The 52 Weeks Book
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About This BookThe Inspiring, Humorous, and Practical Companion for Any Woman Ready to Get Better, Get Moving, or Just Get Over It!Three Drinks, Two Friends, One Year . . .Edging into forty-something, Karen and Pam found themselves in a state of stuck. They had checked off many of their major life goals—career, husband, children, friends—but they lost momentum. After griping over drinks one night, they came up with a plan to face their fears, rediscover their interests, renew their relationships, and give back to the community. They challenged themselves to try one new thing every week for a year—from test-driving Maseratis to rock climbing to dance lessons—and to blog about their journeys.
About the Authors
Meet our ContributorsALEX LICKERMAN, M.D., author of The Undefeated Mind: On the Science of Constructing an Indestructible Self Reviews“This book caught my eye on the New Book shelf at my haunting grounds – the local library. One of the best “self help “books i’ve picked up in a long time. And at 56,on Temporary Disability for severe/clinical Depression and Anxiety disorder, boy do I feel STUCK. I love the simplicity of the suggestions, the humor and how easy I relate to both of you and all the experts that add their knowledge. “In The 52 Weeks, a rollicking ride (and read) through Karen Amster-Young’s and Pam Godwin’s year of doing something new every week, the two married 40-something mothers each created their own list of 52 things to try in 10 different realms: something new; wellness; just for fun; arts & culture; relationships; facing fears; giving back; reflection; changing course; and flying solo (for those who are living alone). Initially, they blogged about their experiences, then they wrote a book about them, interspersing their adventures with comments from experts (full disclosure: I was an expert quoted in the Changing Course chapter). Each chapter covers one of the above 10 topic areas and also includes Next Steps, Take Away Advice and Ideas for the Reader. Some of my favorite 52s, as they call them, include Karen’s taking a carriage ride through central park with her husband and her decision to start eating blueberries regularly. The book concludes with a list of 52 potential ways to stretch yourself in the 10 different areas—wonderful ideas for getting your physical, emotional and intellectual juices flowing again.” — Vivian Steir Rabin, co-founder iRelaunch, author of Back on the Career Track. “This isn’t one-size-fits-all advice! Karen and Pam inspire us to think outside the box when it comes to infusing happiness, energy, and fun into our lives. Their clever ideas and suggestions are a huge motivation to create and commit to our own personalized 52-week plans.” — Robyn Okrant, author, Living Oprah (Hatchette) “We all want lives packed with both fun and fulfillment. With its humor, honesty, and great insight, The 52 Weeks is a terrific resource for anyone who wants to get unstuck.” — Gretchen Rubin, author of bestselling Happier at Home and The Happiness Project , Harper Collins. “Readers who feel the need for a life coach can turn here instead—especially readers similar to the co-authors, two female friends in their 40s…This isn’t a collection of blog posts, however; instead, it’s more of what the authors discovered through their personal experiences, interspersed with testimonies from “52 Weeks Experts” and quotes from the likes of Dr. Seuss, Woody Allen and Ellen DeGeneres.” — Kirkus Book Review |
Karen Amster-Young is a marketing and public relations veteran and has amassed many PR awards, including a spot on PR Week’s “Forty PR Stars under Forty” at age thirty-three. She is also a freelance writer. Karen lives with her husband and daughter in New York City.
Pam Godwin began her career as a caseworker for a nonprofit refugee resettlement agency. After getting her master’s degree in elementary education, she taught in New York City public schools as a classroom teacher and literacy specialist. She lives with her husband and children in New York City.