Something to Live For: Finding Your Way in the Second Half of Life [Paperback]

Richard J Leider (Author), David A Shapiro (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2008

Drawing on ancient and contemporary wisdom, as well as modern research, Richard Leider and David Shapiro provide insightful ways of thinking and being that help us find meaning and purpose in the second half of life. This deeply reflective book uses a safari, (referencing a trip the authors took to Africa in 2006) as a metaphor to show how the second half of life can be a journey of discovery. In what may be their most personal book to date, Leider and Shapiro share dozens of moving stories, from both their own experiences and those of their safari companions, that offer sometimes surprising examples of lives well-lived, lives that exemplify the qualities of authenticity and wholeheartedness that they believe are essential to finding meaning and purpose in the second half of life. There are many pathways to putting our whole selves into life, especially during the second half, and in "Something to Live For," Leider and Shapiro explore many routes to vital aging.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Praise for Something to Live For

"Encouraging evidence of something I've seen time and again: the life-giving impact of using one's gifts and passions to serve a cause or mission that really matters. Lives get transformed, starting with one's own."
--Jonathan T. M. Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International

"If you want to be inspired, just read this book full of personal, practical, and surprising stories about what matters, what works--and what's next."
--Walter F. Mondale, former Vice President, Senator and Ambassador

"I cannot think of a more important subject, or a more important book, than this one. In a world where so many feel set adrift on choppy seas, we need Something to Live For more than ever."
--Richard Bolles, author of What Color Is Your Parachute?

"Until now, we've lacked authoritative maps for the second half of life. This book provides such a map, and it's a wonderful guide for everyone to read."
--Harry R. Moody, Director of Academic Affairs, AARP

About the Author

Richard J. Leider is a founding partner of the Inventure Group, a coaching & consulting firm devoted to helping individuals, leaders, and teams discover the power of purpose. His clients include many Fortune 500 companies. Forbes magazine named Leider one of the most respected coaches in America. He is the author of The Power of Purpose and Life Skills and is the coauthor of The Inventurers. He lives in Minneapolis, MN. David Shapiro is a philosopher, educator, and writer whose personal and professional interests revolve around questions of meaning and morality in life and work. He is a tenured faculty member in Philosophy at Cascadia Community College in Bothell, WA. David lives in Seattle, WA. Leider and Shapiro are also the coauthors of Repacking Your Bags, Whistle While Your Work, and Claiming Your Place at the Fire.

Product Details

• Paperback: 166 pages
• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576754561
• ISBN-13: 978-1576754566
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #325,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Saving and Savoring the world-what a concept!, July 6, 2008

By 

Elizabeth Harrington "new media web maven" (Minneapolis MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Something to Live For: Finding Your Way in the Second Half of Life (Paperback)

Most of us have bookshelves weighed down with all kinds of personal development and self help books-I do!
Most of the ones for midlife tend to be around health and wealth issues....will we have enough of both? Often the answers are scarcity driven, not giving us much hope for a positive aging experience.
This is the very best one I've read that gives us the GPS or road map to midlife and beyond. What a great job Richard and David have done to provide the readers with practical principles AND lots of inspiring stories of others who are living the good life in their second half of life. Millions of us are embarking on this journey -much of it unknown territory. Until now.
Richard and David show us the way to find and use our unique gifts and talents so this second half of life becomes a rich and satisfying time of our lives.
Imagine living this time of your life, savoring and saving the world: living an authentic life of purpose and meaning, while creating a life of vitality and joy! If you are interested in creating this vision for yourself in the second half of your life then you must read this book. I have NEVER underlined and marked a book up this much before. I found that much wisdom woven through each page. Let's start the conversation of redefining "positive aging" in the second half of our lives.
Elizabeth Harrington, [...]

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and introspective, but lacking practical advice, August 23, 2009

By 

Barbara B. (Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Something to Live For: Finding Your Way in the Second Half of Life (Paperback)

If you buy this book thinking it will be full of practical ideas for finding a purpose for the "second half" of you life, you may be somewhat disappointed. There are interesting explorations of the authors' personal discoveries about life's meaning, but after you get past the stories about their "in-venture" trip to talk with African Elders, there isn't much meat left on the bone. Their advice can be simply summed up with one word: volunteer. Don't get me wrong, this is great advice, but it takes them a long time to get to that point.

Perhaps this volume should have better been classified under sociology rather than "Personal Growth" or self help.

It is also very male oriented, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, men are often overlooked in personal growth books except in a business context. But the lack of a feminine perspective (only 16 of the 83 or so people listed in the index are women) means that many of the aging problems specifically faced by women are not dealt with. Interestingly, the African trip was a "men's group" trip and the African elder council was all male as well. Even the animal analogies involve bull elephants <G>

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone looking to both save and savor the world!, June 30, 2008

By 

Barb R "corporate refugee, now energized entr... (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Something to Live For: Finding Your Way in the Second Half of Life (Paperback)

Richard and David have created their most thought-provoking and encouraging work to date. If you are searching for HOW you want to live for the next 30-50 productive, fun, and/or fulfilling years of your life, you should definitively pick up this book!!! This book is an easy read with great stories with which any of us can identify. It truly gives unique perspectives which are very helpful to help each of us explore our own vocation and purpose for each of our unique lives.