Banks’s stunning new collection, exploring bold frontiers “Poetry is an act of mischief,” Theodore Roethke famously once said, and Chris Banks takes this as his credo in Midlife Action Figure. His subject matter ranges from the familiar to the surreal, taking readers through poems that are both wondrous and strange, heartfelt and humorous, controlled and impatient. Whether calling a tree “an anthology of leaves” or describing time as “a Fisher-Price View-Master of ‘first kisses’ and ‘no return’ policies,” Banks approaches writing as if anything might make for alarming, strange, and dizzying verse. Banks knits together wit with wildly inventive imagery as he follows his poems outside convention where they play with stolen matches. Capable of both deep introspection and the quick turn of phrase, he places his tongue firmly in his cheek as he looks for a measure of human wonder in this intermission between TED Talks and the apocalypse. Midlife Action Figure is a tour de force for anyone looking for that rare book that is as exciting as it is provocative, showcasing both pathos and humor, while it explores what it means to be alive in the early 21st century.

If you are looking for a way to make your final working years better than all that have come before, this book is for you. Bestselling author and innovative career and life consultant Nancy Anderson understands the uncertainty and anxiety that crop up in midlife. She knows firsthand that family pressures, cultural conditioning, and the need for money drive many people to stay in unsatisfying jobs and careers. Anderson demonstrates that it is never too late to rewrite your life story so that it aligns with values that bring fulfillment and money. She offers exercises to get you started as well as inspirational stories that will remind you just how good life can be when you pursue work you love.

In Deepfake Serenade, Chris Banks’s sixth poetry collection, irreverent charm, emotional distance and surprising hot takes leap off every page. He writes in the title poem, “Inside every one of us is a deepfake. A holy ghost,” suggesting people have a choice to feel either like sad imposters or, if they're brave, like survivors staring down a world both utterly familiar and strange. These poems, sometimes narrative, sometimes surreal, oscillate between these two extremes as they confront middle age, new love, renewed optimism and memories, all with Banks’s signature wit and inventiveness. This collection is for anyone who has ever wished to wear “a halo of knowing,” or to be “the sparks flying” when outer phenomena and inner impulses collide. “Earn your rewards,” Banks writes in one poem, and we do, with every turn of the page.

Philosophical wisdom and practical advice for overcoming the problems of middle age How can you reconcile yourself with the lives you will never lead, with possibilities foreclosed, and with nostalgia for lost youth? How can you accept the failings of the past, the sense of futility in the tasks that consume the present, and the prospect of death that blights the future? In this self-help book with a difference, Kieran Setiya confronts the inevitable challenges of adulthood and middle age, showing how philosophy can help you thrive. You will learn why missing out might be a good thing, how options are overrated, and when you should be glad you made a mistake. You will be introduced to philosophical consolations for mortality. And you will learn what it would mean to live in the present, how it could solve your midlife crisis, and why meditation helps. Ranging from Aristotle, Schopenhauer, and John Stuart Mill to Virginia Woolf and Simone de Beauvoir, as well as drawing on Setiya’s own experience, Midlife combines imaginative ideas, surprising insights, and practical advice. Writing with wisdom and wit, Setiya makes a wry but passionate case for philosophy as a guide to life.

When divorce comes your way, don't let the ex get you down. Get ready for a whole new laugh-out-loud adventure. Because life is just beginning . . . as a midlife bounty hunter of the supernatural! # 1 in Women's Fantasy Fiction!#1 in Fantasy & Futuristic Romance# 1 New releases Werewolf and Shifter RomanceOne day I'm married, living in Seattle, and magic isn't real.The next, I'm divorced and living in the guest room of my ex's hotter- than-sin cousin's place in Savannah . . . and talking to an animated skeleton named Robert.I have to admit, Robert isn't my worst date.At forty-one, I didn't think I'd be starting over. But I'll be damned if my ex thinks I'm down and out because he pulled a fast one on me.When a job comes my way that offers me a chance to use my childhood training in the shadow world, I take it-I need the money more than I care about my sanity.It's dangerous.I have to embrace the magic and dark of my past.And I need Advil to keep me going.But those who'd hold me back better sit up and take notice, because a new woman is in town, and she's not about to be counted out by anyone.Even if she does groan when she rolls out of bed in the morning.

What accounts for the massive global popularity of action films and adventure literature? How do men and women respond to iconic screen stars such as Jackie Chan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steve McQueen, and Charlton Heston? Action genres have been Hollywood's most profitable global exports for most of its history, their male heroes the subject of much fascination and derision. Bestselling literary thrillers, from The Hunt for Red October to Into Thin Air , have also contributed markedly to popular understandings of male activity. Action Figures takes stock of action narratives' many appeals and recognizes how contemporary crises of gender identity manifest themselves in popular commercial texts.

Loving wife and kids, stable career - nearing 40, I had it pretty good. But something was missing. I'd grown up a scrawny kid with a school bus bully, and despite joining the military, starting a family, and earning a fancy degree, I'd never shaken the shame. For years I'd fantasized vindicating childhood wuss me by becoming a fighter - a boxer, a kickboxer, or even a mixed martial artist. But competitive fighting was waaaay outside my comfort zone, and something guys do in their 20s, not their late 30s. Then in 2014 my favorite college football team lost to their rival for the tenth year in a row. I lost my cool and found myself confronting the other team's band's drummer in a very public way - threatening to shove his drumsticks up his... you know what. Walking away, I couldn't believe what I'd done. "Why am I so upset over a game I don't even play?" The further I walked, the clearer the answer became. I was still young enough to pursue my fight dream, but time was running out. I imagined my 85-year-old self looking back over my life: "You always wanted to fight, but never had the guts." Despite everything I had and would accomplish, never stepping in the ring would be an unforgivable regret. So I committed the goal to paper and got to work. "Just one MMA win before I turn 40. You can do this." I offer Year of the Fighter to anyone nearing midlife, reconsidering dreams neglected before it's too late. It wasn't too late for me. It's not too late for you. So suck it up. We only get this one life. Let's make it one our 85-year-old selves can be proud of.

She must learn to fly, but can she withstand the allure of the handsome new teacher? The decision has been made. Jessie has taken the magic, and all the weird that goes with it. Including wings. There's only one problem - she can't figure out how to access them. Through a series of terrible decisions, Jessie realizes she must ask for help. Gargoyle help. But she could've never predicted who answers her call - he's an excellent flier, incredibly patient, and a good trainer. He's also incredibly handsome. And interested. Maybe flying isn't the only thing she needs help with. Maybe she needs help getting back on that saddle, too, emerging into the dating pool. Except, the new gargoyle is also an alpha, just like Austin, and the town isn't big enough for two. Turns out, flying is the least of her problems.

THE DEFINITIVE RESOURCE ON MIDLIFE DEVELOPMENT Edited by Margie Lachman, a leader in the field, Handbook ofMidlife Development provides an up-to-date portrayal of humandevelopment during the middle years of the life span. Featuringcontributions from well-established, highly regarded experts, thisexhaustive reference fills the gap for a compilation of research onthis increasingly important topic. Divided into four comprehensive sections, the book addresses thetheoretical, biomedical, psychological, and social aspects ofmidlife development. Each chapter includes coverage of unifyingthemes such as gender differences, ethnic and cultural diversity,historical changes, and socioeconomic differences from a life-spandevelopmental perspective. Readers will discover what can belearned from individuals' subjective conceptions of midlife;explore various "cultural" fictions of middle age; examine theresources individuals have at their disposal to negotiate midlife;consider mechanisms for balancing work and family; and other topicsas presented in the latest research from the social, behavioral,and medical sciences. Handbook of Midlife Development is an indispensable resource forprofessionals and practitioners who work with adults and forresearchers and students who study adult development and relatedtopics. Some of the midlife topics discussed: * Cultural perspectives * Physical changes * Stress, coping, and health * Intellectual functioning * Memory * Personality and the self * Adaptation and resilience * Emotional development * Families and intergenerational relationships * Social relationships * The role of work * Planning for retirement