Saturday Review: “Creating a Midlife of Surprise and Delight” a review by Patricia R. Webb in NCLR Spring 2025 of Jennifer McGaha’s The Joy Document (2024).
Webb writes The Joy Document is about “adopting an attitude of gratitude toward the big and small wonders we encounter every day can create joy in our lives.” In her book McGaha shares the secret to appreciating life in the simplest of ways and how to find joy in the familiar cracks of the mundane. Webb expands on McGaha’s storytelling, stating, “Through her creative essays, she explores both the light and dark of life, showing how to create joy out of both of them.”
This book is one of inspiration and reimagining for those feeling stuck in the loop of middle-age. Webb makes sure to elaborate on how this book has made her reexamine her personal life as well, calling out the section “Guiding Questions: Creating Your Own Joy Document,” in which she provides us with thoughtful questions that help readers think more deeply about their own relationship to joy.”
Read the entire review here while awaiting the release of the Spring 2025 issue! And order a copy of the book here.
