort zone (in a good way). So, cheers to that!
I am 44yo and definitely in halftime. So, the book really spoke to me. While it is may seem like a self-help book, it is deeply rooted in Christianity and finding that meaning or "one thing" in your life. This is a hard thing to figure out, and I appreciate the simple structure Bob Buford suggests and the thought-provoking questions he puts forward. Even if you are not religious or Christian, I think the book speaks to everyone who is trying to find meaning in their life and utilize their strengths to help others. A good read for those in their 40s and 50s. The only part that bothered me slightly was the wealth that clearly this author has. While he writes a lot about wealth not playing into a factor for halftime, I do believe those with greater wealth (for whatever reason) may have slightly more freedom and liberty to pursue their mission than some people who really need their paycheck. This, however, did not turn me off to the book as finding the purpose of one's life is (and should be) the higher goal.
I will be discussing this book and reflecting on it for many months to come. It is helping me reframe my next job and try something a little out of my usual comfort zone (in a good way). So, cheers to that!
December 31, 2022
I was looking forward to Buford’s “Half Time.” As a 43 year old smack dab in own halftime, I was looking forward to processing my first half and considering what God would have me set my eyes on for my second half.
Buford retired from the media industry young as a millionaire. That, coupled with his son’s heartbreaking death in his early twenties at the hands of an accident, forced Buford to consider his own life and chart a new path forward.
Buford is a Christian but writes the book for a broad audience and this is where the book really falls short. While he engages scripture a number of times, the book isn’t rich or deep enough (and at least once he makes a blatant interpretive mistake) to really press the Christian reader deeper. At the same time it gives the appearance to the non-Christian that Christianity isn’t really a significant piece of the search for meaning, but useful one for the author. If you can substitute something else, go for it.
The other odd thing is that Buford seems to approach moral growth as a natural out working over time. Multiple times he refers to a “first half mindset” vs a “second half mindset.” He clarifies a few times that this isn’t necessarily the case, but it almost leaves one the impression that a level of selfishness is natural in the first half that works itself out in the second half. That’s not a biblical perspective. We are all selfish and need to combat it to our dying day. It’s not a mere mindset shift.
Oh, and one other minor pet peeve— when Buford lists his goals for his various roles, his major goal for fathering his son was to instill in him self-esteem. Huh? That is not the cornerstone of biblical parenting.
My favorite part of the book were the great collection of quotes that lead off each chapter.
In short, Buford’s “Half Time” can be a helpful tool for reflection, but I would suggest many other resources before I turn to this one.
For more reviews see thebeehive.live.
Buford retired from the media industry young as a millionaire. That, coupled with his son’s heartbreaking death in his early twenties at the hands of an accident, forced Buford to consider his own life and chart a new path forward.
Buford is a Christian but writes the book for a broad audience and this is where the book really falls short. While he engages scripture a number of times, the book isn’t rich or deep enough (and at least once he makes a blatant interpretive mistake) to really press the Christian reader deeper. At the same time it gives the appearance to the non-Christian that Christianity isn’t really a significant piece of the search for meaning, but useful one for the author. If you can substitute something else, go for it.
The other odd thing is that Buford seems to approach moral growth as a natural out working over time. Multiple times he refers to a “first half mindset” vs a “second half mindset.” He clarifies a few times that this isn’t necessarily the case, but it almost leaves one the impression that a level of selfishness is natural in the first half that works itself out in the second half. That’s not a biblical perspective. We are all selfish and need to combat it to our dying day. It’s not a mere mindset shift.
Oh, and one other minor pet peeve— when Buford lists his goals for his various roles, his major goal for fathering his son was to instill in him self-esteem. Huh? That is not the cornerstone of biblical parenting.
My favorite part of the book were the great collection of quotes that lead off each chapter.
In short, Buford’s “Half Time” can be a helpful tool for reflection, but I would suggest many other resources before I turn to this one.
For more reviews see thebeehive.live.
January 16, 2019
“Full-time leisure, as appealing as it may sound, is simply not good for your mental or emotional health. It never works.” With that, the author sets the tone of his book - it is NOT about kicking back and sipping pina coladas by the beach. It’s about moving from Success to Significance in your life.
What is your life mission? What do you want to be remembered for? How will you write your epitaph? Surprise, there is no need to quit your job in order to embark on your second-half adventure or mission, just a willingness to deploy your “best self” in new and significant ways that creates value for others. Basically as you ramp down in your current career - perhaps by renegotiating your job nature or due to weariness - you could ramp up on your chosen second-half mission. This is classically modeled by the Sigmoid Curve.
He spoke of experiencing “altruistic egoism” when you embark on the second-half of your life - you benefit yourself even as you devote your time to benefiting others. Alas, at times the narrative veered towards platitudes and I don’t think I’m as overwhelmed as I thought a book of this stature will make me. A common assertion by the author is that financial security is never an insurmountable concern when embarking on such a change, which I do not agree with. Nevertheless, the book is still a landmark clarion call for adopting the right attitude when transitioning off your “normal” career.
What is your life mission? What do you want to be remembered for? How will you write your epitaph? Surprise, there is no need to quit your job in order to embark on your second-half adventure or mission, just a willingness to deploy your “best self” in new and significant ways that creates value for others. Basically as you ramp down in your current career - perhaps by renegotiating your job nature or due to weariness - you could ramp up on your chosen second-half mission. This is classically modeled by the Sigmoid Curve.
He spoke of experiencing “altruistic egoism” when you embark on the second-half of your life - you benefit yourself even as you devote your time to benefiting others. Alas, at times the narrative veered towards platitudes and I don’t think I’m as overwhelmed as I thought a book of this stature will make me. A common assertion by the author is that financial security is never an insurmountable concern when embarking on such a change, which I do not agree with. Nevertheless, the book is still a landmark clarion call for adopting the right attitude when transitioning off your “normal” career.
January 31, 2024
The concept is solid and worth spending substantive time on. As you approach 30s, 40s, 50s, start thinking hard about what you want the last decades of your life to look like. You are reaching a time of peak ability and flexibility, so don't waste it.
There is not a prescription, which is nice, but rather questions to consider. One of the most helpful comments was the advice to switch from setting goals to making commitments. That feels much more meaningful and attainable. It leaves you with less painful disappointments or scrambling for "what's next?"
Useful counsel, repeated many times, was to reject sudden and abrupt u turns and wild jumping of tracks. Your prior life of success, achievements, degrees, family, career experience, isn't useless, but rather you need to leverage that to think intentionally about where you want to lean in? Can you dial back on areas you find less fulfilling and pursue the things you really want to do?
Rarely can you, and most of the time you should not just abandon your job. But the idea is to shift things around to start setting your focus on an additional arc as or even before your first career arc hits its zenith.
My only complaint is some of the redundancy. By the time you reach the last third, and certainly last fourth of the book, you've heard everything Bob has to say. Could've been shorter.
There is not a prescription, which is nice, but rather questions to consider. One of the most helpful comments was the advice to switch from setting goals to making commitments. That feels much more meaningful and attainable. It leaves you with less painful disappointments or scrambling for "what's next?"
Useful counsel, repeated many times, was to reject sudden and abrupt u turns and wild jumping of tracks. Your prior life of success, achievements, degrees, family, career experience, isn't useless, but rather you need to leverage that to think intentionally about where you want to lean in? Can you dial back on areas you find less fulfilling and pursue the things you really want to do?
Rarely can you, and most of the time you should not just abandon your job. But the idea is to shift things around to start setting your focus on an additional arc as or even before your first career arc hits its zenith.
My only complaint is some of the redundancy. By the time you reach the last third, and certainly last fourth of the book, you've heard everything Bob has to say. Could've been shorter.
November 19, 2021
This book is helpful if you fit the demographic of WASP and male for a pick me up and a good dose of exceptionalism. I think the book could be easily distilled down to some meaningful questions with some short videos accompanying things for background/ anecdotal stories to emphasize points. The book is not bad; it’s just not something that will resonate with everyone. The author is a Boomer, discussing the expansive options he and other Boomers have had. I think the questions the author discusses can be equally applied to Gen X, Millenials, and eventually Gen Z as well. I just think the stories would need to be updated to remain relevant. I didn’t find the discussion of the emerging gig economy and contract work as being a means of making more money as particularly knowledgeable, nor would I, if like the author, my background had been corporate and the gig economy was a new thing. I’m a person of faith, yet the faith discussion present in this is kind of the mega church prosperity gospel stuff that is difficult for me to endure. If that’s your faith genre, this book will easily align with those values.
May 30, 2022
Book 16 is done!
Half Time, what does that mean to you? I resonate the phrase with football when players take a break before coming back to the field to finish the match. This depends on how the first half of the game went. If none had scored a goal, both teams will be coming with a winning strategy! Where one had scored, the team will want to score again whereas the other team may want to equalize and be ahead! The list can go on and a winning team is a must!
The analogy between football and this book - it plays the parable of the sower. What will you do with the seeds/talents entrusted to you? At what point in your life will you play the social capital role to give back for impact and scale? Climbing the mountain may seem easy when you reach the summit, knowing you have to climb down. Whereas in life, none of us knows for sure whether we have lived half our life when the trajectory may change on what I need to do before I die.
The author shares the wisdom of Peter Drucker and how one can transition into the second half of life. My take home for this book is the importance of altruistic egoism.
Half Time, what does that mean to you? I resonate the phrase with football when players take a break before coming back to the field to finish the match. This depends on how the first half of the game went. If none had scored a goal, both teams will be coming with a winning strategy! Where one had scored, the team will want to score again whereas the other team may want to equalize and be ahead! The list can go on and a winning team is a must!
The analogy between football and this book - it plays the parable of the sower. What will you do with the seeds/talents entrusted to you? At what point in your life will you play the social capital role to give back for impact and scale? Climbing the mountain may seem easy when you reach the summit, knowing you have to climb down. Whereas in life, none of us knows for sure whether we have lived half our life when the trajectory may change on what I need to do before I die.
The author shares the wisdom of Peter Drucker and how one can transition into the second half of life. My take home for this book is the importance of altruistic egoism.
February 17, 2019
Good book that can be summed up as follows.... What is at the center of your life? Bob (& I) agree it should be the cross. Bob Buford shares personal details of his life and the heart ache of losing his only child as well as his mother in a house fire. I received this book from a friend, Joe Sweeney, author of Networking is A Contact Sport and Upon Further Review. I let the book sit on my bookshelf until my 40th Birthday which I celebrated this week. The book can be read at any point, but I find the book as a good tool to assess where you've come from and where you are going at those critical "half time" points in your life. Another key point of the book is that anyone can engage in ministry, it's not necessary to go into the ministry. Buford agues that you should use the success and respect you've built up in your professional life and leverage that experience to minister. As a reformed Christian I've believed this my entire adult life.
I'll read again in 10 years.
I'll read again in 10 years.
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