The female midlife crisis

When Sue Shellenbarger wrote about her midlife crisis in her work and family column for a major newspaper, the reader response was overwhelming. Countless women wrote to her about the transformative experiences they had faced during this period of their lives. So, the author decided to investigate the psychological and spiritual upheavals that affect women between their late 30s and mid-50s. Based on interviews with fifty women in this age group and four major studies on aging, *The Female Midlife Crisis* is tailored for women facing the whirlwind of contradictory emotions of midlife. Shellenbarger outlines six archetypes—the Adventurer, the Lover, the Leader, the Artist, the Gardener, and the Seeker—who approach midlife crisis in six ways: Sonic Boom, Moderate, Slow Burn, Flash in the Pan, Rage Attack, and Delayed Start. Contrary to popular wisdom, she asserts that in midlife, the vital energies of joy, sexuality, and self-discovery are bubbling within women more powerfully and compellingly than ever before. The path to personal growth can be bumpy, but with the help of this illuminating guide, every woman can discover her archetype and find the best life has to offer in midlife.