Middle Age: A Natural History

DavidBainbridgeisavetwithaparticularinterestinevolutionaryzoology-andhehasjustturnedforty.Aswellastheusualconcernsaboutgreyinghair,failingeyesightandgoldfishlevelsofforgetfulness,hefindshimselfponderingsomebiggerquestions:haveIcometotheendofmyproductivelifeasahumanbeing?AndwhatIamnowfor?Bylookingafreshatthelatestresearchfromthefieldsofanthropology,neuroscience,psychology,andreproductivebiology,itseemsthattheanswersaresurprisingly,reassuringlyencouraging.Inclear,engagingandamiableprose,Bainbridgeexplainsthesciencebehindthephysical,mentalandemotionalchangesmenandwomenexperiencebetweentheagesof40and60,andrevealstheevolutionary-andpersonal-benefitsofmiddleage,whichisuniquetohumanbeingsandhelpstoexplaintheextraordinarysuccessofourspecies.MiddleAgewillchangethewayyouthinkaboutmid-life,andhelpturnthe'crisis'intoacauseforcelebration.