Strength to Strength with Arthur Brooks

As we start to approach middle age (or beyond), how do we think about our vocation and purpose? Should our sense of mission change? What should we do to equip ourselves for a joyful, purposeful, and meaningful second half?Arthur Brooks joined us to discuss ideas in his latest book Strength to Strength, which weaves together philosophy and research on human flourishing to illuminate the inescapable fact of change as we grow older — and to offer practical guidance on flourishing in new stages of life:“I can tell you that if you boil the ocean of 10,000 research articles, you'll find the happiest people, they pursue four things every day. Faith, family, friendship, and work that serves others. In other words, love, love, love. And more love.”Friendship, crystalized intelligence, and the beatific visionThis conversation is rich in reflections on achievement, the way our intelligence changes as we age, the importance of making and sustaining real friendships, and how pondering our own mortality can lead to greater joy.Our podcast is an edited version of our Online Conversation from February, 2022. You can access the full conversation with transcript here.Learn more about Arthur Brooks.Authors and books mentioned in the conversation:Love Your Enemies, by Arthur BrooksFrom Strength to Strength, by Arthur BrooksSumma Theologica, by Thomas AquinasThe Nicomachean Ethics, by AristotleThe Dalai LamaThe Apostle PaulSt. AugustineDavid Foster WallaceAbraham MaslowRelated Trinity Forum Readings:On Happiness, by Thomas AquinasOn Friendship, by CiceroTwo Old men, by Leo TolstoyHow Much Land Does a Man Need? by Leo TolstoyMan’s Search for Meaning, by Viktor FranklRelated Conversations:Strength in the Second Half with Arthur BrooksCultivating a Life of Learning with Zena HitzBeing, Living, and Dying Well with Lydia DugdaleHope, Heartbreak, and Meaning with Kate BowlerThe Burden of Living and the and the Goodness of God with Alan NobleAll the Lonely People with Ryan Streeter and Francie BroghammerTo listen to this or any of our episodes in full, visit ttf.org/podcast and to join the Trinity Forum Society and help make content like this possible, join the Trinity Forum SocietySpecial thanks to Ned Bustard for our podcast artwork.