The Other Side of Change
Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans
-
-
4.0 • 4 Ratings
-
-
- $15.99
Publisher Description
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"A rare combination of beautiful storytelling, cognitive science, and wholehearted wisdom. —Brené Brown
A revelatory exploration of how we can find meaning in the tumult of change, from a renowned cognitive scientist and host of the critically acclaimed podcast A Slight Change of Plans
Life has a way of thwarting our best-laid plans. Out of nowhere, we’re confronting the end of a relationship, an unexpected diagnosis, the loss of a job, or some other twist of fate. In these moments, it can feel like we’re free-falling into the unknown.
As a cognitive scientist, Maya Shankar has spent decades studying the human mind. When an unwanted change in her own life left her reeling, she sought out people who had navigated major disruptions. In The Other Side of Change, Shankar tells their riveting, singular stories and weaves in scientific insights to illuminate universal lessons hidden within them. The result is a rich portrait of our complex reactions to change and a deep well of wisdom we can draw from during these experiences.
Shankar invites us to rethink our relationship with change altogether. When a big change happens to us, it can lead to profound change within us. The unique stresses and demands of being thrust into a new reality can lead us to uncover new abilities, perspectives, and values, transforming us in extraordinary ways. What if we saw moments of upheaval as an opportunity to reimagine who we can be, rather than as something to just endure? What potential could we unlock within ourselves?
Whether you're processing a past change, grappling with a present one, or bracing for a future one, this book is a wise and thought-provoking companion to help you discover who you can become on the other side of change.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Cognitive scientist Shankar debuts with a pragmatic, research-based guide to surviving life's biggest disruptions. After a surrogate pregnancy ended in miscarriage, Shankar sought out others who'd experienced major upheavals to their life plans and spoke with them about how they'd successfully negotiated such changes. Examples include Olivia Lewis, a college student who battled through the aftermath of a catastrophic stroke by letting go of her obsession with others' approval and investing in her recovery; Dwayne Betts, who was inspired to start writing poetry in prison by a fellow inmate who was making the most of his sentence; and Matt Gutman, a broadcast journalist who escaped a spiral of self-recrimination following an on-air error by "zooming out" to consider other people's takes on the situation. Though not all of Shankar's insights are groundbreaking, her explanations of the cognitive science involved are lucid and memorable. For instance, writing of how Gutman sought external feedback on his mistake, she observes that "emboldening others to poke holes in our narratives" can "create small openings through which we can forge new mental pathways." Readers facing their own hinge points will be informed and inspired. Correction: An earlier version of this review mischaracterized the circumstances under which the author sought out others who had experienced major changes to their life plans.
