Being 40 : The Decade of Letting Go and Embracing Who We Are

An empathetic, practical, and deeply relatable exploration of midlife today—and a field guide to do it your way.

AN OPEN FIELD BOOK FROM MARIA SHRIVER

Your forties can feel like navigating a relentless wave of pressure. Questions such as “Am I where I ‘should’ be?”, “Should I be married?”, “Have kids?”, “Switch careers?” often dominate our thoughts. For too long, society has marked this decade as one of decline and predictability. Today, though, it’s anything but. Shaped by thrilling possibilities, your forties can be a time of profound self-discovery. You know yourself better than ever, and are finally ready to let go of the “shoulds.”

In Being 40, journalist Stacey Lindsay crafts a new narrative that captures the diverse experiences of women entering midlife today, shattering the limiting stories. Through insights from experts such as Dené Logan, Vanessa Cornell, and Tara Mohr; candid interviews with real women; and her own journey, Lindsay provides a modern, bold exploration of marriage and relationships, living with and without kids, beauty standards, career transitions, and health shifts. Each chapter includes questions and prompts to help you uncover what you truly desire in this phase of life.

Being 40 is a brave and inclusive reframing of what it means to be a woman today, and a compass for anyone ready to trust their intuition, embrace change, and step fully into who they are.

Stacey Lindsay is a multimedia journalist, editor, and writer specializing in women’s issues and culture. Recognized for her empathetic approach, Lindsay has interviewed hundreds of public figures and civilians for national outlets, from Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper to goop. Previously, she was a CBS affiliate news anchor and reporter. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their rescue pup, Andi MacHowl.