Customer Reviews

The Third Age: The Six Priciples Of Personal Growth And Renewal After 40

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In a culture devoted to youth, THE THIRD AGE is a groundbreaking work. At the present time in America, everything old is discarded not repaired. Aging is a subject for jokes, not inspiration and excitement. I am 65 and have suffered the mundane indignities of losing hair, stronger glasses, arthritis and glitches in memory, but having children late in life has encouraged me to crawl on the floor, play horsy and throw a baseball. Naturally I was delighted to read Dr. Sadler's helpful and well researched book, which provides an invaluable conversation about aging, supported by interviews with people who have explored this later period creatively. I don't feel alone in my efforts. There is no other book like it, a book that must be the forefront of a growing movement of concern about how we spend the potentially most productive and creative years of our extended lives.

This book should be reread several times for it's treasure of insights and profound statements.

Sadler interviews several candidates displaying second growth, and along the way, he not only introduces us to new possibilities of renewal and personal growth after 40, but also comments on the complexities and subleties of life as experienced by those ahead of our age.

His table of contents reads like a list of reflections on life; balancing mindful reflection and risk taking; creating a positive third age indentity; redfining work and play, etc.

We often see ourselves in his interviews, and we see how others have overcome difficult situations to restructure their life and re-emerge and remain resilient.

I particularly like his interviews with people in their 60s, 70,s 80s, giving us a glimpse of what to expect at that age.

A must read!

I found this book to be stimulating and encouraging - rather than focus, as so many books do, on traditional concepts of 'aging' and 'retirement' as end points of life, this book illuminates the extraordinary opportunities for growth that can be available to those who permit themselves to take advantage of them. I've read it several times; with each reading, I see more parallels with my life. I would recommend it to anyone reluctant to surrender to stagnation and interested in learning about some remarkable, and clearly real, people.

This is a terrific book for anyone, such as myself, in or approaching our"third age". Dr.Sadler looks at real people and their experiences in creating productive and joyous lives despite the challenges they faced. While not everything that comes our way is easy, we have a wonderful opportunity to experience re-growth and design a new life for ourselves. A previous reviewer was somewhat disparaging of this book and its ideas and observations, but many of his or her comments do not accurately represent the information provided in the book and stand in marked contrast to other reviews provided. I urge an interested reader to read this book and reach your own conclusions. It will be worth your time.

Dr. Sadler has articulated a comprehensive approach for anyone over 40 to contemplate more personal fulfillment in life. This is particularly timely research and analysis as the U.S. is transformed by the wave of baby boomers just beginning to reach traditional retirement age. Boomers will, on average, live longer, more healthy lives than any previous generation. We cannot simply accept that life is "downhill after 50" when there is now a "30-year life bonus" opportunity in front of us.

Dr. Sadler's six principles provide a sound basis for understanding and exploring the concept of personal fulfillment and his wonderful individual stories of people he followed for many years help us see these principles in action.

For those of us in the Baby Boom Generation, between being told that those over 30 are not to be trusted and those over 40 might as well cash it all in, living a full and fulfilling life during those over-40 years seemed unlikely. While society has shown us that those notions hold no water, Sadler's book takes us far beyond into a life and world that makes the first half seem like the necessary foundation for the real fulfillment which will come in our Third Age. This well researched, engagingingly written book allows us to see why and how our latter years are truly our best years - with lives that bring us the fulfillment and enyoyment for which we are meant.

Dr. Sadler has helped my plan for my transition from my first and second ages (achieving, accomplishing what others wanted from me) to my third age where it is OK to do things that I want to do.
The book provided me with suggestions for carrying out this transition and research and examples to convince me of the potential of this period of time in my life.
I would recommend it to any one who is contemplating retirement and is unsure of his or her next steps.

I feel this book is a gem and a "must read" for all people in the
"Boomers and Beyond" age range and all professionals interested in this
"Third Age" of life. I'm in both categories.
Dr. Sadler provides a stimulating and hopeful look at ways to approach the years ahead. He challenges many of the old concepts of aging.
I love his image that when we walk to the top of a mountain, instead of
thinking about life being "all downhill" and focusing on putting on our "safety belts" and trying to make a safe landing, we instead see a vast plateau ahead of us--with peaks and valleys in the distance. This plateau represents the "Third Age" or bonus years that hopefully we will have, allowing us to live well into our 80's and 90's plus.
This book is based on his research over 12+ years. He not only offers some of the paradoxes of the struggle, and how this second stage of growth differs from the first stage of growth, but also provides 6 principles which highlight aspects of creative and successful aging. As he discusses the principles he offers specific guidelines to help the reader understand various aspects to consider. The principles come alive with his examples of real people from his study. It becomes clear that we have opportunities for choice and growth which can enable us to make
these years fulfilling rather than years of decline.
I have used this book in a Special Interest Group I developed which brings together coaches from around the country interested in positive, creative and successful aging. We have discussed this book over a number of sessions and all agree that it is a rich and wonderful book which helps as one is trying to figure out how to navigate the journey and find fulfillment in these bonus years. I have found the book helpful on
a personal level and also as a professional working with people on a similar journey. It is a book you will enjoy reading and find yourself telling others about so they will have the opportunity to read it, too!
Dorian Mintzer, Ph.D., Personal and Professional Coach, Boston, MA.

In a culture devoted to youth, THE THIRD AGE is a groundbreaking work. In America these days, everything old is discarded, not repaired. Aging is a subject for jokes, not appreciation or understanding. I am 65 and have suffered the indignities of losing hair, stronger glasses, arthritis and glitches in memory, but having children late in life has encouraged me to crawl on the floor, play horsy and throw a baseball. Naturally, I was delighted to read Dr. Sadler's helpful and well researched book, which provides an invaluable conversation about aging supported by interviews with people who have used the unique opportunities of this later period creatively. Reading Dr. Sadler's book, I don't feel alone in my efforts. He's written a wonderful book which must be at the forefront of a growing movement of concern about how we spend the most productive and creative years of our extended lives.

Although this is an "easy read" and it looks like just another self-help book for Boomers, it is really a gem of significant depth and practical use for those of us Boomers exploring "what's next" in our lives. Again, we're not alone as we break new ground, this time, in aging.

Dr. Sadler has followed over 200 people for 12+ years and applied his academic research methods to glean a set of issues that ring true for me (a bleeding-edge Baby Boomer - 60 in '07) and every one of my peers - both friends and clients, that I know.

I came across this book in a SIG of professional Life Coaches who work primarily with Boomers, (I am a Life Coach myself). We read and discussed it over 3 hour-long meetings. To a person, we were impressed with how directly each of his principles hit the nail on the head and as a set, the principles provided a broad view of the issues facing us as we once again work on sorting out "what do I now want to do with the rest of my life."

Sadler actually accepted an invitation to come to our last meeting and his openness to questions and humility about his research were quite consistent with his deep yet accessible voice in the book.

If you are a boomer and thinking about the future, reading this book is the best foundation I can think of on which to base your journey. Then, if you want to work on the issues in earnest, consider working with a Life Coach.

Ely Zimmerman, M.Ed., M.P.H.