The Other Side of Change by Maya Shankar

THE OTHER SIDE OF CHANGE by Maya Shankar is about “Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans.” Shankar is a cognitive scientist and neuroscience expert who describes the life altering changes faced by guests on her podcast. She notes that the book is “part narrative, and part practical guide, rooted in the latest scientific research.” Her first example (“Locked In”) involves Olivia Lewis who becomes paralyzed; it is reminiscent (as Shankar also notes) of events which impacted Jean-Dominique Bauby, author of Diving Bell and the Butterfly, as well as of Allison Pataki’s Beauty in the Broken Places about her husband’s unexpected health scare. Shankar notes how these individuals must confront what they have lost and then “experience an internal transformation that allows them to imagine new and freeing possibilities for themselves.” She also “shows how that sense of possibility can ripple outward” and includes an Appendix titled “Getting to the other side of Change: Your Change Survival Kit” where she summarizes key concepts (e.g., self-identity) from each chapter. Her bibliographic notes and references comprise an additional ten percent or so of the text. Shankar does an excellent job of weaving examples and research, but this is based on numerous conversations, sometimes covering years. I wonder how well a person in the midst of devastating change would be able to comprehend, digest, and implement (without professional guidance) the ideas from this book. THE OTHER SIDE OF CHANGE received a starred review from Booklist.

On a related note, I recently attended a conversation between Kelly Corrigan and Jennifer Breheny Wallace about Wallace's new book titled MATTERING. The event was sponsored by Family Action Network and a recording is available:

According to the publisher: Wallace argues that mattering—the feeling that we are valued and have the chance to add value—is a core human need, as essential to our well-being as food and water. ... MATTERING shows how lives are transformed when we are reminded, in small but intentional ways, that we are seen, valued, and needed. Wallace identifies the essential components of what she calls a “mattering core”: recognizing your impact, being relied on (but not too much), feeling prioritized, and being truly known and invested in. ... Wallace shows how to strengthen our own sense of mattering—and how to build cultures of mattering in our homes, workplaces, and communities—at a moment when it has never been more urgent.