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Life Reimagined  By  cover art

Life Reimagined

By: Barbara Bradley Hagerty
Narrated by: Barbara Bradley Hagerty
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Publisher's summary

A dynamic and inspiring exploration of the new science that is redrawing the future for people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s for the better - and for good.

There's no such thing as an inevitable midlife crisis, Barbara Bradley Hagerty writes in this provocative, hopeful book. It's a myth, an illusion. New scientific research explodes the fable that midlife is a time when things start to go downhill for everybody. In fact, midlife can be a great new adventure, when you can embrace fresh possibilities, purposes, and pleasures.

In Life Reimagined, Hagerty explains that midlife is about renewal: It's the time to renegotiate your purpose, refocus your relationships, and transform the way you think about the world and yourself. Drawing from emerging information in neurology, psychology, biology, genetics, and sociology - as well as her own story of midlife transformation - Hagerty redraws the map for people in midlife and plots a new course forward in understanding our health, our relationships, even our futures.

©2016 Barbara Bradley Hagerty (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

Life Reimagined paints a portrait of middle age that is far from grim and decelerating. Midlife begins to seem like the second big phase of decision-making. Your identity has been formed; you know who you are; you’ve built up your resources; and now you have the chance to take the big risks precisely because your foundation is already secure.” (David Brooks, The New York Times)

Life Reimagined gave me hope that midlife, even with its struggles, can be a time of growth and deeper joy in relationships old and new.” (BookPage)

“Bradley uses the perfect mixture of anecdote and facts and knows how to tell a story. Inspiring and reassuring, this book is guaranteed to shake up anyone who is coasting through middle age, reminding them that it’s up to them to find their essence and shape their last years with purpose.” (Booklist)

What listeners say about Life Reimagined

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For the wealthy

Parts of this book are inspiring. It's also well researched. But the author seems to have little understanding of non-Ivy league, truly middle class people. Her examples include a woman who sold her 2 toy stores to work in foster care, and a tobacco attorney who gave it up to work with dogs. Good for them! But what about the rest of us?

Also, she seems unaware that a period in a sentence means a FULL stop. It's breathless, leaving the listener little time to absorb.

(Last example: A man loses his fortune. He rebounds & gets an upper level job at Home Depot. When he hears workers bemoaning the long work week, he says,"They're complaining? I'm happy to have a job." I have compassion for the man's loss. But some people NEVER work outside of retail (my mom) and never had as much to lose as he did. And he came in at a managerial level.)

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29 people found this helpful

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Easy listen that has helped me grow

Barbra Bradley Hagerty does a great job of clearly explaining the complex issues facing those of us in the middle of life. She made it clear she is a religious person, but didn't push that on the listener at all. I was most impressed by how many sources she used to make her points, it was much more than just "this is what I did," but a real report of insightful information she studied. She backed up some of the concepts with her own experiences. She identifies her sources making it easier to do further investigation on topics that were interesting to you. I've already started listening to books written by her sources.

Her voice and reading style made it very easy to listen to.

I cannot think of one person who would not benefit from listening to this enjoyable book!

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9 people found this helpful

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Cheat Codes for Mid-Life! (or just plain life)

Would you consider the audio edition of Life Reimagined to be better than the print version?

Hagerty has a great radio voice--as one might expect from a former NPR journalist. Plus, she's got a lot of first person narrative in the story, which makes it ideal for her to read. On the other hand, there is a lot of data and research mixed into the book, and it might be helpful for some people to be able to read and reread certain sections. I do wish I could highlight and bookmark some of the recommendations in the chronic pain section so I could practice them more readily. In the end, I bought this on audible because that's what I have time for right now, but I bought hard copies for my parents and my in-laws.

What other book might you compare Life Reimagined to and why?

I've really never ready a book quite like this. It has everything--from research on marriage to chronic pain, plus the adventures and reflections of the author as she wades through it all. I guess it reminds me most of The Female Brain, which I read nearly a decade ago.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

You could, but I think it's better to listen a few chapters at a time.

Any additional comments?

I should start by saying that I'm only 30 years old--well under the 40-60 window of middle age. But I found this book so fascinating, so insightful, and so challenging, that I would recommend it to people of any age. In fact, I feel like I've been given the cheat-codes for mid-life a decade early. The first chapter alone was so rousing that I couldn't wait to get into the rest of the book. The second chapter is admittedly less interesting as it dives into the science, but things quickly pick up again with Hagerty's introduction of her own adventures and how they relate to the research. The chapters on marriage are somewhat daunting, but Hagerty helps ease your way by relating her own fears about marriage and relationships, and things do end on a positive note. Finally, I was so intrigued and encouraged by the research on chronic pain. I am looking forward to trying out some of the mindfulness techniques. After starting this book, I quickly bought copies for my parents and my husband's parents too. And I've gotten lots of positive feedback from them as well! So, yeah, buy the book and also buy it for your mid-life friends and relatives.

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7 people found this helpful

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how to guide for people 50 +

Great survey about what you need to get moving on in your 50's, to ensure you enjoy the next 25+ years. Terrific anecdotes. The "simple rules" at the end of the book are priceless.

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6 people found this helpful

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Best self-help I’ve ever consumed

This book made me feel so much better about midlife. The writing and narration is outstanding, and the coverage of areas of life relative to midlife is wonderfully comprehensive.

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5 people found this helpful

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Listened Twice

Ms. Hagerty's book is a study in science and art and get to it-ness. Best phrase of the book is "auto-pilot equals death" and I see evidence of it in my fellow middle aged travelers- myself included. Grateful for her sharing the research and personal stories that make this book a must listen.

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Simply sensational!

Having just turned 50, this book arrived at an optimal time for me to help me take stock of all the wonderful things that I have going for me and to give me a roadmap for the future to keep going. It was an an absolute delight to hear Barbara narrate this book - thank you, Barbara for creating a sensational masterpiece of spoken word and content! Bravo!!

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4 people found this helpful

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Fabulous roadmap/consolation/inspiration

I am 52 years old, stating down the barrel of the middle distance (as Michael Stipe lyricised the onset of the middle years) and in the midst of deep career, social and financial transition. I find Barbara Bradley Haggerty's reflection in this time of life to be both consolatory and inspiring. Grounded in extensive research, and brought to life by real world "case studies", it provides a road map to overcome the obstacles and embrace the scenic vistas of the final forty percent (plus or minus) of the journey. I have passed it along to lifelong friends with whom I hope to grow old, and I plan on revisiting it myself annually to ensue I don't stray from the path of happiness and fulfillment the lays out for us. Thank you, Barbara!

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4 people found this helpful

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Inspiring

I savored every moment of this book. I recently lost my best friend at the same time someone recommended this book to me. It could not have been more timely. I am 47 and realising I am needing a change in my life. Not a car or a new spouse, but perhaps a new vocation or a new avocation. This book helped me know I am not alone in this and that the keys to healthy aging are inextricably tied to relationships, learning, and purpose. I highly recommend this book to anyone approaching midlife, entering midlife, in the thick of midlife, even at the end of midlife. The lessons are worth learning.

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Excellent book

Highly recommend this book, and Barbara does such a wonderful job narrating. You feel like she is a dear friend by the end of the book.

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