Shattering the myth that turns midlife (or any age) into a crisis, this provocative guide is packed with sage advice. Watch for career counselor Barbara Sher's upcoming PBS special.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
As baby boomers hit their 40s and 50s in record numbers, they're beginning to realize that middle age isn't what it used to be--that the old assumptions about these difficult years just aren't true anymore. Barbara Sher, the author of such motivational bestsellers as Live the Life You Love, believes that midlife is the beginning of something better than mere youth, a time when "you start to live your life to suit who you really are." Instead of worrying about your slowing body or unrealized expectations, Sher says, why not focus on new opportunities to take risks and try new experiences, or to take another crack at personal goals you never had a chance to go for in the past? Sher's unique view of aging is a heartening one, and it is sure to bring encouragement to those who would like to see "the big 4-0" as a beginning rather than an end.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Recognizing that many people feel that their best years are in the past once they turn 40, well-known therapist and author Sher (How To Live the Life You Love: Practical Strategies for Realizing Your Dreams, Audio Reviews, LJ 6/1/96) uses anecdotes, facts, and motivation to encourage listeners to make the most of the second half of their lives. Through a lengthy introduction, Sher revisits negative attitudes and experiences and points out their inaccuracies. She then provides exercises and encouragement to help facilitate positive change. Although she sometimes comes off as patronizing, there is enough substance here to appeal to the growing population of over-40 baby boomers, making this a solid addition to any library with other motivational materials.?Susan McCaffrey, Sturgis Middle Sch., MI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
131 of 134 people found the following review helpful
By Gail Miller
Format:Paperback
Have you got to 40 and thought your life was over? Well think again. It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now is here to show you that not only is your life *not* over at 40 - it's only just beginning!
In this life changing text Barbara Sher teaches us how to ignore social convention, turn our backs on cultural indoctrination and really start living. Did you know that the 'first half' of your life was only a period where you made your mistakes. It certainly wasn't the be all and end all. Bringing into focus once again your dreams, wishes and ambitions, here Ms Sher shows us how we have not yet even started to really live.
After reading this book to the end page, I flipped back to the first page and started reading again, it's so profound and a 'different' person finished reading the book than the one who started reading it! I turned 40 this year and this book has changed my life - will it change yours?
70 of 70 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've read all of the reviews here, and felt compelled to add my own two cents' worth. While the author might overly-emphasize the "beauty vs. wisdom" theory, and does dwell too much on her own view that dwindling libido = greater creative opportunities, I'd still recommend this book to anyone at a midlife crossroads. Why? Because it's a solidly helpful book in most respects.
When this book was released in 1998, I ordered a copy. I've been a big fan of Sher's for many years. At the time, my career had very unexpectedly stalled. Financial conditions were such that we (my family) had to downsize our home and lifestyle. In addition to those challenges, I had a breast cancer scare with lumpectomy. A few months later, my Dad died. This book was enormously helpful to me at a time when it seemed everything had tilted on axis in my world. Sher truly did help me find answers to the question, "Where do I go from here?"
Chapter 3, "Time Limits", was particulalry encouraging. Slapped hard in the face with the concepts of mortality, I began falling into crisis mode. What if my time is cut short? What if I've already run out of time? Those were haunting questions. Burying a parent in the midst of that crisis only served as fuel to the fear. Chapter 3 was enormously valuable in helping me to take some deep breaths, calm down and really explore what finite time had meant **and could mean** to me.
Chapter 8, "Escape to Freedom", was another wonderful section that had a profound impact in my life. It's a chapter that I feel would be useful to anyone at any age. That chapter alone is worth the price of the book, and I still review chapters 10 and 11 periodically. Those last chapters brough about significant change in my life. They could for you, too.
I only wish Ms.
... Read more ›114 of 119 people found the following review helpful
By mike herlihy
Format:Paperback
Like a coach's halftime inspiration, I couldn't wait to get started after reading this book. I have liked all of Barbara Sher's books, but this is her crowning work of wisdom. While written for midlife, it speaks to any age and anyone seeking an authentic life. The chapters are funny and full of exercises and questions to break through conventions and assumptions that keep people from listening to their deeper urges. I particularly liked the exercises that helped me relive my childhood loves and desires and to find the core that related to my life today. I liked her discussion of the logic of past mistakes, which create the platform for fashioning the next stage of life.
This is not your typical career book. It is for anyone who has heard an inner voice calling them to take a risk and create work and a life that is entirely original. It convinced me it is never too late.
48 of 49 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Having read many, many self-help, motivational books, this one is 'top notch'. As a 45 year old nurse contemplating (again), a career change, this book has helped me decide to 'go for it'. Barbara has an uncanny way of having you look back on your life....and making you want to step forward with great anticipation for the future. I recommend this book to anyone who is nearing midlife....it will help you through a very tough time of life.
34 of 34 people found the following review helpful
By S. Guzzi
Format:Paperback
I've read this book at least 3 times, and I came back to buy a new copy because the one I have is SO worn, underlined, written in, the cover is missing, in short- at times in life- it's been truly a life-line, a friend, and what has taken my hand and pulled me through.
The first time I read it I was in my late 20's, feeling direction-less, kicked around, and not at all sure of how to take the reigns in my life. This helped. I read it, I "Talked back" by writing in the margins, I answered the questions at the end of the chapters, and I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I had been focusing much/most of my life, my goals, my plans- on trying to please others, trying to get approval, because of things that happened when I was too young to even see that it was impossible to please those I was trying to please- anyway! I learned that I was working hard for things that I was "supposed" to want- but actually- I didn't really want them. I re-grouped, and spent some time adjusting, and was able to find a new level of comfort and happiness.
I did not give up trying to feel pretty, I did not stop wearing makeup (By the way... just making note of earlier reviews)
I read the book again, several years later, in my 30's... as I started FREAKING about aging, and this time, I saw that all her quotes by others about aging- where the SAME things I was thinking! PHEW, I was not alone! This is SCARY STUFF!! All these "Oh My GAWD... It's too late to do this, it's too late to do that...Maybe I'll never be a superstar!!!(Oh no, Maybe I don't WANT to be a superstar!)" and this book helped to debunk that... Thank god!
And Now, I just finished reading it, because I'm looking for new dreams, now with my children leaving home for college...... Read more ›
The first time I read it I was in my late 20's, feeling direction-less, kicked around, and not at all sure of how to take the reigns in my life. This helped. I read it, I "Talked back" by writing in the margins, I answered the questions at the end of the chapters, and I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I had been focusing much/most of my life, my goals, my plans- on trying to please others, trying to get approval, because of things that happened when I was too young to even see that it was impossible to please those I was trying to please- anyway! I learned that I was working hard for things that I was "supposed" to want- but actually- I didn't really want them. I re-grouped, and spent some time adjusting, and was able to find a new level of comfort and happiness.
I did not give up trying to feel pretty, I did not stop wearing makeup (By the way... just making note of earlier reviews)
I read the book again, several years later, in my 30's... as I started FREAKING about aging, and this time, I saw that all her quotes by others about aging- where the SAME things I was thinking! PHEW, I was not alone! This is SCARY STUFF!! All these "Oh My GAWD... It's too late to do this, it's too late to do that...Maybe I'll never be a superstar!!!(Oh no, Maybe I don't WANT to be a superstar!)" and this book helped to debunk that... Thank god!
And Now, I just finished reading it, because I'm looking for new dreams, now with my children leaving home for college...... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not what I expected
This book was recommended to me to help with dealing with "empty nest". This book says nothing that I don't already no and was boring to read for me. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Happy
1.0 out of 5 stars
Way too much padding
I hesitated to review IT'S ONLY TOO LATE IF YOU DON'T START NOW because I only read about 50 pages of it, but most other reviews don't share my views about it. Read more
Published on June 8, 2010 by Anton Karidian
5.0 out of 5 stars
inspiring reading
It's an easy read. Everyone should be able to get something of value from the book. The author covers a lot of ground, comparing the first forty years of our life with the... Read more
Published on April 11, 2010 by Bill Schledwitz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Read This Book and You Will Start Now
This is a fun book for middle-age Seekers who are really tired of waiting for their lives to begin! Barbara says it is never too late unless you don't start now. Read more
Published on September 7, 2009 by Pamela Wells
5.0 out of 5 stars
How to exchange your midlife melodrama for a better life ahead
Barbara Sher's words opened up my mind and helped me see my life and the possibilities for it in a new light. I'm 41 and Creating Your Second Life After 40 is perfect for me. Read more
Published on June 30, 2009 by June Bug
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gets you moving!
I'm almost 50 and was kind of in a slump until I read this book. Really got me thinking then moving on what I really want to do! Highly recommended.
Published on May 5, 2009 by C. Miller
3.0 out of 5 stars
It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now
Material is very good. The book had another persons writing inside with a phone number and names.
Published on April 18, 2009 by Michael Murray
2.0 out of 5 stars
Well written, but very depressing
This book is very well written and has some interesting concepts, but I got so depressed by the negative descriptions of getting older that I stopped reading after about... Read more
Published on January 7, 2009 by Heike Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book changed my life
I read this book back in the mid 90's at a time when I was trying to figure out what to do with my life. Read more
Published on December 7, 2008 by Robin Sparks
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pushing 60 - Glad I Found This Again!
Well, I'm pushing 60 - pushing it pretty hard you might say - and finally decided to give up my workaholic ways and get a life. Read more
Published on September 29, 2008 by J. Blair
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Listmania!
|
|
So You'd Like to...
|
|
