This is an excellent book that really captures both the science and the culturally ascribed meaning of this thing called “middle age.” Susan Douglas’s exploration of the emotional, cognitive, and experiential package that, if we are lucky, we own at that time of life was fascinating and highly accessible. Really brilliantly written -- and provides an excellent launching point for those of us in “middle age” to understand where we are in our lives and push back on the roles to which we are assigned, the cramped or reduced expectations others have of us, and our own self-imposed limitations and push forward in new journeys that embrace everything we are. I just wish this book would be read by a wide spectrum of people from different ages and backgrounds. Afterall, we all aspire to get here!