E32: Finding Happiness & Purpose in the Second Half of Life

In this episode, we discuss the book "From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, & Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life" by Arthur C. Brooks. In the opening segment we get a brief report from Alvin on his recent adventure in the canyonlands of Utah, and we do a Gen Z Word of the Day segment in which we see if Alvin knows what the word "cracked" means. In the main segment (9:10) we do a deeper dive into fluid vs. crystallized intelligence, how the transition from fluid to crystallized intelligence is related to midlife crises, discuss our general agreements and some minor critiques of this general thesis, why most of us tend to lean into our crystallized intelligence later in our careers, and how embracing our crystallized intelligence likely leads to more eudaimonic happiness. We end the discussion reviewing some of Brooks's suggestions for finding happiness later in your career and how these lessons might help you transition to a more fulfilling retirement.