Composing a Life

This extraordinary book explores that act of creation that engages us all--the composition of our lives. Through the comparative biographies of herself and four of her close friends, Mary Catherine Bateson provides a fascinating framework for her inquiry into the creative potential of complex lives, where energies are not narrowly focused toward a single ambition but rather are continually refocused and redefined. Each of the women in Composing a Life faced discontinuity at periods in her life, yet was rich in professional achievement and personal relationships. Bateson's life-affirming conclusion is that life is an improvisational art form, and that the interruptions, conflicted priorities, and exigencies that are a part of all our lives can and should be seen as a source of wisdom. Important and empowering, Composing a Life will change lives.Uses examples from the lives of five women, including herself, to show how each faced conflict and managed time and energy in her life

Bateson profiles herself and four other highly productive women, concluding that the obstacles life presents can be sources of wisdom and personal growth. "While the book's premise is intriguing, the telling is self-indulgent and only sporadically illuminates the author's themes," PW remarked.
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