Changing Course: Navigating Life after Fifty
Changing Course: Navigating Life after FiftyReviewer: Alan G. Greig, The Third Age Coach, Queensland, AustraliaChanging Courseis a most timely contribution to a better way ahead in our third age. It asks what does better look like? How can we achieve it? And then shows whatbetterlooks like and how to achieve this better way ahead.Changing Coursediscusses an opportunity that presents itself for the first time in human history. It examines not only increased life expectancy but also positive alternatives in aging by tracking people over a twenty year period who have creatively redesigned their lives after fifty, a time when many people unfortunately anticipate traditional stereotypes of aging, instead of a contemporary viewpoint and the contribution that coaching provided as an external perspective that can be provided by a skilled coach.The pivotal discovery in their research was that after fifty we have creative potential that enables us to direct and shape out lives to experience more meaning, enjoyment, purpose, vitality and fulfilment than we anticipated as we crossed the threshold into our third age.The authors ask readers, Do you think people are genetically programmed to begin degenerating into the fifth and sixth decades of life? Are peopleover the hillafter turning 50?To the contrary they provide several examples of individuals, whose stories are told, and who initiated a growth process in a positive direction that postponed and transformed aging with the objective of designing a productive and fulfilling third age.Changing Courseoffers specific steps for third agers inpre-tirementto prepare to change course, including the five major tasks of third age planning. It also provides seventeen lessons from third agers who positively engaged their approach to their third age. These lessons primarily concerned remaining engaged by either transforming their personal identities or remaining in the work force into their sixties and seventies.Changing Courseshows readers how to make their fifties and beyond into their most fulfilling time in life. I commendChanging Courseto anyone interested in properly preparing for a happy, contented, and fulfilling third age.Alan Greigis a professional coach specialising in preparing for the third age. He chairs the International Coach Federation (ICF) Third Age Special Interest Group. You can e-mail Alan at agreig@gil.com.au.--Alan Greig, Queensland, Australia<br /><br />Changing Course: Navigating Life after FiftyReviewer: Bill Shirley, Executive Leadership Coach, Carbondale, ColoradoChanging Courseis about creatively designing your life in your middle years. The book is a necessary and valuable contribution to meeting the challenge of a dramatic expansion in life expectancy.The purpose of the book is to provide guidance in preparing for your third age middle years as mindfully as you prepared for your second ageproductive years. Because of extended longevity we can expect to spend more timeretiringthan we didworking.The Boomer generation is now faced with challenges never before faced by the general population in any era in human history: how do you create a life with meaning, purpose, and significance over thirty (or more) years withoutgainful employment?Traditionally, retirement preparation has focused on financial aspects so the retiree could bebusy being idle. The challenge is daunting: boredom and the feeling of useless ness are life-threatening conditions.Changing Courseis a full frontal assault on retirement-as-leisure, an obsolete, life-threatening concept that should have been retired from our society twenty years ago. Because we may have to live more --The LLI REview, Volume 2, Fall 2007