Identity · Life Changes
Passages
by Gail Sheehy
What this book is about
Passages examines adult development and the transitions that can reshape identity, relationships, work, and priorities over time. Gail Sheehy uses interviews and narrative reporting to describe patterns she observed across different stages of adulthood. The book can help readers normalize the fact that growth and disruption do not end after adolescence. Some of its cultural assumptions and developmental timelines reflect the era in which it was written, so it is best read as a historical framework rather than a universal map.
About the author
Gail Sheehy was a journalist and author known for writing about adult development and major life transitions. She used interviews and narrative reporting to describe changes in identity, relationships, sexuality, and work across adulthood. Her writing helped bring adult developmental stages into popular conversation. Because her observations reflect a particular cultural period, contemporary readers may find it useful to compare her proposed patterns with their own more varied experiences.
Kristin says
Gail Sheehy describes her own journey and the stages of life change she experienced. She offers a road map for the inevitable personality and sexual changes we move through. It is a definite read for understanding how we continue to evolve in adulthood.
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