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Product Description: The need for change as we get older—an emotional pressure for one phase of our lives to transition into another—is a human phenomenon, neither male nor female. There simply comes a time in our lives—not fundamentally different from the way puberty separates childhood from adulthood—when it’s time for one part of ourselves to die and for something new to be born.
The purpose of this book by best-selling author and lecturer Marianne Williamson is to psychologically and spiritually reframe this transition so that it leads to a wonderful sense of joy and awakening.
In our ability to rethink our lives lies our greatest power to change them. What we have called “middle age” need not be seen as a turning point toward death. It can be viewed as a magical turning point toward life as we’ve never known it, if we allow ourselves the power of an independent imagination—thought-forms that don’t flow in a perfunctory manner from ancient assumptions merely handed down to us, but rather flower into new archetypal images of a humanity just getting started at 45 or 50.
What we’ve learned by that time, from both our failures as well as our successes, tends to have humbled us into purity. When we were young, we had energy but we were clueless about what to do with it. Today, we have less energy, perhaps, but we have far more understanding of what each breath of life is for. And now at last, we have a destiny to fulfill—not a destiny of a life that’s simply over, but rather a destiny of a life that is finally truly lived.
Midlife is not a crisis; it’s a time of rebirth. It’s not a time to accept your death; it’s a time to accept your life—and to finally, truly live it, as you and you alone know deep in your heart it was meant to be lived.
Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-06-28
Inspiring Daydream
I am familiar with Marianne's popularity as a spiritual teacher and speaker and this is the first of her books that I've read. Here's what I enjoyed. She has an easy flowing writing style, a nice way with words. I sensed the entire book as her personal prayer for a greater embodiment of love by herself and hopefully others. I find this inspiring. However, on the whole, I don't feel that this book lives up to its title. Her contemplation on spiritual maturity seems merely hopeful, and thus shallow. She talks too much story for me and while reading it, I sometimes felt as if I was listening to her daydreaming about the meaning of her life. I didn't sense any real presence in this work. I agree that by and large the baby boomer generation is still fast asleep and waking up now would surely bring more light to play in our world. Yet, I am not confident that this book is a true wake-up call for the midlife reader. It reads more like an interesting coffee house conversation with an intimate friend. Those who enjoy waxing philosophical might like this offering. Sundance Burke, Author Free Spirit: A Guide to Enlightened Being Rating:
Date: 2008-06-27
Great up until the last two chapters
This book totally met me where I'm at as my son is a teenager and I'm looking to my life when he has flown the nest and I'm older and grayer. She has a great persepective on growing older and embracing it. Her book really helped me to not be so afraid of growing older as is so prevalent in our society, but to embrace my greatness as I get older. Her last two chapters left me bewildered. She totally moves into a rant about the world and politics and the only way to combat the bad stuff going on in the world is with LOVE. I don't disagree with what she has to say, but how did this book move in this direction? The last two chapters left me a little disappointed in her book in general. Rating: 
Date: 2008-06-03
Ageless Wisdom, True Fulfillment
Bestselling author, Marianne Williamson, in "The Age of Miracles" is pointing toward a radical and ageless wisdom that can only arise, when we are willing to slow down from all of our thinking and doing to consciously engage the contemplative life.
Just as we physically mature through the many stages of human development - infancy to old age - we deepen in spiritual maturity. Truthfully, our calendar age and the appearance of the aging form do not play a role in our ability to realize the sense of joy that lies in the core of our being. Nonetheless, life is slower and we are wiser. This provides the perfect opportunity to turn inward; a type of going home to the heart.
Katie Davis, author, Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment Rating:
Date: 2008-06-03
Empowering!
Over the years, Marianne Williamson's books and lectures have helped me to find and focus the central truths of my life. This beautifully written book is a reminder that midlife can be rich with wisdom and confidence. Midlife is a time of doing, creating and becoming on many simultaneous levels. My husband bought the audio version for me, and I resonated with it so strongly, I immediately bought a print copy for my mom. Rating: 
Date: 2008-05-31
Self-indulgent and depressing
I was so excited when I heard about this book, having just turned 50 and looking for some positive inspiration. Although I'm generally a fan of Marianne Williamson's books, this one was sadly disappointing. She seems focused on grieving the loss of her youth, beauty & energy in most of the book which I found depressing. Then she reverts to the same thoughts & prayers we've heard in all her previous work to try to reassure herself. Nothing new, uplifting or inspiring here. I returned the book before finishing it & got my money back-which I can now use to buy some rope to hang myself! (just kidding, but really, I did not like this book) |
