Once upon a Midlife [Paperback]

Allan B. Chinen (Author), Roger Gould (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 23, 1993

In order to better understand the crises of his middle-aged patients, Dr. Chinen's search led him to centuries-old stories from the oral tradition. These stories tell what happens in the "ever after", when the Prince goes bald and the Princesses has a midlife crisis. They portray middle-aged men and women facing the issues of midlife: the loss of ideals; gender differences; dealing with crisis; aging and mortality; and the desire for renewal. Listeners will find that many midlife crisis are universal and timeless and that their ultimate resolutions as described in these stories guide them through the peaks and valleys of midlife.

--This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 238 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher (June 23, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874777259
• ISBN-13: 978-0874777253
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,139,331 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Insightful and Provoking Look at the Middle Years, August 16, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Once upon a Midlife (Paperback)

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!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cured my midlife crisis!, November 26, 2004

By 

A. Gray (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Once Upon a Midlife (Paperback)

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!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forty + Ten= You Must Read This!, July 6, 2002

By 

J.P. Mik "jcolis" (Abington, PA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Once upon a Midlife (Paperback)

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.