The title of “Second Act” itself proves to be underselling what the book has to offer: Mr. Oliver is really assembling a guide to the broader principles that make a strong career. There is an importance to slow and steady progress, to showing up and doing the work. A chapter on aging explores how an important requirement of a successful career is simply to be consistent: to improve, to try new things, and to keep creating output. Similarly, Mr. Oliver demonstrates that fears about the inevitable cognitive decline that comes with getting older are likely overblown and our capacity for innovation and wisdom later in life is undervalued. Achievement, he suggests, “isn’t reliant just on our mental ability staying high but on whether we choose to keep using and adapting the capacity we have.”
— Samuel Arbesman, from ‘Second Act’ Review: Better Late Than Never. Some of the greatest triumphs in art, business and politics have been accomplished by those who might have been seen as past their prime.’
A Book Review of Henry Oliver’s “Second Act: What Late Bloomers Can Tell You About Success and Reinventing Your Life.” (John Murray One, May 9, 2024)
Thanks, dear Dave.
Great to read when you are older.
Wishing you a happy week
Klausbernd 🙂
Yes, agree Klaus, because when I was younger, I wouldn’t have believe it.
When I was younger, I would read or hear of books about a second act, and nod politely with or without an eye roll. Different story today – as I feel that it is up to me to retain some credibility, up to me to speak without beginning a thought with ‘when I was your age’, up to me to stay present. It ain’t easy, but it’s critical to remain cognitively spry (so to speak). Definitely adding this one to my ever-increasing list. Thanks, Dave..
Exactly how I feel Mimi. Exactly.
Then I’m in great company
Then I’m in great company
Such a shift in the way society looks at getting older. We need to remind ourselves of this.
Yes. Maybe because more of us Boomers are feeling and sharing it.
Yes
So…. I think the take away here is that “age is just a number”? I agree. Keep up Boomer.
Ha!
Sounds sound… Is that what we want now? Nope.
What we want and what we need are on polar extremes I’m afraid Val.
So I may need sound but aspire to wanting a bit more.
Oh so me too…
So I‘m a Boomer? Well, learning something new every day….
We might be the last generation truly learning (and appreciating) READING, making up our own opinions and views. I realise with an acute ache that my brain IS getting older but to compensate I believe (well, ain‘t I so full of s… of myself?) that my heart and soul are getting softer, wiser, more understanding.
My heart and soul thawing too!
glad to hear! it‘s time…. 😉