The Way Of Transition: Embracing Life's Most Difficult Moments

I would give 98% of this book 5 stars. I'm giving it 4 because of one chapter near the end.I'm a Bridges fan. "Transitions" has helped me through some trying times. Bridges definitely has a spiritual approach in "The Way of Transition." His academic background also shows. His exercises usually involve educational situations: imagining you're in a class or writing chapters in a book. This may not appeal to those who didn't like school. It so happens that I have a distinctly spiritual outlook and that I loved school, so these weren't issues for me. For me they were strengths.I greatly appreciate the distinctions he makes--between change and transition (others have noted this) and between decisions and choices, among others that are very valuable. I love his re-telling of "The Wizard of Oz" as the archetypal life "journey." I find his wit refreshing. I find his raw honesty compelling.I would recommend this book, and I already have. I will read it more than once in my lifetime.My caveat involves an omission, not a commission. In his chapter, "Finding Myself in the Neutral Zone" he describes (SPOILER ALERT) his emergence from that zone by finding a new love, his current wife. Don't get me wrong--I think that Bridges deserves every happiness! I understand that what I find missing may simply not be his book. No one can be everything to everyone. I confess, though, that when he describes discovering a new love in a woman 18 years his junior and that he's surprised, I think something like, "Well, perhaps Bridges finds this experience unpredictable; to me it seems nearly inevitable." That men in their 60s finding women in the 40s to be attractive companions is a documented cultural reality. It's not anywhere near unusual. And, again, don't get me wrong--these people deserve every happiness and it's lovely that they found one another whatever their ages! Whether or not their union is a common cultural reality doesn't cancel out their individual transitions and their happy ending.My issue comes with the fact that Bridges no where (unless I missed it!) addresses that such a new beginning would be unlikely, to say the least, for a woman of 63. His second wife originally approached him. How many 45-year-old men would approach a 63-year-woman?I know from reading the other reviews that a number of widows have found his book very supportive, and I'm not surprised. And the current U.S. political situation in which it's so evident that the female experience has been consistently ignored or dismissed (by both men and some women) may have made me more sensitive than I otherwise would have been. Many of my widowed or divorced friends in their 50s through 80s have told me that they've given up on having love in their lives. The qualifying men are looking for women 20 years (or more) their junior, or for "nurses." Furthermore, married women of their acquaintance find them threatening and frequently make sure not to include them socially.Ironically, if Bridges weren't so perceptive a witness of his own and others' processes, I wouldn't expect him to comment on this reality. So, as I said, it's an omission, but perhaps not his to remedy.I'm grateful that Bridges decided to share his journey, including the setbacks, the emotional pain, and the misguided thinking. He's a courageous man.(p.s. I never catch all the typos.)

This is a engrossing book about what happens when a person who has made a career out of understanding "transitions" (and helping other people and organizations through times of transition) comes face to face with a gigantic transition. As Bridges dealt with the death of his wife and the concomitant end of a lengthy marriage, he found himself wondering if he really understood transitions at all. This book is the story of how he navigated that period in his life, how he achieved a new understanding of everything that had gone before, and what it has meant to him since.There is a lot going on in this book. On one level, it is the story of a marriage. On another level, it is the story of how truly immersing oneself in the transitions one encounters can deepen a person's relationship both to the self and to the personal history that has created that self. And then there is the general philosophical musing about how a person can open himself to the possibilities that come with major life changes. It's not a book of ideas about what to do (for that, the same author has a couple of other books on transition), but instead it's a deeply personal reflection on the meaning of life and life's transitions.Highly recommended for anyone who is of a contemplative turn of mind.

William Bridges brought life to his "neutral zone," provided tools and a path, a relevant "way" to navigate transitions, and to do so successfully. Interestingly enough, Bridges reveals his definition of success, not money nor notoriety, but through viewing life as a remarkable journey and that journey, is through navigating transitions by listening to His truths and to your heart. I am grateful to William Bridges and to having read this book, primary because of going through a labyrinth of life transitions in my own life, most prominently, grieving my mother's death, and to learning the tools necessary to navigate the journey successfully, stepping up in faith, listening to my heart, and serving others among them. Thanks to God and to William Bridges, can't begin to express how I value my personal growth having experienced the process, embodied the tools and in redirecting my life to a path of happiness.

I often list the pros and cons of the books I review. This book, like most others, has a few drawbacks, but they are not important enough to list. What is important is to know that this book is one of the best guides possible for those who are going through losses and do not know where to turn. If you or someone you know is reeling from a major life set back this is the book you need to turn to. This book will help you process the loss, understand the empty feeling that follows, and will offer hope for a new beginning. This book is a first aid kit for the emotions.

All of William Bridges work on Transitions really comes alive in this book. His authentic sharing of his own life transitions is interspersed with his theories and models of transitions, and this makes for a powerful and compelling read.

Helpful

ExcellentThis review requires that I write ten more words. Word, word, word, word, word, word, word, word, word, word.

Pages 1 to 132 are about blood glucose and diabetes. The transitions book begins with chapter 8 at page 133. Whoever published and printed this book made a huge mistake and put a book about diabetes in the place of chapters 1/7 of the real book. How could this happen?

A brilliant personal insight into the transitional phases of our lives.Helps others to work out and work through the impact of change

Should definitely be read in conjunction with the other two books for maximum effect

Good read

Really good for working your way through transition - planned or unplanned - life changes and deaths. Some of it is a bit academic but found it very helpful twice and loaned it out to others that have also found it helpful.

Masterful guidance at times of change. I have read this book three times and bought it for many people I care for.