Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life

Passages by Gail Sheehy is a book that I saw lying around the house a lot when I was a kid. Since I am writing a memoir about my mom, I thought I'd read some of her favorite books. Turns out to be perfect timing. It's about the various phases of life leading up to the mid-life crisis. According to Sheehy, when we are young adults, many of us rush into choosing a role so that we can "get on" with life. This may entail denying parts of ourselves in order to better conform to that role, whether it's as a wife and mother, or go-getter professional. As mid-life approaches, many people start to realize the narrowness of that role and the sacrifices demanded by taking it on. We throw off those self-imposed limits and start a second exploration show more of self, perhaps in a wiser and less hurried frame of mind, though more conscious of our own mortality. A great read and still relevant, even though it was written in the mid-70s. show less

Chosen as a seminal work on a topic that fascinates me, I've labored to complete Sheeny's classic on life transitions. Not because her writing is difficult; no, it is often lyrical. But because her findings are simple and irrefutable, and reading them left me feeling that my own life is a cliche.

We are so predictable. This truth comforts and confounds at the same time.

Written in the early 1970's, some references and examples are decidedly reflections of that time. However, the struggle to free-oneself from from the inner-custodian is universal. As my own struggle continues into my 50's, reading about others finding, or losing, their way in the process left me weary. Still worth the effort, but what an effort!

Very readable largely anecdotal descriptions of the stages of growing up. Concludes with "Renewal". (What a nice word to hear when your body is giving out and your brain is a takeaway that's been took).

Sheehy does seem to credit Robert Coles with the interpretation of life as a series of steps, with the mind in continual development. {355}

The author compares previous models which assumed that passing pleasures of youth were replaced by more appropriate purposes of maturity.

A landmark book on predictable crisis in adults, similar to predictable childhood crisis'.

This volume explores the problems of adult life with the following themes: Mysteries of the Life Cycle; Pulling up Roots; The Trying Twenties; Passage to the Thirties; Men and Women Life Patterns; Midlife Passage; Renewal.

An eye opener when I read it back in 1978.

Predictable crises of adult life