This book was incredibly helpful and eye-opening. Dr. Whitbourne provides insightful information in a conversational style. I was given this book as a college graduation gift. At the time, I thought it was an odd choice in gifts! However, once I read the book, I understood that I had received a tremendous resource to help me as I start on a new path in my journey of adulthood.
Whitbourne conducted 40 years of research on individuals spanning from their college years through their l More...

Whitbourne presents the results of her 40-plus-year study of almost 200 people, begun when they were 18-year old college freshmen in the turbulent 60s and continuing into their mid-fifties. Every ten years or so they complete an extensive questionnaire based on Eric Erickson's psychosocial stages. Based on these results, Whitbourne constructs five "pathways" that people's lives often end up taking, based on inherent personality, life experiences, and perhaps most importantly, how they More...

This book didn't really pique my interest. I did a lot of skimming. The style was a little dry, and she seemed to focus on the effect of outer activities on inner emotions, which isn't really my interest at this point. Right now, I'm more interested in starting from the inside out (but I'm in my early 30's and, according to this book, that's just what people my age do).

Also, she doesn't have any examples of women who've chosen to stay home to raise their families and are happy with More...

The narratives were long and boring. Some of the concepts were fascinating, however.