The Linear Life Is Dead
Bestselling author Bruce Feiler finds the idea of life as one straight path ‘preposterously behind the times’
When we hear the words “life transition,” we often think of the obvious shifts — new careers, marriages, big birthdays. But Bruce Feiler, a TED Talk veteran and seven-time bestselling author, believes this conception is far too narrow. Feiler argues in his new book that we actually spend half our lives in transition, voluntarily or not. Life Is in the Transitions, is a guide for navigating those times when our lives pivot dramatically.
With the entire country going through a big transition right now, I sat down with Feiler to talk about how we can make sense of these constant waves of change. What I learned: How we respond and adapt to transitions in our life defines our future.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Why did you write “Life Is in the Transitions”?
We’re all experiencing a crush of change that’s nearly overwhelming. A few years ago, I was consumed by a back-to-back-to-back set of disruptive life experiences. First, I was diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer. That gave birth to The Council of Dads, both the book and the NBC series. Then I almost went…
