So what makes everything worse at 40 or 50-something?

First of all, the stakes are higher at this stage in your life than any other. You have young or adolescent children and you don’t want them caught in the cross fire—so you bite your lip and soldier on.

Secondly, your parents are getting old and infirm and statistically either you or your partner is likely to have lost one or other of them. It is a stark reminder that you are not immortal and, therefore, time is running out.

Thirdly, the term “midlife crisis” is probably going to make the divisions between the two of you wider rather than narrower. See my article Ten Tell-tale Signs of a Midlife Crisis.

What makes this book different?

I have written it for both the person going through a forty or fifty-something crisis and their partner.

I bring thirty years of practical experience from dealing with couples just like you to build bridges. I draw on all the stupid things that I did in my forties and the first half of my fifties, so you can learn from them.

Finally, I introduce a whole new vocabulary for discussing the “midlife crisis” that puts the accent on the positive aspects of reaching the mid-point in your life and making the most of the second.

A proven plan that will help you

• Understand each other’s point of view better
• Look for common ground and help build a team to tackle your problems
• Stop the blame and promote hope
• Teach the three skills to improve your communication
• Deal with depression, affairs and prevent unwanted divorce