The Art of Midlife: Courage and Creative Living for Women

Linda Edelstein has written a book all women should read. It's inspirational, informative and well-written. Pamela D. Blair, Author The Next Fifty Years: A Guide for Women at Mid-Life And Beyond

This is a positive spin on midlife - Edelstein describes midlife as a time of "freedom and authenticity" - certainly something I am experiencing as I enter midlife. She states midlife is actually composed of three stages: relinquishing the old, reconnecting to themselves and refocusing on the future.Therapists will enjoy this book!Barb Elginhttp://www.coachsappho.com

I couldn't put this one down. It spoke to me - as a 44-year old mother of two and family physician, it was at once immensely engaging and deeply thought-provoking. The women's stories are well-told and extremely interesting. As a healthcare professional, I found the theory very clear, well-thought-out and helpful - both to me personally, and for many of my patients who are women between the ages of 40 and 60. We had a women's discussion group using this book as the jumping-off point, and it led us to some REALLY interesting discourse. It's a whole lot better than just thinking of this time of life as hot flashes and reading glasses!It really makes you think more actively about how to create the kind of life you want and what the developmental tasks are for women at midlife. Most highly recommended.

This book's focus is the various experiences of women in midlife, whether they are single, married, divorced, or widowed, have children or not, have a career or not. The author cites interesting research without overloading the book with it. For example, women in midlife who have focused on career may regret not focusing on family, those who have focused on family may regret lost professional opportunities, and those who have struggled to balance the two often feel that something important may be getting lost. A strength of this book is the author's ability to write for a wide range of women. Where necessary, the author explains psychological concepts in a clear, articulate way that will not be overwhelming to those with little psychological knowledge or insulting to those who are more psychologically minded. The author's unpretentiousness and respect for those who shared their experiences comes through on every page. She discusses the creative process, the need to create, and how in many ways midlife can be the most active and fulfilling phase of a woman's life because of increased confidence and sense of self. Though not eloquently written, the writing is solid and clear. Overall, this book rings true in its ability to encourage and challenge women to look at midlife as being a very exciting chapter in their lives, one in which they can recreate themselves and their approach to their lives. The author does not make change look quick or easy or romanticize it, but she does convey a sense that the process of heightened personal growth in midlife is well worth pursuing.