Facing the Fifties: From Denial to Reflection Peter A. O'Connor

Based on interviews with men and women in their fifties who share a sense of loss and confusion, as well as new hopes, this book redefines the experience of growing older. For many people the decade between 50 and 60 is a time of turbulent change as they face the loss of youthfulness, menopause, retirement, a new role as children leave home, and the decline or death of their parents. This book suggests the fifties transition is a rite of passage that allows people to mourn what is lost and celebrate new possibilities with older age. Thoughtful, challenging, and sometimes controversial, it offers a map for the journey toward a renewed sense of self and a valued place in society.