The Half-Lived Life: Overcoming Passivity and Rediscovering Your Authentic Self

by John H. Lee

Featured on Oprah, Dr. Oz, and 20/20, the best-selling author of The Flying Boy provides solutions for breaking free of passivity to increase emotional intelligence, embracing compassionate assertiveness and making the most of the second half of our lives.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

John Lee is a pioneer in the fields of self-help, anger management, co-dependency, emotional regression, recovery, emotional intelligence, relationships, and men’s issues. His highly innovative work in these fields has made him an in-demand consultant, teacher, trainer, life coach, and speaker. His contributions in these fields have put him in the national spotlight for over 35 years.

Reviews

[Nastassia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book I feel is a book that can change your life if you feel it is relevant to your personal struggles. I personaly do struggle with passivity big time and I never thought I would find a book that described my condition so perfectly. I found most of the chapters very helpful and encouraging. I felt motivated to go out and live my life to the fullest with out settling. Turning your back on who you truly are only creates a more passive and unhappy version of yourself. This book is staying on my night stand so I can refer back to it now and again.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised. It has useful advice about being more assertive. It is does help me with my fear of abandonment & i have read it a couple times.
I think there could be more information towards the end about how to practice compassion with your words when you are being assertive. None the less every time I read it helps me feel more motivated about my life. I also really like the part about allowing yourself time to grieve and be angry. I need that reminder all the time.

[Richard Engling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gets to the heart of how childhood traumas can continue to hold us back from living the lives we want throughout adulthood and into our later years. John Lee speaks from a combination of personal experience and decades of working as a psychotherapist. The book is insightful and helpful. It's also free of psychological jargon. It's written for ordinary people who'd like to live more satisfying lives. Highly recommended.

[Marianne Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a direct, simple read but one that gave me many opportunities to pause and think. The concept of being passive and how it's used to keep yourself small is one I hadn't explored. Lots here for looking at myself and others . Will reread.

[Bradley J Fern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helped me get unstuck

Great insights provided and a lot of pages highlighted. I will be revisiting several pages that I needed to get me moving forward again. The distinction between the false self and the true self and methods to truly live genuinely were very eye opening.

[Kelly D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting take on how people deal with past traumas and how many of their issues come from being/feeling passive in their own lives.

[Liz Heenie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle read it to me! Lee's insight is revealing and compelling.

This book was recommended to me and it's exactly the delineating insight I need.
I rarely make time to sit and read so I was glad I could figure out how to have kindle read it to me through Bluetooth headset as I get things done.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and found it very easy to read. As a psychologist, I think it will come in handy and be a book that I recommend to those who settle for a passive approach in their own lives. I appreciated the specific examples and applications Lee offers.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a tough read emotionally, it contained several truths that I needed to hear. I suspect I have a lot to work on in my life to overcome passivity, and will likely buy this book for a reference.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read. John Lee hits home to some truths about being passive in ones life. If you are fed up of being passive, learning where passive behaviour can hide and taking action, read this book.