Essential reads about midlife – general
Essential reads about relationships at midlife
Essential reads about relationships at midlife
- Becoming Sage: Cultivating Maturity, Purpose and Spirituality in Midlife by Michelle Van Loon - Grounded in Scripture, this insightful overview offers readers an exploration of the challenges and gifts of midlife.
- Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Fr. Richard Rohr - Rohr's insights about spiritual growth make this a modern classic.
- Seven Transforming Gifts of Menopause: An Unexpected Spiritual Journey by Cheryl Bridges Johns - We know menopause and be physically and emotionally challenging, but Bridges Johns reminds us that change carries some profound invitations, too.
- Life Reimagined: The Art, Science, and Opportunity of Midlife by Barbara Bradley Haggerty – A hopeful, research-based look at the transition into the second half of life.
Essential reads about relationships at midlife
Essential reads about relationships at midlife
Essential reads about relationships at midlife
- Marriage in the Middle: Embracing Midlife Challenges, Surprises, and Joys by Dorothy Greco - Frank and hopeful discussion about marriage at midlife.
- Living Connected: An Introvert's Guide to Friendship by Afton Rorvik - Not just for introverts, Rorvik's book offers a gracious look at what it takes to build and maintain life-giving friendships.
- When You Love a Prodigal: 90 Days of Grace for the Wilderness by Judy Douglass – Douglass has walked this journey, and offers wisdom and honest hope in this devotional volume.
- The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Homecoming by Henri Nouwen – This extended meditation on Rembrandt's painting is a gift to all of those who who wander, and those who wait.
- When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community from Emotional and Spiritual Abuse by Chuck deGroat – If you've experienced a toxic church leader, deGroat's writing offers truth, compassion, and a way forward.
Essential reads about mental health at midlife
Essential reads about relationships at midlife
Essential reads about mental health at midlife
- Not Quite Fine: Mental Health, Faith, and Showing Up For One Another by Carlene Hill Byron – Hill Byron's book offers readers an informed and insight-filled read for churches and individuals about how we can all play a role in caring well for those dealing with mental health issues.
- Troubled Minds: Mental Illness and the Church's Mission by Amy Simpson – Simpson's book is a call for understanding and practical action for Christ's followers.
- Still Life: A Memoir About Living Fully With Depression by Gillian Marchenko – Pastor's wife and mother Marchenko offer readers a look at what it is to live with ongoing clinical depression.
- Grace for the Afflicted: A Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness by Matthew Stanford – This overview is of value for all who are looking to understand the scope of various mental illness diagnoses.
- If Only: Letting Go of Regret by Michelle Van Loon – Regret is a gateway to depression for many at midlife. Van Loon's discussion of the topic highlights how regret can be redeemed and repurposed in our lives.
Essential reads about caregiving
Essential reads about spiritual growth
Essential reads about mental health at midlife
- Living With Dying: A Complete Guide for Caregivers by Jahnna Beecham and Katie Ortlip – When we're involved in caring for aging parents or spouses, most of us find ourselves immersed in a whole new world. This practical guide helps orient us to that often bewildering world.
- The Family Caregiver's Manual: A Practical Planning Guide to Managing the Care of Your Loved One by David Levy. Lawyer and Gerontologist Levy offers medical, emotional, and legal resources for those who find themselves in a caregiving role.
- Honoring Aging Parents: How to Grow Up When Mom and Dad Grow Old by Klaus Dannenberg and Bruce Black – Wisdom from those who've been in the trenches of caregiving.
- Ambushed by Grace: Help and Hope on the Caregiving Journey by Shelly Beach – Beach's experience and grounded faith make this a useful read for caregivers.
Essential reads about spiritual growth
Essential reads about spiritual growth
Essential reads about spiritual growth
- Emotionally Healthy Discipleship: Moving From Shallow Christianity to Deep Transformation by Peter Scazzero - Former pastor Scazzero links emotional health with spiritual formation in this compassionate, provocative read.
- The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile - This guide to the Enneagram will help you identify the gifts and shadows of your unique wiring.
- The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence – A 17th century monk working in a monastery kitchen has a lot to teach us about the nearness of God in our lives.
- Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun – This is a comprehensive, user-friendly guide to time tested practices that can shape our spiritual lives.
- The Emotionally Healthy Woman: Eight Things You Have to Quit to Change Your Life by Geri Scazzero – We don't need to do more to grow. Maybe we need to learn to do less.
Essential podcasts
Essential reads about spiritual growth
Essential reads about spiritual growth
- When You Love A Prodigal - Judy Douglass has walked this journey, and brings that experience to the conversations she facilitates on this podcast.
- Faith Conversations - Veteran broadcaster Anita Lustrea's thoughtful podcast tackles faith and culture topics.
- Midlife Moms Podcast - Counselor and author Brenda Yoder addresses the transition phase of launching our kids and stepping into our own Wonder Years.
- Empty Nest Guests - Charlotte Guest encourages those facing the proverbial empty nest via interviews with a variety of thought leaders.
- The Holy Post Podcast - Author Skye Jethani, Veggie Tales co-creator Phil Vischer, and a couple of other regular co-hosts tackle church and culture via conversation and interview. Especially relevant for those from Evangelical backgrounds who may now find themselves with questions about faith and practice.
- Pray As You Go - A peaceful, contemplative 10-13 minute-long daily podcast designed to invite you into prayer, right where you are, just as you are.