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The Third Chapter: Passion, Risk, and Adventure in the 25 Years After 50 Audiobook
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(3.05) - 136 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In the twenty-first century, a developmental phase of life is emerging as significant and distinct, capturing our interest, engaging our curiosity, and expanding our understanding of human potential and development. Demographers talk about this new chapter in life as characterized by people—those between ages fifty and seventy-five—who are considered "neither young nor old." In our "third chapters" we are beginning to redefine our views about the casualties and opportunities of aging; we are challenging cultural definitions of strength, maturity, power, and sexiness.
This is a chapter in life when the traditional norms, rules, and rituals of our careers seem less encompassing and restrictive; when many women and men seem to be embracing new challenges and searching for greater meaning in life.
In The Third Chapter, Dr. Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot offers a strong counterpoint to the murky ambivalence that shrouds our clear view of people in their third chapters. She challenges the still-prevailing and anachronistic images of aging by documenting and revealing the ways in which the years between fifty and seventy-five may, in fact, be the most transformative and generative time in our lives—tracing the ways in which wisdom, experience, and new learning inspire individual growth and cultural transformation. The women and men whose voices fill the pages of The Third Chapter tell passionate and poignant stories of risk and vulnerability, failure and resilience, challenge and mastery, experimentation and improvisation, and insight and new learning.
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"Once I got into the somewhat academic rhythm of this book I found it to be rich in content and well worth the effort. I bought it without having heard anything about it, based purely on the title. I found that I resonated with many of her conclusions and insights. "
— Barbara (4 out of 5 stars)
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A collection of powerful stories by a gifted interpreter and storyteller.
— Library Journal
The Third Chapter Listener Reviews
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" I didn't really read this book, although I tried. Not necessarily the book's fault, it's just at the wrong level of abstraction for my brain. Some good example stories, but not enough to keep me going. "
— Diane, 2/20/2014 -
" This is good advice, if at fifty you're sitting on a tub of money. It lost its relevance with this downturn in the the economy. Retirement, especially early retirement is a thing of the past. "
— Jeffrey, 2/13/2014 -
" Most if the good stuff here was in the end - discussion about the whole notion of "lesiure communities" for elders and how weird that segregated model is for society as a whole. But I did enjoy the author when she joined Bill Moyers on his JOURNAL. "
— Sylvia, 2/11/2014 -
" I liked the concept and some of the stories were inspirational. However, this book covers a very small and specific demographic of the over 50 population. The subjects that were interviewed were all in a very stable financial position which allowed them a lot of flexibility to reinvent themselves in their third chapter of life. I would like to see how those without that financial advantage make the transition into their third chapter. "
— Anne, 2/3/2014 -
" Sara lawrence-Lightfoot has such a beautiful voice--I'll read anything she writes. A blens of sociology, psychology, develop0mental theory and her own powers of observation and synthesis. Reminded me a bit of Mary Catherine Bateson's works. "
— Marian, 1/20/2014 -
" An uplifting book about life after 50 and the opportunities it brings. All of the examples were well-off individuals, but the message is still the same, this is your opportunity to do all of those things you put off or always wanted to do. I liked the author's commentary best. "
— Mlg, 1/16/2014 -
" A book that I needed to read, and that I found at the time that I needed to read it. A book about re-invention and renewal, about hard and scary decisions, about re-becoming oneself. "
— Evelyn, 1/12/2014 -
" Good premise. However it reads like a textbook and you can't really identify with subjects. "
— Ann, 12/22/2013 -
" lyrically written sociological study of how to live after 50 - the best is yet to come!!!! "
— Ruthy, 12/18/2013 -
" I found a lot to ponder in this book since I am especially interested in the transition in my own life after 50...Third Chapter is much easier to swallow than "old", senior, etc. "
— Charlotte, 11/27/2013 -
" When I saw the author on the Bill Moyer show I thought this would be a good book to read as I'm approaching "Third Chapter" age group. The books seems to be an "Ivory Tower" recitation of common sense. I doubt I will finish the book. "
— Ross, 11/24/2013 -
" Ostensibly a research based book, I read this after I retired fro my executive career, looking for new ideas. I did not really care for the book from a research perspective, but the individual examples included in the book were extremely helpful to me. "
— David, 7/22/2013 -
" What brilliant insights Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot brings us in this book, based on interviews with people over 50. Personally, I published two books after I reached 60, and have several more in me. Great life guidance, before you get to 50, too. "
— Christine, 6/26/2013 -
" Not great, but it had some useful things to consider when planning for future retirement. "
— Reuel, 2/21/2013 -
" It is OKAY to take a long time to move through the transition of career into post-career adventure and living. "
— Lois, 12/31/2012 -
" I was glad to read this book. It gave me assurance that as I retire I will experience lots of feelings and that they are all ok. I think I am more ready than most to make this transition and to make it happily. "
— Kathy, 12/21/2012 -
" Great narratives of individual stories that illustrate the work we must do in order to accept and thrive in the third chapter. The developmental work that we must do in what the author calls the Third Chapter - is counter-intuitive. Very thoughtful reading.... "
— Anne, 7/25/2012 -
" So much of this resonates. I am delighted that my experiences match with so many of the author's observations. "
— B., 6/9/2012 -
" This is a light and breezy as Sara Lightfoot Lawrence gets. A fun read with several good stories about people's lives. The theory is so lightweight it just floated away. "
— Alan, 10/1/2011 -
" I actually didn't finish this book, I quit about half way through. I didn't really feel like I was learning anything new. I couldn't quite relate to the "case studies" she included and came to feel she was making a mountain out of a molehill on a lot of things. "
— Ann, 8/9/2011 -
" Good premise. However it reads like a textbook and you can't really identify with subjects. "
— Ann, 4/27/2011 -
" Sara lawrence-Lightfoot has such a beautiful voice--I'll read anything she writes. A blens of sociology, psychology, develop0mental theory and her own powers of observation and synthesis. Reminded me a bit of Mary Catherine Bateson's works. "
— Marian, 4/14/2011 -
" I was glad to read this book. It gave me assurance that as I retire I will experience lots of feelings and that they are all ok. I think I am more ready than most to make this transition and to make it happily. "
— Kathy, 11/27/2010 -
" What brilliant insights Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot brings us in this book, based on interviews with people over 50. Personally, I published two books after I reached 60, and have several more in me. Great life guidance, before you get to 50, too. "
— Christine, 11/12/2010 -
" Not great, but it had some useful things to consider when planning for future retirement. "
— Reuel, 3/9/2010 -
" It is OKAY to take a long time to move through the transition of career into post-career adventure and living. "
— Lois, 3/7/2010 -
" So much of this resonates. I am delighted that my experiences match with so many of the author's observations. "
— B., 12/6/2009 -
" Only skimmed through this one so far but am really looking forward to reading it - I loved her presence and what she had to say on Bill Moyer's show "
— Barb, 9/18/2009
About Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot
Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot is the Emily Hargroves Fisher Professor of Education in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. A sociologist specializing in the culture of schools, socialization within families and communities, and the relationships between culture and learning styles, she is the author of eight books, including I’ve Known Rivers, The Art and Science of Portraiture, and The Essential Conversation: What Parents and Teachers Can Learn from Each Other.
About Laural Merlington
Laural Merlington is an audiobook narrator with over two hundred titles to her credit and a winner of multiple Earphones Awards. An Audie Award nominee, she has also directed over one hundred audiobooks. She has performed and directed for thirty years in theaters throughout the country. In addition to her extensive theater and voice-over work, she teaches college in her home state of Michigan.