What's Next? - Book Review

Life is always in transition – something being lost, something being gained. The more you know, the fewer surprises you may face and the better prepared you can be.    For those facing the latter half of life (over 50 years of age), H. Norman Wright, licensed marriage and family therapist, describes the transitions that you may face as your grow older and how to see them as opportunities to apply your faith in his book What’s Next? Navigating Transition to Make the Rest of Your Life Count.

With research findings, practical suggestions, and thought-provoking questions, the author shows how to purposefully navigate through the transitions common to the latter half of life. He specifically addresses the topics of aging, retirement, the empty nest, boomerang kids, being alone (death of spouse), remarriage, and leaving a legacy – each in their own separate chapter. No matter which transition you may be in, no matter what is being lost, he gives hope and a new wholehearted purpose in what is to be gained whatever transition you may be facing.

While this book is intended for baby boomers or those in the latter half of life, as a 41-year-old woman, I found that this book gave me courage to face the things ahead that so many women at midlife dread – from the empty nest to physical changes of aging to the fear of being left a widow. How we handle life transitions has much to do with what we believe is the source of our identity.  Transitions can be manifestations of God’s love, and we can know that He can provide an experience that makes life richer.

Whether or not you are over 50, you will find ways in this book to live life reflectively so that you can discover what’s sacred in life no matter where you are along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.