The Rapture Of Maturity: A Legacy Of Lifelong Learning [Hardcover]

Charles D. Hayes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004

Like great plays, movies, and novels, our lives tend to reveal their meaning with greater clarity near the end. To get it right, we must apply artistry and the wisdom of experience to our final chapters. With The Rapture of Maturity, lifelong learning advocate Charles D. Hayes reminds adults in the September of their days that they have one last chance to matter as human beings. What will people say of you when you are gone? What do you wish they would say? What really matters when your own mortality looms on the horizon? Will future generations be better off because of you? Hayes reminds us that as long as we are alive these are open questions. By continuing to examine our values, our motivations, and our common beliefs, by exploring issues beyond the superficial level of popular culture, and by teaching our grandchildren to do the same, older adults can demonstrate to younger generations that we truly have something going for us after all. The Rapture of Maturity affirms the joys of discovery and insight that accompany thoughtful reflection on our years of lived experience and a pursuit of deeper understanding. It encourages the kind of thinking that can transform human relations on a global scale. Rapture is the reward of living authentically and acting deliberately to leave the world a better place than we found it. For those who seek such a goal, this book is indispensable.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is one of those rare books that one only realizes, after it gets written, how desperately needed it was. At a time when self-help books for the boomers are both endemic and anemic, this one is a trumpet blast of authenticity, courage, and useable erudition. -- --Ronald Gross, author of The Lifelong Learner and Socrates' Way; Chairman, Columbia University Seminar on Innovation

A wonderful intellectual journey through the author's own lived experiences as well as some timeless scholarly works on the mysteries of human existence... This book will appeal to adults of all ages who are seeking a mature existence in an otherwise superficial world. -- --James Cote, author of Arrested Adulthood: The Changing Nature of Maturity and Identity

An exquisitely thoughtful book, always provocative, wise beyond words. Mr. Hayes has a lovely spirit and strong insights into the springs of personal power. My highest recommendation. ---- John Taylor Gatto, former New York Teacher of the Year; author of The Underground History of American Education

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Autodidactic Press; First Edition edition (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962197947
• ISBN-13: 978-0962197949
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #551,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another masterpiece by Charles Hayes, December 13, 2004

By 

John Schumaker (Christchurch, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rapture Of Maturity: A Legacy Of Lifelong Learning (Hardcover)

This is the latest masterpiece by Charles Hayes, one of today's finest social thinkers and most inspirational pathfinders. The Rapture of Maturity is far more than a book about the power of knowledge and learning as it can promote "maturity." It is a book about everything -- life, love, spirituality, compassion, authenticity, rage and despair, values, curiosity, peer power, solitude, courage, and the modern assault on time, including the way in which busyness has become a virtue. On the subject of creativity and reverence for life, Hayes writes "By extending this appreciation for things that inspire us, we can behold simultaneously our individuality and connectedness; we can intuitively make the connection that reverence is a property we should come by naturally." He reveals many of the paradoxes of the modern age, and gives an exceptionally insightful critique of the cultural insanity that blocks intellectual growth and character development. He offers an immense range of wisdom on numerous topics in showing the way forward in an era afflicted by psychic deadness and forces that have resulted in the death of mind. While he tackles many serious problems of today's world, it is a highly uplifting book and one that leaves the reader more equipped to engage in the thought and action, as well as the creative cultural disobedience, required to navigate the pathological conditions that have surfaced in contemporary consumer culture. The book has some excellent material on the so-called "pursuit of happiness." For instance, he writes "...the direct pursuit of happiness is a fool's journey and is virtually guaranteed to end in failure. Happiness derives from purpose, and purpose itself is a product of an effort engaged in for its own sake, not for the benefit of happiness." Hayes has a wonderful eye for literary treasures, and these are interspersed throughout his many provocative discussions. The Rapture of Maturity is the type of book that one wants to keep close at hand and re-read several times to extract all the wisdom and insight it has to offer. Anyone who wants to learn the art of living, or to better understand the world we live in, should read this book. Highly recommended. Destined to be a classic.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Benefits of Livelong Learning, November 22, 2004

By 

Sharon E. Niederhaus - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rapture Of Maturity: A Legacy Of Lifelong Learning (Hardcover)

Charles Hayes has done an extraordinary job of describing the benefits of lifelong learning. He talks about the wisdom of using the experiences of those who've lived before us to help us gain balance in our own lives. In doing so, Hayes stresses that "the passing on of knowledge from one generation to the next is one of the most important things human beings do." (p. 138) He credits grandparents with playing a significant role in this arena. In fact, to experience the "rapture of maturity", Hayes encourages people to be more involved in positive relationships with others. He says, "Life begins and ends with relationships. A world in which our children are valued and cared for ensures a world in which future generations will receive the same kind of attention." (p.123)

Also, Hayes advises us to get away from living in an entertainment society by turning off the TV and reading more. He cautions us to be wary of "a culture driven by a telematic, symbolic cyber-world bent on overriding the autonomy of individuals." (p.143) In other words, be careful of what technology is doing to our society. Hayes focuses on becoming less attached to material things, too. He wants people of all ages to be authentic, develop new interests, and to be in the moment. Instead of focusing so much on the future, make more time for the present.

This is a great gift book not only for the holidays, but also for friends and family members who are celebrating "significant" birthdays. I've already given copies of The Rapture of Maturity to several friends. Certainly, the title implies that aging can be a joyful experience!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book of the year, January 17, 2005

By 

Jane L. Evanson (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rapture Of Maturity: A Legacy Of Lifelong Learning (Hardcover)

For a reader who has moved out of the "fast lane" and into the second half of life's journey, Charles Hayes provides insight and inspiration. In the first half, we are busy proving ourselves. By the second half, we know what works. We know what counts. We know what matters. We realize that things aren't black or white or true or false; we're able to understand and embrace ambiguity.

In THE RAPTURE OF MATURITY, Hayes shows us that learning is the greatest joy. He convinces readers that the journey is ultimately about lifelong learning. This is a book you will treasure and return to often. RAPTURE is the ideal gift for adults who have grown up.