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100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life: What Scientists Have Learned and How You Can Use It – A Science-Backed Guide for Thriving After 50 with Health and Joy
Practical advice on how to thrive in the second half of your life, based on scientific studies. The sixth book in the bestselling 100 Simple Secrets series. What do people who relish the second half of their lives do differently than those who dread getting older? Sociologists, therapists and psychiatrists have spent entire careers investigating the ins and outs of successful aging, yet their findings are inaccessible to ordinary people, hidden in obscure journals to be shared with other experts. Now the international bestselling author of The 100 Simple Secrets series has collected the most current and significant data from more than a thousand of the best scientific studies on the second half of life. These findings have been boiled down to one hundred essential ways to find and maintain joy, health, and satisfaction every day of your life. Each one is accompanied by a true story showing the results in action. The Baby Boomers are hitting retirement age. This upbeat, light approach will appeal to the enormous market of citizens grappling with the effects of becoming 'senior', looking to discover the positive benefits of aging beyond discount tickets at the movie theatre. Books about aging well continue to sell year in and year out. The Simple Secrets approach will stand out among the heavier self-help/psychology titles and will without a doubt become an affordable impulse and gifty mainstay in this category. A good inexpensive gift for parents and grandparents.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
45 people are currently reading
304 people want to read
About the author
David Niven
32 books33 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
David^Niven, Ph.D., is the author 100 Simple Secrets book series
David^^Niven, actor and author of The Moon's a Balloon
David^Niven, Ph.D., is the author 100 Simple Secrets book series
David^^Niven, actor and author of The Moon's a Balloon
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 22, 2013
كتاب بسيط جداً......أوجز فأنجز
February 17, 2018
Extremely easy read written by David Niven Ph.D about ways to live the second half of your life to be happy. There are 100 chapters, each 2 pages long, with a thought and then a little true story that fits in with it. There was nothing super thought provoking in here, but everything he wrote was true. I found it a little dull, hence the 3 stars. Maybe I already know how to be happy. :)
March 29, 2018
Straightforward, simple yet powerful reminders on how to get the best out of your fifties going forward. I really enjoyed reading it, and it touched a lot of places in my life despite the fact that I am not even forty yet.
May 31, 2017
A good assessment of the elderly to guide the nexts in line about what really matters most. Thanks for plotting them out, Doctor! :)
July 14, 2020
Simple read. Nice reminders that life can and should be enjoyable over 50.
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September 30, 2022did not finish
January 15, 2024
Wonderful book
August 13, 2016
Read this for a friend who had to do a book report on it...seriously.
This is Niven’s 8th foray into ‘simple secrets’ territory: in this book he attempts to make the complicated ‘science’ of happiness, uncomplicated. To this end, he writes 100, short (2-page), chapters each containing clear, concise information on finding this much-desired, often- elusive emotion. The target audience for the book is people over 50 although its content easily applies to adults of all ages.
Just by looking at the chapter titles in the table of contents, it’s obvious that nearly everyone could take away something useful in their quest toward happiness. Readers can pick and choose which of the chapters to read based on their specific needs or interests.
For example, the chapter, “Be Decisive,” discusses how we are overloaded with choices and options every day, which makes decision-making difficult. Niven states that making a decision, sticking with it and being comfortable with it increases the likelihood that one will believe in his/her own capabilities. “Turn Off Bad News,” is a good suggestion in and of itself; the chapter goes on to explain why--too much TV news has a direct impact on how one views the world, in fact people who watch a lot of TV news are twice as likely to be negative about the world in general.
Other chapters have good concrete ideas that are somewhat well-worn, for example, “Forgive.” However obvious, some people need reminders that by carrying around feelings of anger and resentment they do nothing to enhance their lives and much to frustrate themselves and even make themselves ill.
As a social scientist and psychologist, Niven culled and compiled information from research studies in his quest to examine and communicate what scientists have discovered about the road to happiness. There are 10 pages of citations for those interested in more in-depth information.
This is Niven’s 8th foray into ‘simple secrets’ territory: in this book he attempts to make the complicated ‘science’ of happiness, uncomplicated. To this end, he writes 100, short (2-page), chapters each containing clear, concise information on finding this much-desired, often- elusive emotion. The target audience for the book is people over 50 although its content easily applies to adults of all ages.
Just by looking at the chapter titles in the table of contents, it’s obvious that nearly everyone could take away something useful in their quest toward happiness. Readers can pick and choose which of the chapters to read based on their specific needs or interests.
For example, the chapter, “Be Decisive,” discusses how we are overloaded with choices and options every day, which makes decision-making difficult. Niven states that making a decision, sticking with it and being comfortable with it increases the likelihood that one will believe in his/her own capabilities. “Turn Off Bad News,” is a good suggestion in and of itself; the chapter goes on to explain why--too much TV news has a direct impact on how one views the world, in fact people who watch a lot of TV news are twice as likely to be negative about the world in general.
Other chapters have good concrete ideas that are somewhat well-worn, for example, “Forgive.” However obvious, some people need reminders that by carrying around feelings of anger and resentment they do nothing to enhance their lives and much to frustrate themselves and even make themselves ill.
As a social scientist and psychologist, Niven culled and compiled information from research studies in his quest to examine and communicate what scientists have discovered about the road to happiness. There are 10 pages of citations for those interested in more in-depth information.
May 27, 2021
This is not the type of book I would choose; it was a gift. Many of the 100 “secrets” are intuitive (“exercise is good for you”...). But some are good reminders and the author does cite studies and/or papers to back up most of the “secrets”.....
January 19, 2015
The pithy style was sometimes too short for the thoughts. I wanted to know more about some things, and yet most of the comments/ secrets are common sense, I liked Niven's scientific evaluation.
Each 'chapter' was basically two pages, and that's a perfect length, almost 'one bite' to consider for a section of the day.
Think about this:
When we ponder our own existence, rather than long chapters of our lives, I suggest one page at a time. Chapter, shmapter, our lives are just who we are. When we were in school, we were clueless we would reach 55, or what that might even look like. Who knows how long any of us has to live, and how long we might carry on in this transitory life? So make your 'chapter of today' a good read. First for you as the author, then for any reader who gets close enough to see the real story. I think Niven does just that.
Each 'chapter' was basically two pages, and that's a perfect length, almost 'one bite' to consider for a section of the day.
Think about this:
When we ponder our own existence, rather than long chapters of our lives, I suggest one page at a time. Chapter, shmapter, our lives are just who we are. When we were in school, we were clueless we would reach 55, or what that might even look like. Who knows how long any of us has to live, and how long we might carry on in this transitory life? So make your 'chapter of today' a good read. First for you as the author, then for any reader who gets close enough to see the real story. I think Niven does just that.
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February 1, 2017Nie daję oceny, bo w sumie nie jestem w stanie jej dać. Książkę ostatecznie porzuciłąm, gdyż jednak chyba powinnam ją zostawić na faktyczną drugą połowę mojego życia, do której póki co dość daleko więc i rady zapewne stracą na wartości.
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March 28, 2015Quick and easy read. Simple yet profound set of tips. Completely research based which is what could kindle the reader's interest. Enjoyable book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews