Thriving in the Second Half of Life

by Douglas Smith

The second half of life invites us to experience new growth such that we live an even more fulfilling life. But often the invitation isn't all that attractive, with changes in our families, our health, our relationships and our increasing grasp that the journey does have an ending. Many of us refuse the invitation to evolve, hanging on to old ways that may not serve us well in the second half.

In Doug Smith's best-selling first book, The Art of Living with Peace, Confidence and Joy, he detailed 13 skills that enable living an accomplished, meaningful and joyful life...what positive psychologists refer to as “flourishing.” In this second book, with the help of Ken Murphy, he looks at these skills through the lens of the second half of life and offers new tools and new ways to use them. The result is a guidebook for successfully navigating the transition to a thriving second half of life.

180 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 28, 2021

Reviews

[Evan Micheals · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was attracted to the title and found a compilation of the best of what others already know about positive psychology, that has been proven to work, and leads one to a satisfying life. Smith has done a good job of collecting and compiling this knowledge and does not mind quoting himself. For me, this was more of a reinforcement book of what I already intellectually know, but may not always live. A book to meditate and reflect on as I read it.

Smith first addresses the need for Forgiveness and Gratitude for your past, then discusses the temperament to cultivate for the future: FOFO (Faith, Optimism, Flexibility, and Openness) and Resilience. He touches on all one should be doing day to day: Mindfulness Skills; Maintaining Maintaining Physical, Spiritual, and Mental Health; Altruism and Kindness; an Attitude of Abundance; CBT skills; Purpose; Maintaining Relationships; and Avoiding Dead Ends (Pleasure, Money/Prestige/Success/Praise, Sympathy, Now). This is a good book that is concisely written and will reinforce the checkpoints of Thriving towards a satisfying life. We do not always get it right, and Smith provides the correct ideals to aim for to cultivate the Thriving he describes.

I had two points. One I found useful and one I would push back on. The ‘Dead Ends’ was a useful concept of the traps we often fall into (Pleasure, Money/Prestige/Success/Praise, Sympathy, Now). I would push back on the ‘Attitude of Abundance’, being limited is something that makes us human. Abundance is an eternal concept. According to Thomas Sowell ‘Economics is the study of the use of scarce resources which have alternative uses’. Just believing you have abundance does not produce new resources. I think Smith is wrong about this and Thomas Sowell is correct. I would recommend this book both to people who are dipping their toes into Positive Psychology and for those like me who need constant reminding of what it is.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to make you pause and think about life. Are you where you want to be mentally, physically and spiritually? It offers easy to understand ways to assess and reflect on the trajectory we may want to be on as we age. A book you mark and revisit.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Musings about living a good later life by an author living in Columbus.