Arthur C. Brooks

A chapter of the book appeared in the Atlantic; I found Brooks's writing engaging and borrowed a copy of the book from the library.

Brooks doesn't pull any punches as he builds the clear case for the decline of "fluid" intelligence that serves us so well in early life. But instead of leaving me distressed or frustrated, he goes on to point out the gift and strength of "crystallized" intelligence that characterizes mid- to later life.

Highlighting examples of a few well-known and a few obscure folks who make the shift from one intelligence to the other well, or fail dramatically, Brooks also includes his personal experience as a professional musician along with a wealth of research conducted by others.

Closing the book I felt hopeful and encouraged. I'll be referring to it in the future.… (mais)

I guess I read this book about 25 years too late. I am almost 70 years old whereas Brooks addresses people mostly aged 40 to 50. Also, I was never what I would call a workaholic and that is the type of people he envisions benefiting from this self-help book. Essentially, that was Brooks before he overheard a couple on a plane behind him. The man was saying to his wife that he might as well be dead because no-one needs him anymore.Brooks, a social scientist who was head of a think tank in Washington, DC at the time was astonished when they arrived in DC to recognize the man. He was well-known; "he has been universally beloved as a hero for his courage, patriotism, and accomplishments of many decades ago." Even the pilot of the aircraft stood at the cockpit door to shake his hand and said he had admired him for years. That defining moment caused Brooks to leave his high-powered job and find happiness in other accomplishments. Those are the lessons he gives in this book. In the end he distills his advice to seven words:
Use things.
Love people.
Worship the divine.
Sounds like good advice.… (mais)