Overview

The subject of midlife has been dominated by the woes of aging—menopause, divorce, hormone replacement therapies, aging parents, and fleeing children. Now a broad-ranging new work by clinical psychologist Linda N. Edelstein, Ph.D., The Art of Midlife, describes the freedom and authenticity that can be made a cornerstone of the middle years. She describes three healthy and predictable phases. First, women relinquish old ways, untying themselves from the past and mourning the losses of youth and its illusions. By placing less emphasis on the needs of others, women can live more creatively and enjoy the present. The women Dr. Edelstein studied have been able to move to the next step, in which they reconnect to themselves. They regain their authentic voices, simplify life, and allow long buried aspects of themselves to emerge. Finally, women refocus their futures. With courage, they embrace new people, ideas, activities, and work—and pursue adult dreams regardless of external rewards.

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9780897895804

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Reviews

This book offers readers a practical blend of science and common sense for building a middle stage of life that exceeds expectations. Edelstein debunks the myths that have plagued women, and offers in their place solid data and real-world, useable solutions for embracing mid-life with joy and creativity. -Laura S. Brown, Ph.D., ABPP Past President, Division of Psychology of Women, APA

The author provides and excellent review of the tasks and opportunities inherent in the middle years of a woman's life. She uses an elegant theoretical model to describe the process of change at this stage and richly illustrates it with numerous clinical vignettes and marvelous literary references, chosen with particular aptness that makes them linger in the reader's consciousness... Written in a user-friendly manner, the book is not only a valuable resource in terms of providing information and validation to midlife women, but is also a useful tool for those male clinicians still pondering what a woman wants. Finally, it is well indexed and has a comprehensive, diverse, interesting bibliography that encourages rather than overwhelms. - Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic Dr. Edelstein, in her excellent book ... describes midlife as a complex internal process for women dealing with claiming their own creativity and letting go of impediments... I recommend this book ... as it voices poetically and accurately complex tapestries of midlife growth and change. - Voices: The Art and Science of Psychotherapy

Author Information

Linda N. Edelstein, PhD, is a writer and clinical psychologist in private practice in Illinois, and an Associate Professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Chicago. She lives in Evanston, Illinois and has two daughters.

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