Triumphs of Experience

The Men of the Harvard Grant Study

By: George E. Vaillant

Narrated by: Don Hagen

Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

At a time when many people around the world are living into their 10th decade, the longest longitudinal study of human development ever undertaken offers some welcome news for the new old age: Our lives continue to evolve in our later years and often become more fulfilling than before.

Begun in 1938, the Grant Study of Adult Development charted the physical and emotional health of over 200 men, starting with their undergraduate days. The now-classic Adaptation to Life reported on the men's lives up to age 55 and helped us understand adult maturation. Now George Vaillant follows the men into their 90s, documenting for the first time what it is like to flourish far beyond conventional retirement.

Reporting on all aspects of male life - including relationships, politics and religion, coping strategies, and alcohol use—Triumphs of Experience shares a number of surprising findings. For example, the people who do well in old age did not necessarily do so well in midlife and vice versa. While the study confirms that recovery from a lousy childhood is possible, memories of a happy childhood are a lifelong source of strength. Marriages bring much more contentment after age 70, and physical aging after 80 is determined less by heredity than by habits formed prior to age 50. The credit for growing old with grace and vitality, it seems, goes more to ourselves than to our stellar genetic makeup.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2012 George E. Valliant (P)2013 Blackstone Audio

Classic study, finally "relationship" is Key

It is best that the study covers long period enough to see that at the end, relationship, a good one, is what really matter, not success in work or career, but it does not mean we could ignore such aspects of life, but it tells us that we should wisely prioritize our life around what matter most in life #SelfDiscovery #Inspiring #Fables #HealthChallenges #MidlifeCrisis #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Fascinating, and uplifting read.

This book has inspired me to seek the opportunity of participating in, or preferably beginning my own prospective longitudinal study. Adding to my inspiration, Triumphs of Experience teaches about life through beautifully articulated and statistically significant stories throughout. I truly enjoyed this book.

A long term health study gem.

My medical specialty was psychiatry. So am rather motivated to absorb
this rather scientifically done Harvard study. It reminds us it takes more than top grades, brains and a Harvard degree to succeed in life. The essential for happiness appear to be laid down in a good enough family life. Success in adulthood intimacies may depend on willingness to admit inner emotional pains, bear them and put them in perspective. Even a Harvard degree can't assure inner peace.

Highly Recommended

Absolutely fascinating. Excellent narration. Some surprises on life's most important elements and pitfalls. Could be life-changing for the right person.

interesting however seems outdated

Story itself is interesting longitudinal study is a great effort, findings I would like to see deeper and more structured.
I would like to see it cross correlated with more current researches
narrator performance is good.

Tough to follow data tables

Super Interesting but data tables are tough to follow in an audiobook. I kept finding myself wanting to digest the tables in print rather than listening to someone tell me what they say.

Amazing study wonderfully presented

Where does Triumphs of Experience rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

If you want to learn what honestly is the cause behind your actions this is the book. This is a marvelous study the audio book is worth much more than the asking price

What did you like best about this story?

This is a study not a story but the story of each person's life as studied will change you.

Quite Revealing!

I found Triumphs of Experience a very interesting and thought provoking book. I was challenged and inspired. One of the most powerful take aways was that the common denominator for successful men in the military was that they had a mother who nurtured them.
As a Christian conservative, It was good to take note that the author is a liberal and comes at his research from that angle.
I will say that he does a fairly good job of being honest about his prejudices and laying out the facts just as he found them.

This was my 2015 Bood of the Year

What did you love best about Triumphs of Experience?

I am a practicing epidemiologist, so I really enjoyed this book, written from the perspective of another epidemiologist. I've listened to this book at least three times. Dr. Vaillant does an excellent job of using case histories to illustrate findings from the all of the data collected...

Interesting study, but…

This longitudinal study was interesting as it peered into the lives of white men over a period of time. I certainly understand the research parameters that guided the study, but just wondering about its significance in this day and age. It did capture a slice of history for a select group of men.