Allison Aubrey, an NPR health and science correspondent and "Sunday Morning" contributor, has released a new book titled "Your Turn: How to Create a Midlife You Love" regarding the transition into later life. Aubrey argues that individuals in the Generation X demographic should move away from the traditional model of retirement and instead focus on what she calls a "third-turn" pivot toward creative and purposeful pursuits.
Aubrey wrote the book following a sabbatical she described as a "curiosity tour," where she interviewed individuals who changed careers or took up new activities in their later years. The text highlights several examples, including a nurse who became a band vocalist, a lawyer who opened a bookstore, and an editor who began practicing improv in her 60s. These stories are presented as a framework for reimagining the period of life following years of work and parenting.
The publication references research suggesting that a sense of purpose and play may be more effective for longevity than pharmaceutical products. Specifically, the book cites a recent study claiming that engagement with the arts—such as dancing, singing, painting, and gardening—is as powerful as physical exercise in slowing the aging process. Aubrey proposes replacing the traditional life cycle of "learn, earn, retire" with a new sequence: "learn, earn, return."
This transition affects millions of Americans in the Generation X demographic. As these individuals reach their 50s and 60s, they face a shift in responsibilities as their children reach adulthood, a process Aubrey describes as "launching." The book suggests that the change for these households would be a move away from the expectation of retirement toward active, creative engagement.
The book is available in hardcover, eBook, and audio formats through various retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org. While the source does not provide a specific date for the study comparing arts to exercise, it positions these findings as a basis for lifestyle changes. Aubrey concludes that the momentum for this shift relies on personal intuition and a rejection of traditional retirement scripts.