The roadmap for finding purpose, meaning, and success as we age, from bestselling author, Harvard professor, and the Atlantic’s happiness columnist Arthur Brooks.
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Arthur C. Brooks is a social scientist who studies human happiness. He is the William Henry Bloomberg Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School, the bestselling author of 12 books, an acclaimed public speaker, and creator of the popular “How to Build a Life” column for The Atlantic. Previously, he served for ten years as president of the American Enterprise Institute, a think tank in Washington, DC, during which time he was named one of Fortune magazine’s “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders.” He began his career as a professional classical French hornist, performing for 12 years with ensembles in the United States and Spain. A Seattle native, he currently lives in Needham, Massachusetts with his wife, Ester Munt-Brooks. They have three adult children.
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Simon Sinek is an optimist and the bestselling author of Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together Is Better, and Find Your Why. He is working to build a world in which the vast majority of us will wake up inspired, feel safe at work, and return home fulfilled at the end of the day. Simon may be best known for popularizing the concept of WHY, which he described in his first TED Talk in 2009. That talk went on to become the second most watched TED Talk of all time, and is still in the top five with over 50 million views. He also hosts a podcast, A Bit of Optimism, where he has conversations with the people who help spread light on a topics of curiosity. In partnership with Penguin Random House, Simon also started his own publishing outlet, Optimism Press, which is devoted to sharing the people and ideas that Simon believes contribute to advancing his Cause. Arthur Brooks’ book was release from Optimism Press. Learn more about his work on his website.
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“Arthur Brooks is one of my very favorite thinkers. Witty, wise, and insatiably curious, he is one of the few intellectuals who can reliably weave scientific research and everyday observations into what we all really need: succinct advice for a good life.” —Angela Duckworth, founder and CEO of Character Lab and author of Grit
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Many of us assume that the more successful we are, the less susceptible we become to the sense of professional and social irrelevance that often accompanies aging. But the truth is, the greater our achievements and our attachment to them, the more we notice our decline, and the more painful it is when it occurs.
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What can we do, starting now, to make our older years a time of happiness, purpose, and yes, success?
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At the height of his career at the age of 50, Arthur Brooks embarked on a seven-year journey to discover how to transform his future from one of disappointment over waning abilities into an opportunity for progress. From Strength to Strength is the result, a practical roadmap for the rest of your life.
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Drawing on social science, philosophy, biography, theology, and eastern wisdom, as well as dozens of interviews with everyday men and women, Brooks shows us that true life success is well within our reach. By refocusing on certain priorities and habits that anyone can learn, such as deep wisdom, detachment from empty rewards, connection and service to others, and spiritual progress, we can set ourselves up for increased happiness.