In Our Fifties: Voices of Men and Women Reinventing Their Lives

Preface

The Authors

1 Myths and Realities: The Invisible Decade 1

2 New Identities, New Priorities: Settling Down or Gearing Up? 11

3 Stories and Dreams: Listening to Inner Voices 27

4 Body and Mind: Over the Hill or In Our Prime? 40

5 The Mirror of History: Understanding Commonality and Diversity 55

6 Friends and Lovers: The Quest for Relationship and Autonomy 75

7 Families: New Roles as Parents, Grandparents, and Children 89

8 Work and Career: Changing Needs and Sources of Meaning 115

9 Leadership: Power, Redefinition, and Self-Renewal 136

10 Achievement and Failure: Coming to Terms 148

11 Reinventing Our Lives: The Challenge of Change 165

12 To the Next Generation; Preparing for Your Fifties 173

Appendix: Research Questions 183

Recommended Readings 185

Notes 189

Index 195