📘 Book Review: Midlife: A Philosophical Guide By Kieran Setiya

What do you do when you’ve reached the halfway point in life—and you’re not sure what it all means? In Midlife: A Philosophical Guide, philosopher Kieran Setiya explores this exact question, not with quick fixes, but with thoughtful reflection, ancient wisdom, and modern psychology.

This isn’t a retirement planning guide—it’s a guide for the soul, aimed at those navigating uncertainty, regret, or a sense that life didn’t unfold exactly as planned. Setiya draws from Aristotle, Schopenhauer, and contemporary thinkers to address midlife malaise with surprising warmth and clarity.

Why This Book Matters

At 60+, many adults confront existential questions: Did I do enough? What comes next? This book doesn’t dodge those questions—it embraces them, offering tools to make peace with imperfection and reclaim purpose in the second half of life.

💡 What You’ll Discover:

• 🌀 Why regret, loss, and uncertainty are natural parts of midlife

• 💬 How philosophical thinking can offer relief, not confusion

• 🧘 A comforting reminder: you don’t need a reinvention—just perspective

Who This Book Is For

• Reflective readers seeking meaning and emotional clarity

• Those feeling the weight of past choices or “lost” opportunities

• Anyone ready to look at aging not as decline, but as a philosophical journey

Notable Quotes

“Midlife is not a crisis to fix—but a condition to understand.”
“You cannot live every life you imagined—but the life you’re living still matters.”

Final Thoughts

Midlife is a thoughtful, concise book that pairs beautifully with a quiet morning and a cup of coffee. If you’re over 60 and wrestling with the bigger questions—not just about money, but about life—this guide will speak to you in a calm, reassuring voice.

👉 View Midlife: A Philosophical Guide on Amazon