Description: Summarizes the analysis of three longevity studies spanning, in some cases, almost eighty years.
Positives:
Creates a clear picture of the different challenges in six successive life stages: Identity, Intimacy, Career Consolidation, Generativity, Keeper of Meaning, and Integrity.
Introduces what they call “mature coping strategies,” like humor, that people dealing well with adversity develop and that differ from immature coping strategies like suppression.
Negatives:
There are a lot of anecdotes that you can skip. The book is generally lengthy but readable.
The study’s original population were “healthy young men from Harvard University.” There have been later cohorts with different demographics, and there are many pointers to find more information on them.
Book: Aging Well: Surprising Guideposts to a Happier Life from the Landmark Study of Adult Development by George E. Vaillant et al
Description: Summarizes the analysis of three longevity studies spanning, in some cases, almost eighty years.
Positives:
Creates a clear picture of the different challenges in six successive life stages: Identity, Intimacy, Career Consolidation, Generativity, Keeper of Meaning, and Integrity.
Introduces what they call “mature coping strategies,” like humor, that people dealing well with adversity develop and that differ from immature coping strategies like suppression.
Negatives:
There are a lot of anecdotes that you can skip. The book is generally lengthy but readable.
The study’s original population were “healthy young men from Harvard University.” There have been later cohorts with different demographics, and there are many pointers to find more information on them.