Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life: How to Really Grow Up

James Hollis Ph.D

New York: Gotham Books

Recently I’ve been reading Hollis’ new not yet released book. During this troubling economic time around the world, I’m reflecting on the earlier Hollis, I read a couple of years ago.

As we face our instabilities and turbulent life shifts, it is up to us individually to challenge our pasts and choices to allow growth (spiritually and psychologically) into our later years. For some, instabilities caused by external sources is a time for self-reflection which can be important and helpful for the long run of life.

Middle age people (est 35-70) begin to question choices, realize personal limitations and feel stuck. For some, these challenges lead to a commonly known, “mid-life crisis”. Hollis offers this helpful book about self-growth, becoming ourselves, exploring non-traditional roles of adulthood and embracing more authenticity. He offers keys to enhancing our psychological depth and understanding in all relationships.

Finding meaning is right on and helpful. For me to sparcely write about what Hollis achieves in this fine book is an injustice. Finding Meaning is an important, outstandingly helpful, deeply insightful self work on book. As helpful as any I’ve ever read.

Hollis uses literary examples to express Jungian analysis suggesting important questions and proposing challenges to help us be more clear about our meaning in the world.

In these unstable times I recommend this book. Also, I recommend it to anyone looking for a helpful read for deeper understanding into your situation. This book does not do the work for you or make it easy and entertaining.

Finding Meaning is a river of words for those who want to flow with more understanding into self maturity.

John and Pat have also written about another one of Hollis’ books, What Matters Most: Living a More Considered Life.

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