We're Reading: Life Reimagined. A 2025 Take

At The Interlude Café, we’re all about exploring and redefining midlife with curiosity and creativity. That’s why we often revisit "classic works" that offer insights for navigating this unique stage of life.

One such book is Barbara Bradley Hagerty’s 2016 bestseller, Life Reimagined: The Science, Art, and Opportunity of Midlife.

Nearly a decade later, we’re asking ourselves a critical question—how relevant is this book today? Spoiler alert: It still offers plenty of wisdom, though there are areas we'd like to see recalibrated.

Why Life Reimagined Matters

When Life Reimagined was first published, it was a refreshing counterpoint to prevailing stereotypes about midlife being a time of crisis or stagnation. Hagerty dove into research that reframed these years as a period of renewal—a chance to assess, pivot, and pursue new goals.

Her message, emphasizing purpose, strong relationships, and resilience, encouraged readers to see midlife as an era of opportunity rather than decline.

Fast forward to 2025, and Hagerty’s ideas about purposeful engagement, lifelong learning, and the importance of community remain profoundly relevant. The global upheavals of recent years—pandemics, changing work dynamics, and rising social awareness—have only underscored the need for resilience and reinvention, qualities that Life Reimagined champions.

Midlife Lessons That Still Resonate

Even in today’s landscape, many of the book’s themes shine as touchstones for navigating midlife with intention and creativity:

1. Midlife as a Time for Possibilities, Not Crises

Hagerty’s reframing of midlife as a “check-up” rather than a “meltdown” feels more significant than ever. Rather than fearing these years, midlifers can view them as a time to revisit passions, explore new directions, and add layers to their lives through meaningful experiences.

2. Engagement and Purpose Drive Healthy Aging

Having a reason to get out of bed, as Hagerty emphasizes, remains one of the strongest predictors of happiness and resilience.

For readers at The Interlude Café, this dovetails beautifully with how we view life as a dynamic process of exploring and evolving. Whether it’s launching a new creative project, volunteering, or simply practicing micro-purposes like weekly visits with friends, the book reminds us that “purpose” doesn’t have to be monumental—it just needs to matter to you.

3. Relationships as Anchors in a Nonlinear Life

Hagerty’s insights on the crucial role of relationships are evergreen. Strong friendships and wider support networks form a safety net when life bends or loops unexpectedly. At The Interlude Café, we see relationships—both traditional and chosen family—as vital threads that weave through a nonlinear life, enriching every twist and turn.

4. Resilience Through Adaptation

Midlife is full of curveballs, and Hagerty’s stories of people adapting to new challenges in their 50s and 60s highlight the power of rewriting your own story. Whether it’s pivoting to a new career, picking up a long-lost hobby, or completely rethinking a retirement plan, these “bonus years” can turn obstacles into steppingstone.

Where Life Has Changed – And How the Book Could Be Updated

While Life Reimagined gets much right, some aspects could use an update to better align with today’s realities:

1. The Impact of Recent Global Challenges

Hagerty’s research predates many of the collective stressors that have defined recent years, like the COVID-19 pandemic and the blurring of work-life boundaries. For midlifers juggling remote work, caregiving, or navigating layoffs, the book’s focus on personal agency could be even stronger with explicit advice on tackling these new realities.

2. Balancing Personal Effort and Systemic Shifts

While the book champions individual resilience, today’s reader might also want recognition of broader socioeconomic factors. Midlife does not take place in a vacuum. Acknowledging how healthcare, technology, or education systems play a role could refine its message for a more nuanced take on agility and growth.

3. The Rise of Digital Communities

Community doesn’t just exist around the dinner table anymore. Many of us rely on online networks, whether to stay in touch with far-flung friends or to find support through virtual groups. Expanding the discussion to include these modern social dynamics would make the book even more relevant.

Is Life Reimagined Still a Must-Read?

Absolutely. For readers navigating reflection, growth, and experimentation in midlife, the core messages of Life Reimagined remain deeply useful. Its emphasis on aligning with purpose, fostering meaningful relationships, and adapting to life’s natural ebbs and flows aligns seamlessly with the ethos of nonlinear living—embracing life as a creative, evolving process.

Of course, adding a fresh layer to Hagerty’s original work to account for recent challenges—pandemics, shifting social norms, and digital revolutions—would make it an even sharper guide for midlifers today. But that doesn’t diminish its current value.

At The Interlude Café, where we celebrate life’s transitions as opportunities for reinvention, Life Reimagined offers not just a blueprint but an invitation. It reminds us that midlife is less about “winding down” and more about lifting off, challenging us to think big, explore often, and prioritize what truly matters.

Midlife is your time to reimagine the possibilities. What’s your next chapter going to be?

Our Take: Midlife Is What You Make It

The best advice we can offer? Use resources like Hagerty’s book to reflect on where you are and where you want to go. Then, layer those ideas with modern tools and strategies to design a fulfilling path that fits today’s world. Midlife isn’t about following one defined narrative—it’s about choosing your own.

Here’s to thriving in midlife and beyond.

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