Act 3: The Art of Growing Older

by Adrian Reith, Judy Reith

At last, the life you want . . . post 50.

We’re living longer, in better health, with higher expectations than any generation in human history. With an extra adult chapter to look forward to, what will you do? Who else could you be? How will you evolve the best plan for your life between 50 and 80?

Judy and Adrian Reith have decades of experience in helping people see hidden possibilities, clarify their goals and achieve life-changing results. In Act 3 they suggest practical steps to make your life more fulfilling as you age. From the ground up this book will help you identify and strengthen the four roots you’ll need for a happy and successful third act. It illustrates how your attitude, purpose, relationships and values are keystones to a life without regret.

Act 3 gives tools and tips to help you focus on what matters, with chapters on Work, Home, Money, Health, Play, the World and Friends. You’ll be inspired by original stories of those who have changed their lives after 50 and be able to re-imagine your future, and so get the life you want . . . at last.

Genres: Nonfiction

285 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 2, 2020

Reviews

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a woman in my mid 50s this book grabbed my attention as soon as I read the blurb. Although to be honest I think I would actually prefer my husband to read it as I think this book will probably not reach those who will benefit the most from it! Attitudes will definitely play a part in whether or not you think this book can be of help to you and I found that I’m actually doing a pretty good job of being 50+! So I’m going to leave it laying around the house and hope that curiosity gets the better of him as I think that he and many others could be helped by the hints and advice given within its pages.

It’s true to say that people in their 50s aren’t the same as previous generations have been. I have a photo of me being held by my Nana when I was about a year old and she looks like an old lady so it was quite scary to work out that in that photo she was actually 4 years younger than I am now!! I think a lot of it was down to fashion and a certain expectation of what women wore at a certain age. Nowadays women just wear what they are comfortable in and I am still wearing my skinny jeans and flip flops even as I head towards my 60s! Yes, age IS just a number but reading this book made me realise that having and maintaining a positive mindset is the key here plus having roots to keep you firmly grounded and in control of what grows from them.

The chapters here are short and compact, giving you lots to think about in your own situation as well as a few tips that might help. I have found myself thinking about retirement recently, mainly because this Coronavirus “stay at home” has thrown me and The Grumpy Scotsman together in a very surreal situation. It’s made me look at how differently we both see our impending retirement and how we need to go forward together if we want a healthy relationship when it happens. I’ve also realised that my positive attitude has already been a huge help in the way I live my life. I’m keeping my brain active and am still keen to learn, frequently doing online courses to support me in my career and also my personal life. I am not one to sit and wait for Act 4, I will be charging to meet it with a fiery sword!

I really enjoyed the way in which this book challenged my thoughts and the activities made me look at my relationships with others and what I want to take with me as I continue my way through the autumn of my own life. It’s a book to read, then reread as certain sections become more appropriate to your circumstances-which can change at anytime unexpectedly.

Definitely well worth a read!

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thorough and encouraging book by a couple who do workshops helping 50+ people adapt to their changing lives and prepare for the future. They break it all down by branches and roots of a tree, with different branches representing things like career, health and relationships. It's filled with quotes and suggestions from people who have taken their workshops on things that helped them with all of these issues. The authors are very encouraging and supportive, with suggestions for journal exercises to work through some of the issues.

I read a digital ARC of this book for review.

[Lel Budge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Act 3 is a breath of fresh air, it’s packed full of positivity. It’s honest, has lots of very useful information and ideas on how to enjoy the aging process, to accept this as a part of life and something to be celebrated. Getting older is not something to dread but to relish.

There are lots of quotes and real life anecdotes from various people and circumstances that helps create such a positive attitude and a joie de vivre.

I found this to be a book to dip into depending on my mood or particular thought and the final chapters are so useful, for me personally it really struck a chord. It’s definitely a book I will refer to again and again.

A thought provoking and empowering read. Brilliant.

Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.

Thank you also to Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this as daily staves.

[Lel Budge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Act 3 is a breath of fresh air, it’s packed full of positivity. It’s honest, has lots of very useful information and ideas on how to enjoy the aging process, to accept this as a part of life and something to be celebrated. Getting older is not something to dread but to relish.

There are lots of quotes and real life anecdotes from various people and circumstances that helps create such a positive attitude and a joie de vivre.

I found this to be a book to dip into depending on my mood or particular thought and the final chapters are so useful, for me personally it really struck a chord. It’s definitely a book I will refer to again and again.

A thought provoking and empowering read. Brilliant.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for free . This is my honest, unbiased review.

[Ann T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Unbound and Netgalley for this ARC.

As I’m moving into the third act I was drawn to this book and It didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed the authors passion and energy for encouraging And permitting readers to thrive in the new energy of this stage in life. I Enjoyed the exercises they presented and made lots of highlights and tags for ideas to come back to.

This is a relevant, timely book as our population gets older. Read this and be reminded that age does not equate frailty, these are amazing times ahead to be embraced and enjoyed.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book which is subtitled “The Art of Growing Older - How to Re imagine your Life After 50”. The authors, husband and wife who use their own experiences throughout this unusual book to “Help”. Early in the book they list what the book will not do, such as “Nag you about your alcohol, drug, smoking or shopping addictions” or crucially, “Judge you” instead they offer various kinds of help, such as “Help you feel positive about getting older”. This is a book which seeks to help those who are over fifty to think positively about the third Act or section of their life, once growing into adulthood (Act 1) and enjoying career establishment and child rearing (Act 2) are finishing. It may not suit everyone in that age group; it is an arbitrary age band. The essential point is that this book has suggestions for stopping to think about what “you really, really want” from life. Changing direction, moving house, retiring from one career to embark on a new one, considering new friendships and relationships, there are so many points at which this book suggests that stopping to think and consider can make a real difference. Not so much a book of rules as a friendly guide, this is a useful book for anyone who wants to stop and consider their own way forward, and I was interested to have the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book uses various strategies to offer its affirmative message. It suggests keeping a journal, in which it is possible to draw visual representations of feelings and plans. It uses the extended metaphor of a tree, with various branches such as “home” and “family” which grow off the main trunk, a tree which begins with roots such as Attitude and Purpose, and is fed with both visible and invisible assets. Circle diagrams ask the reader to consider and set out who is in their inner circle, and who inhabits the outer rings.

The main inclusion in this book which breaks the text down most usefully is the experiences and comments of those who have been confronted by the same challenges and opportunities, It includes the actress Eileen Atkins who has contributed comments and a list of suggestions for everyday activities, as well as people who have had children very late, or who have adopted children. It includes experiences of retirement complexes, as well as those who have decided to start their own business, or gone freelance in order to better balance work and other activities. They are lively and realistic, and make the arguments in the main part of the text stronger.

One of the main aspects of this book is the importance of attitude in transforming life for the better. Pauses for thought and review are stressed as being important. The book argues that it is better to consider the way ahead, rather than have regrets at the end. This book offers a framework which is far from rigid, raises possibilities, and offers opportunities. Despite the sections on the end of life, it is a remarkably powerful book, with many positive suggestions to make a difference to lives. A book with many uses to inspire and educate, it includes many resources for anyone who wonders about Act 3 of life.

[Lynn P · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book uses a tree as its framework, with branches and roots to cover the different areas of our lives after the age of 50. There's an illustration to refer back to as the book covers each area in turn. In fact one of the things I liked about the book were the little illustrations dotted throughout the book together with relevant quotes from famous people.

One of the first things the book asks you to do is write or draw in a journal alongside the book and I admit my heart sank a little, as I do not like doing this kind of thing. I carried on with the book and found it so useful even without doing this step - so don't be put off if you don't like the idea of a journal either.

I found the book to be full of useful and reassuring advice with a little parental feeling to it. It was good to read suggestions rather than feeling you have to have the answers all the time for the family. One of the key take aways for me was the advice in the relationships chapter. It talks about saying sorry without justification - even if you think you are right you can say "I'm sorry you're upset" - I just loved this.

There are also lots of references to other books and links for you to explore further things that particularly interest you. These are listed at the back of the book for easy reference.

In the health and science chapter there are some simple tests you can do to test how fit you are or how good your balance is. Another chapter I found really good was the one on Home. This asks you to look at your home and see if it is future proofed for you. It may be a little early for some but it's a great chapter to return to when you need it or to use now for your parents.

Dementia is also touched upon with some very useful advice for interacting for those that have dementia. Finally death is discussed in a practical down to earth way. Things to sort out now rather than leave your family to deal with.

There were lots of things I haven't found in a book like this before. It's certainly a book to be read and re read and to keep on hand for reference. Use of personal references by the author make the book less textbook like and the style of writing is so accessible.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars and my thanks to Random Things Tours for the blog tour invite and to the authors for a copy of the book to review.

[Stephanie Dagg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The synopsis above gives a very good summary of what the book is about, so all that remains is for me to assure you that this book is very well-written, informative and motivational. I’m in this particular Act of our lives so it’s all extremely relevant, as it will be for anyone who is 50 and upwards.
The tone is upbeat and encouraging. Straddling that 50 mark can be daunting, especially for women when it insists on dragging all the drama of menopause with it. Also around this time, frequently children are teetering on the edge of the nest if they haven’t already jumped, so you really do start to feel that your useful, productive phase is over and it’s going to be downhill all the way from here. Well, as this book joyously and emphatically tells us, the good news is that it isn’t. In fact, it may even prove to be the most rewarding time of your life. With the pressures removed of having to earn a living and putting children and/or other family members first, you can start to blossom, even if it’s unusual for a tree to bloom in autumn! The authors use the image of tree to work through various elements such as managing work, play and home.
Whilst being positive and cheering, the book does touch on the less appealing elements of aging such as death and depression, the former of which is definitely going to crop up at some point and the latter, whilst not quite as inevitable, will usually show its face from time to to time. The authors discuss these negatives in a business-like and reassuring way and then move on to positive coping strategies. The key thing to bring away is their advice of ‘forget regret’ by moving on and making plans to make the best of this most precious of limited resources: life.
Throughout this excellent, affirmative book there are little exercises to do, anecdotes to enjoy, advice to absorb and short summaries to emphasise the important issues raised.
I definitely feel more upbeat and inspired having read it. Like the rest of us, I don’t know how much time I’ve got left, but bring it on! I feel much more empowered now about living it to the full.

[MIchael Raines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judy and Adrian Reith skillfully compress life experiences which we already have or will very shortly be likely to experience with the passing of time into potted examples with immensely helpful advice on where to move forward from here. Often anecdotal and humorous, they bring real focus and constructive suggestion on overcoming obstacles, shortfalls, and life crisis which more and more of us will experience as a part of an ever-growing aging community and population. Can be read cover to cover, or just dipped into when ten minutes is available. It’s a definite must-read for anyone who has reached the stage in life where they need to re-centre and re-focus for then coming years to see them through with ease.

[Pip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Self-help books are not my go-to choice for reading, but I was intrigued by the premise of this book. I would warn you that to get the best from this you need to expend some time. The framework of the book is based on a journal that you keep and a series of tasks. You are gently coached in filling out self-awareness diagrams that will help you to plan and carry out the steps towards your goals. I recommend it for people facing important changes in their lives, such as children leaving home, retirement, downsizing.

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a thoughtful book of ideas, exercises and tips for navigating the second half of life. I read it in ten daily parts on The Pigeonhole online book club which wasn’t the ideal way to read it. It is a book to dip into and to mindfully engage with some of the exercises, to take stock and get the most out of this time of life. Questions such as downsizing, ageing, dying well, anxiety, creativity and purpose in retirement are all tackled with positive achievable ideas. Well worth skimming through then concentrating on chapters that resonate with you.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good stuff. To their credit, the author are very clear about what they do and don't offer and then go on provide solid ideas and suggestions about how to create a good Act 3, including approaches that you probably won't find elsewhere (e.g. types of goals to create). They also cover dying (which I didn't expect even though it's appropriate). Recommended.

Thanks very much for the review copy!!

[Bookwormbadger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Netgalley and Unbound for this book. I really enjoyed it. I'm in my late 40s, so not quite at Act 3 yet, but it is fast approaching and thanks to this book, I'm excited by all the possibilities that my future hopefully holds. Clearly written with honesty and compassion, I will be buying this book for friends and highly recommend to anyone over 40.

[Christine Rennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting perspective on growing old as you want to do it.
Recommended

[Overbooked ✎]

DNF at 22%