From Strength to Strength
In his 2022 book From Strength to Strength, Arthur C. Brooks, a social scientist and columnist for The Atlantic, writes that half of the people who make it to 65 get happier as they age, while the other half get unhappier by clinging to past successes. His book, subtitled “finding success, happiness, and deep purpose in the second half of life,” is a practical roadmap for the second half of life and addresses seven patterns for moving the needle in the direction of happiness and fulfillment.
Early in the book, Brooks introduces what he finds are two intelligence curves: the fluid intelligence curve which is the intelligence of ideas, innovations, and creative thinking vs. the crystalized intelligence curve which is the collective wisdom of a lifetime. Fluid intelligence is the intelligence of the young, and starts to wan in one’s forties and fifties. Brooks cites many instances of ‘strivers,’ himself included, who were once at the top of their game but start to lose their edge as they age, yet can’t let go of the addiction to success and power. On the other hand, crystalized intelligence continues to grow. He compares it to a library where all the books on the shelf are the sum of our knowledge and experience…though as we age accessing it can take a while longer. Brooks posits crystalized intelligence is the more rewarding of the two curves. It’s the intelligence of maturity, of the teacher brain, it’s the ability to assemble ideas in a new way, and put our wisdom to use in service of others and in giving back.
In other chapters Brooks writes of the importance of managing our ‘wants.’ While early in our careers we spend much time accumulating the status that comes from ‘things,’ the second half should be about releasing what is unessential, which he compares to a sculptor chipping away at what isn’t the statue within the stone. He goes on to say we should ponder our death, a hard thing for many of us to do, writing that the legacies we think we’re building will wither away, as will our memories, and thinking about our lifespans puts the truly important things in perspective.
As most geriatric studies show, healthy aging includes having a rich social circle. Brooks writes we should be intentional in making friendships, and distinguishes between ‘deal’ friends and ‘real’ friends, the real friends being the ones who know us well, the people who would show up at our funerals. There is a chapter on cultivating our faith which Brooks was hesitant to include. He is a practicing Catholic, but recognizes that organized religion isn’t for everyone and suggests ways to pursue spirituality by taking time to really know what we believe, spending time in prayer and contemplation, and continuously reading and learning.
Brooks, who had a former career as the CEO of a Washington think tank, writes that his research into the subject of aging well and happily caused him to reconsider career paths. As well as writing, he now teaches what he preaches at the Harvard Business School.
Supported by lots of anecdotal as well as scholarly evidence, at 217 pages, I found the book to be highly readable and relatable. As a person well into the second half of life, so much resonated with me especially the conclusion that we have some choice in our future happiness and we shouldn’t leave it to chance.