You-Turn: Changing Direction in Midlife [Paperback]

Nancy B. Irwin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2, 2008

A collection of inspiring stories from real people who started a new path in middle age or beyond. Also includes a "driver's manual" and tips on easing into a life change.

Product Details

• Paperback: 294 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (June 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419695010
• ISBN-13: 978-1419695018
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,352,163 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Irwin is a Los Angeles-based psychotherapist/clinical hypnotist/speaker and author. www.drnancyirwin.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Its time has come, July 5, 2008

By 

Tina "Tina" (Montreal, Quebec) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: You-Turn: Changing Direction in Midlife (Paperback)

I have just finished reading You Turn, Changing Direction in Midlife, written by Dr. Nancy Irwin and I am feeling encouraged and hopeful.

I loved this book. Written in a down to earth, concise and in a highly entertaining manner, the author has gathered people from all walks of life and asked them to detail the changes that they decided to make at the mid-point in their lives.

This fine collection of true stories will help you take a closer look at who you are, where you are at and where you want to go. This book could not have came at a better time. Many of us, in our mid-forties, are asking ourselves some serious and hard questions. Although our parents believed in the slow, stead and secure path, our generation appears to be the generation of change - and I, for one, have embraced this new outlook on life.

You Turn, Changing Direction in Midlife encourages and motivates you with stories of hope and infuses you with a 'can do' attitude. Yes, change is scary, but it can also feed your soul and make life worth living. I particularly enjoyed the stories in which the average person gave up their everlasting quest to make money and decided to start giving back to society. I found these stories to be the most inspirational.

I encourage anyone who is tired of their current life (and lifestyle) to pick up this book and read it from cover to cover and then to go back and re-read the stories that touched you the most - I am willing to bet you will be inspired to make some changes

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Few inspiring stories, December 2, 2008

By 

TexanInWashington (Monroe, WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: You-Turn: Changing Direction in Midlife (Paperback)

(What's this?)

Frankly, this book didn't impress me in the slightest. The stories read like biographical articles submitted to your local newspaper, and with few exceptions, I wouldn't say they are inspiring. It's debatable whether many of these people improved their lives or simply changed them. Of course, the subtitle is: "Changing Direction in Midlife". I think it can be assumed that most people hope to read inspiring stories of down-and-out folks who really turned it around and became ultra-successful. This isn't necessarily the case here. For instance, one of these so-called success stories can simply be summarized as:

A middle-aged woman with nearly-grown children finally got tired of her over-controlling husband and realized that she would be much happier as a lesbian.

Another story, once again submitted by an anonymous author, is about a male pedophile in his 40's, that after much prison time has finally learned to cope with and keep his desires for young boys under control, so much so that he became the head of an organization that helps these people. Once again, not exactly the sort of stuff that makes you say, "I want to be like that guy!"

This book is basically bland, and I think the majority of us could tell stories of our own turn-arounds that would be equally or more impressive.

If you really want to be inspired by success stories AND get a lot of truly helpful "here's how I did it" information, I would recommend skipping this book and instead reading "Founders at Work".

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Turning the Corner on the Super-Speedway of Life, June 11, 2008

By 

Bicycle Day - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: You-Turn: Changing Direction in Midlife (Paperback)

In the directional changes of life, Dr. Nancy Irwin has a very unique perspective on the twists and turns under flashing yellow lights and unmarked forks in the road.

A Los Angeles-based psychotherapist, she had trained to be an opera singer in her native Atlanta and then pursued a career as a stand-up comedian in New York. But it was volunteer work in a shelter for sexually-abused children which brought new direction in her life, including the successful pursuit of a doctorate in psychology.

Dr. Irwin not only discusses her map on life, but chronicles the oftentimes rugged routes of more than 40 others - from all walks of life - who are over the age of 40. The book is split into two sections; change by default (injury, break-up, lay-off) and change by choice (boredom, lack of fulfillment).

There is a convicted crack-cocaine dealer who became a successful entrepreneur in real estate, a mother of nine who started a foundation for those afflicted with leprosy, a monk who uses his gift of oratory to help others as a motivational speaker and a man who became a spouse and parent after striding past the age of 40.

The stories are empowering for those who may place barriers on progress when their age seems to be an overwhelming number or simply enjoyable for readers who want to understand or appreciate the sharp angles taken by those in the high-speed lane on the super-speedway of life.