Customer Reviews

Once Upon a Midlife (American Storytelling)

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Chinen brings insight into the middle years of life with his delightful look at fairy tales from around the world that focus on the middle years. The simple tales are rich with psychological meaning and demonstrate the psychological tasks that must be achieved in the middle years to provide a sense of well being and balance. Move over Snow White and youthful princes--there is life after the hero!

When I turned 40 and started experiencing depression, feelings of loss and confusion, I read every book I could get my hands on regarding the midlife crisis. "Once Upon a Midlife" was absolutely the only book that put midlife into perspective and gave me insight into this developmental stage in the context of an entire life - throughout time and many cultures. I have given this book to every one of my friends turning 40. Not only is it reassuring, wise and insightful, it is also a heck of lot more fun to read than a psychology self-help book!

I wasted time attempting to find the book at a retailer and the local library (so I eventually bought it used through Amazon.com). What a read! The author, a pschyiatrist schooled in Jungian theory, shares (and analyzes) numerous "Middle Tales" (as opposed to fairy or elder tales). Middle tales desribe life beyond the "...and they lived happily ever after" of fairy tales. The "ah-ha" quoitient, especially for those of us who are living the "middle years", is close to 100! Dr. Chinen's insights bring one closer to the belief that there is a collective unconscious. (Or Not!) Definitely worth the search.

Dr. Chinen has written several books that address tales relating to different stages of life. This particular book addresses midlife. As described in the two former reviews, it's simply a delight to read, highly informative and valuable psychologically and otherwise. I've also read "Beyond the Hero" which addresses an earlier period in life, and I recently bought (from Amazon.Com) "In the Ever After" which addresses a later period of life. So far, it's a wonderful trilogy. But, maybe there will be more of them...one can hope!

This is a terrific book! I read it in my late thirties, again in my forties, and now into my fifties I'm ready to pick it up again. Ive given copies to several friends through the years, have referred to it frequently, and am passing it on to new friends again now. I'm most disappointed to see that it seems to be out of print!