Midlife: A Philosophical Guide Hardcover – October 3, 2017

Setiya is a compelling guide in this book, at once witty and companionable while being serious and incisive. He writes with a calmly straightforward honesty that is bracing. His intellectual acumen in dealing with philosophers old and new make this, in some senses, an "easy" read. I had to force myself to stick to only one chapter per day so that I could think through the questions they raised. I am long past my midlife years, but I found this book exceptionally relevant, chapter after chapter, for the surprisingly similar conflicts and anxieties of retirement. In fact, I suspect I find this book more valuable now than I would have during midlife, when the whirl of activity made reflection more difficult. Having trouble figuring out who you are or what you ought to do now that your professional tasks have ended? This philosophical guide can help, as it surely does for anyone in midlife.

This book is funny, moving and thought-provoking in equal parts -- it's a smart but accessible meditation on how to find meaning once the what-ifs of early adulthood are settled and defined, but now potentially ossified and numbing. It reminds me of a mash-up of Harry Frankfurt's philosophical speculations in "The Importance of What We Care About" with the deprecating humor and self-reflection of Geoff Dyer's "Yoga for People Who Can't Be Bothered to Do it", and while it forces a sustained thinking about the fact that in a single life, you won't do everything, be everything, experience everything -- and while acknowledging that mid-life reckoning with this bittersweet truth can be profoundly difficult -- both Setiya and his interlocutors (poets, philosophers, theologians, novelists) give genuine hope that the second half of life can have a different kind of purpose, even joy. A really wonderful read.

This is a pleasant and inoffensive little book. The author reviews a couple of philosophical concepts that may be of help in sorting through midlife anxiety. He recommends focusing on interests outside oneself (but not in a goal-oriented way) and also meditating (in a buddhist-lite sort of way). This is "Be Here Now" for people who don't want any disruption of their status quo. I can easily imagine the author driving a Prius to a suburban Boston Starbucks to savor the moment with friends. There's nothing wrong with that, but it's not all that interesting either. I think the author lets himself down by settling for the bland, ho-hum mindfulness that is preached at corporate retreats everywhere. He seems smarter than that but, in fairness, it's not really an individual shortcoming. There is a kind of inert quality about the current generation of academic writers that's hard to pin down and that this book typifies. It's like they (and the author) know that sitting around on piles of privilege isn't really a meaningful life, but they just can't quite bring themselves to do (or write) anything different. It's telling that this crowd is consistently attracted to the mindfulness of Buddhism but quick to discard Buddhism's ethical teachings. That said, if being middle-aged and privileged has got you down, and you want to feel better without really changing much, this may be the book for you.

I read this book in fits and starts around other tasks, so I may need time to let it simmer. It was an I interesting enough read, and explores a few philosophical ideas and teachers I hadn't heard much about, but doesn't go into great depth on any of them. And the advice seems fairly well trod, though perhaps that's to be expected given the subject matter. What it most put me in mind of was a book I read back in highschool, "Finite and Infinite Games", which didn't get into discussing ancient philosophers but came to the same conclusion and had the same advice. I'll likely reread both books and may revisit this review if my take on it changes.

Originally buying this for audio, I find myself wanting to underline something often enough so I purchased this printed copy.This is an excellent book whether you are having a midlife crisis at all or not. It's about having a proper and healthy perspective of life. I found it to be simple and helpful. It's a book that at least in some cases will add to your life learning and be helpful to you even in conversations with others. It's also cheap enough to wear even if you don't like it it's not that big of a loss.Though it claims to be philosophical in its approach, it's really just a way of thinking about our own lives. It doesn't necessarily seem "philosophical" in the educational sense. It's not abstract... these are good concepts which you can think about and immediately apply to your life.Recommended.

First, I'm well past 40ish midlife. I'm at the next life passage. I wanted to read if the philosophical construct applies still. And I think it does. It gave me plenty to think about to smooth my path. I realize it's one man's perception, but isn't that what most of what we read is, really?

Phiosophy as relevant to real life problems. Well-written and well thought out.

I became interested in this book when I saw the author interviewed (somewhere...?) and liked some of his comments. I'm arguably a little young for a midlife crisis, but figured I may as well figure out what's in store over the next few years. The layout of the book is (as you would expect from an academic) thoughtful and logical. The argument builds methodically, and in a way that feels very conversational and soothing. I enjoyed this so much I'm thinking of getting a paperback copy so I can lend it out.

... sorry Mr. Setiya, but I really don‘t understand why it took you so many months to come up with these few „pages of wisdom“. Don‘t get me wrong and don‘t take it as an insult - but do you actually know what you‘re writing about ? You repeatedly state that also you had choices to make in your life ( not a big surprise ) and that you‘re close to perfectly happy with where you are and what you are. Congrats, but what about those whose choices did not turn out to be as good or had to be made because of factors which not all of us can really influence ? I have my doubts that your critical words about the work of some Greek philosophers are of any help to those who are a bit less fortunate than you are. I miss the red line in your book and any thought provoking ideas which go beyond what any adult above the age of 25 anyhow knows. Good that your book has helped you to put some order in your thoughts. To other potential buyers I‘d recommend to rather spend the money on a dinner with a good friend during which one can discusss real world problems and how non-philosophers deal with them.

Excelente

Midlife can be a depressing period of one’s life, full of regrets when one looks back, and death in front. Existentialist philosopher Setiya takes us through a philosophical journey through this difficult period and brings to our field of vision joy in place of regrets, courage and hope instead of fear. Snipping excerpts from philosophers such as Aristotle, John Stuart Mill, Simone de Beauvoir, and Derek Parfit, as well as writers such as Virginia Woolf, and William Wordsworth, Setiya shows what it is that causes us discomfort at this stage of life – our sense of attachment. Attachment is a necessity as well as a liability. Love springs from attachment, but so does regret. Understanding how we deal with it is a major factor in finding contentment in our existential being.Contrary to another reviewer's comments, Setiya does not turn to Buddhism, not in the way of embracing its precepts, but to distinguish Buddhism's version of mindfulness which involves accepting ourselves as 'non-selves', and to persuade us to his (Setiya's) version of mindfulness which involves accepting the incompleteness of life.

Its a very boring text...am really deceived.

We all need to face our transitions and especially this transition from youth to maturity.