From Strength to Strength

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Red on a bench in the backyard.

I’ve been reading a book this past week called, “From Strength to Strength: Finding success, happiness and deep purpose in the second half of life,” by Arthur C. Brooks.

I read a chapter each day I take my husband to PT or to his doctor’s appointments. It’s better then scrolling on my phone mindlessly.

I have a chapter left, it’s only nine chapters. It’s written by Brooks who was a musician from Seattle, near where I grew up and exactly where I went to college. His dream in life was to be a professional musician playing in an orchestra on the French Horn. He had early success in his music career. At age 19, he left college to play professionally with a chamber-music orchestra ensemble touring the country.

But something happened. He began to decline in his musical abilities. No amount of practice or hard work could get him through it. In his mid 20s, he went back to school via distance learning and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics before age 30. Then he went on to earn his Master’s in economics.

Through the twists and turns in Brooks life, he learned about two types of brains we have in our lifetimes. In our early years we have a “Fluid Brain.” Approaching mid life, we transition to a “Crystal Brain.”

I found this handy dandy chart when I googled the difference between fluid and crystal minds. This is thanks to Gemini AI who organized this information from a website called Verywellmind.com

A double cactus bloom in our backyard.

As we enter middle age, we have more wisdom, we have gathered a wealth of knowledge and we often become more spiritual. I found the book to be enlightening and encouraging. The purpose of this book is to help us make the leap from a fluid mind to a crystallized brain and continue with a purposeful life.

Brooks uses examples from his own life in this book as well as from famous philosophers, Roman leaders, and composers including Beethoven and Bach. As a Catholic who became more religious later in life, he traveled to India to study with a Hindu guru. He learned about the four phases of life that is recognized in India — which you can learn about in his chapter about that adventure.

I managed to get a photo of the lovely couple together! Although the focus is not that great, I was happy to see Red and Mrs. together.

Happy Friday! Have a wonderful weekend.

What plans do you have for this weekend in mid May?

58 thoughts on “From Strength to Strength”

  1. Interesting book EA. I do think we come to realize and lean on the wisdom we’ve acquired as we age. Doing that also leads to an interest in exploring other topics more widely, being open to new ideas I think. At least for me 🙂
    I’m having horrendous allergy symptoms so trying to balance out meds so I can function. Being outside in the morning is awful right now so…

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    • I’m sorry you’re suffering from allergies. Hopefully whatever is triggering them will be gone soon! You’re in a new area with new pollens. I found it to be a soothing read, especially in waiting rooms while my husband is being seen!

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      • Pretty sure it’s tree pollen. I was allergic to trees back in WA and there are different ones here that are making my eyes very unhappy. Hoping only another few weeks, then some relief.

      • I get allergies here too, but they don’t last more than a few days. I think the heat stops the blossoms, or whatever plant material it is.

  2. I like your posts, because you often introduce interesting subjects. As I understand it, the concept of fluid intelligence vs crystalized intelligence was proposed back in the 1940s, and was based upon the concept of general intelligence, or IQ. We’ve all heard of people with low IQ’s and high IQ’s.

    But this concept of general intelligence is controversial. Most psychologists these days have rejected the IQ concept in favor of aptitude. That is, everyone is smart in their own way, and stupid in their own way.

    When the concept of IQ is rejected, this undermines the concept of fluid vs crystalized intelligence, because it depends upon the concept of generalized intelligence.

    However, it does make sense that children learn more quickly than adults, due to the survival need to figure out this world quickly.

    It also makes sense that older adults can lose their mental acuity. But I think this has more to do with the various causes of dementia, such as strokes, than with the general aging of the brain.

    The point I’m trying to make is that old dogs can usually still learn new tricks. I started learning to play the piano two years ago, at age 65, and Spanish a year ago. And I’m doing a fairly good job of both, in my view. So my brain has not seemed to “crystalize” yet.

    Either that or I’m completely senile, and only imagining that I’m doing well.

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    • I’m so impressed that you are learning the piano and Spanish. I picked up photography at 65. So we old dogs can learn new tricks. Another thing that Brooks brings up in his book is different careers that have more longevity than others. An example was theoretical mathematicians have a short career before they are over the hill compared to applied mathematics. The first are trying to come up with new concepts and abstract theories while the second is problem solving.

      You gave me lots of new information that I wasn’t aware of regarding IQ and that the concept was rejected in favor of aptitude.

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  3. This sounds like a really compelling read. I like the idea of “fluid” vs. “crystallized” intelligence, and reframing aging as a shift in strengths rather than just decline. It also makes me think about how much we prioritize early achievement, while giving less attention to what comes after. The idea that the second half of life could be just as purposeful—just in a different way—is a useful counterpoint to that. Now I’m curious whether people actually plan for that shift, or if most of us just stumble into it…

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    • This book helps you plan for it. A lot of people who aren’t aware, get depressed because they feel the world is slipping away. Or they feel like they are in decline. It sure is a good thing to be aware of.

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  5. Interesting post and commentary. I feel that I’m just as excited about learning as I ever was and because of so many years of life experience and reading I’m more open minded than I was in my youth ( though I would have told anyone I was very open minded decades ago, looking back, I can see I wasn’t).

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    • I’m learning a lot in my old age, too! I have a weekly zoom call and we talk worldwide issues and demographics. I’m learning a lot of world history and subject I had no understanding of before. I also have always loved to read. I found this book to be very educational and soothing at the same time.

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  6. I love Brooks’ book. What a great idea to read a chapter at each doctor appointment, Elizabeth. Thanks for the background on Brooks and this beautiful post!

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  7. I have been reading more also using my interests in my older age! I like reading history and different topics like gemology and about different countries. I also will return to learning Spanish and catching up. I have taken a break from blogging to move on in different areas but I still enjoy catching up with bloggers. Hope your husband’s recovery is going well.

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    • Thank you about the get well wishes for my husband. It’s actually been rough. He did too much right away and had a ton of swelling, pain and bruising. After lectures from his PT and PA, he’s settled down. I found this book to be very reassuring and interesting with lots of history in it.

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      • I understand! It is very easy to feel that you are ready to plunge in. I try not to watch too many YouTubes about medical diagnosis of bone on bone, and surgery as everyone’s body is so different. The PT and PA do know best. I might also listen to Podcasts as I read that can help with your attention span but I prefer YouTube! Enjoy your weekend!

      • His knee was bone on bone since age 17 when the he had surgery post football injury. Back then, they removed all the cartilage. He was told to have a knee replace ent 20 and 30 years ago. I’m sure it would have been easier then!

      • Yes, sometimes we are able to learn later or sometimes we have no choice. It gets to that point where your leg is uneven or you have great pain. I am sure he will get better eventually. Wishing you the best. I am trying to check in once a week or so and wean myself off social media as I don’t think it has always been healthy for me. I need to focus on a few things. Thanks for your support along the years with blogging.

  8. Love these thoughts about maintaining purpose, Elizabeth – so good! And please give your husband my best…continued recovery wishes…and keep the fabulous photos and encouraging words coming. Love this post. 💝😊💝

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  9. What attracted me to your post was the picture of cardinals, I just love the RED Bird :). But then I liked your blog very much. Your writing style is a bit like mine, you give information and keep it light-hearted. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 🙂

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  12. I have been enjoying Brooks’s past articles in The Atlantic, but haven’t read any of his books.

    I’ll be giving a new presentation on Zoom tomorrow. I have another contract to give this one on June 2. Sunday is the bird club’s spring bird count (similar to the Audubon Christmas count). It’s my second year as organizer. Seems that participation is way down this year. I didn’t even get all the sections covered until a couple days ago. Whew!

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    • I will look for more books by Brooks. I really enjoyed this one. I haven’t seen any of his articles, but they were mentioned in this book. What is your zoom presentation about? Good luck on the bird count. Good for you for being the organizer.

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  13. What a beautiful photo of Red and Mrs. together! 📷❤️ It’s so heartwarming to see them sharing the bench. Thank you for sharing a glimpse of your cozy backyard and such an insightful book recommendation!

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  14. yesterday I saw the costume exhibit at the met, saw In The Grey, and my fave steak place. this morning I cheered my daughter on as she ran a half and we catching a movie soon. Tomorrow brunch at a French pastry place and Broadway show. I think I read something by that author

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    • The first two weeks were really rough. He was so swollen it looked like his knee was a basketball. Plus tons of pain. It looks like he’s turned the corner and things are looking up.

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  17. I take my book everywhere. I’m with you, reading is better than scrolling through your phone. The photo of Red and the Mrs. is perfect. I think he is getting admonished for something! 😆

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  18. I love that you are reading this, and sharing some insight. I’ve never heard of this concept before, but it makes perfect sense. I certainly rely on my wisdom through experience more often than not.
    Like you, I like to have a book in my hand while waiting. I think we all do too much scrolling in life.

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    • I definitely was doing too much scrolling. It’s such a waste of time compared to reading. I’m now on my third book since reading “Strength to Strength.” There is something to be said for driving my husband to his PT three days a week and doctor’s appointments. I’m a captive audience for the books. I told my kids about the concept of a fluid brain versus crystal brain and they knew all about it. I wonder where they learned that?

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Kind Comments Are Always Welcome!