Full of insights and data and featuring many ways to endure the slump and avoid its perils and traps, Jonathan Rauch doesnb2st just show listeners the dark forest of midlife, he helps them find a path through the trees.

Title from container. Compact discs.

The voyage of life: Thomas Cole's journey, and mine --What makes us happy (and doesn't): the strange illogic of life satisfaction -- A timely discovery: how unsuspecting economists (and apes) found the happiness curve -- The shape of the river: time, happiness, and the curve of the U -- The expectations trap: midlife malaise is often about nothing -- The paradox of aging: why getting old makes you happier -- Crossing toward wisdom: the happiness curve has a purpose, and it's social -- Helping ourselves: how to get through the U -- Helping each other: bringing midlife out of the closet -- Epilogue: Gratitude.