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One of the best ways to learn about the joys and sorrows of being a late bloomer is to listen to personal stories of people who found their place later in life. So for today's post, I’ve collected books by or about late bloomers from various fields, including music, painting, writing, sports, entrepreneurship, and cooking. Some accounts are memoirs; others are biographies or collections of biographical sketches. I also include two non-fiction books that take a broader perspective. So hopefully everybody will find something they find interesting.
Bonus: A movie that is funny, heartwarming, and inspiring
Biographical and autobiographical books
#1 Claudia Kalb: Spark: How Genius Ignites, From Child Prodigies to Late Bloomers (2021)
A collection of people who left enormous footprints in their respected fields. Kalb organizes them by the age at which „genius ignites. “ Of particular interest here are what Kalb calls midlifers (people whose achievements transpired in their 30s and 40s) and late bloomers (who peaked in the final decades of their lives). Kalb looks through a journalistic lens: She conducted interviews, reported on-site, and delved into letters, memoirs, and biographies.
#2 Gary Marcus: Guitar Zero. The Science of Becoming Musical at Any Age (2013)
A combination of memoir and non-fiction book. At the age of 38, Gary Marcus decided to fulfill a lifelong dream and learn to play the guitar. As Marcus is not only a music lover but also a professor of cognitive psychology, he set out to investigate how anyone of any age can become musical - or master any new skill, for that matter.
#3 Bob Spitz: Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child Paperback (2013)
The Story of how the imperturbable and stout Julia Child transformed herself from a struggling young woman into a cult chef and TV personality who taught a whole nation how to eat.
Movie: Julie & Julia (2009)
Julia on screen, played by hilarious Merryl Streep. Partnered with lovely Amy Adams as Julie, a young woman who feels lost until she throughs herself into cooking every single recipe in Child’s famous cookbook and blogging about it.
One-page vignettes of individuals from various countries and backgrounds whose most outstanding achievements occurred or were recognized later in life – from Danish baroness and author Karen Blixen (best known for her book “Out of Africa”), who didn’t start writing until her 40s to Colonel Harland Sanders who founded Kentucky Fried Chicken in his 60s
#5 Grandma Moses: My Life's History (1952)
The autobiography of one of the best known – and most astonishing - late bloomers in art. Anna Mary Robertson Moses, so her real name, worked on a farm most of her life, started painting in her late 70s, and, over the next 20 years, gained worldwide fame with her naïve folk-style pictures.
#6 Nell Painter: Old in Art School
Following her retirement as a history professor at Princeton University, Nell Painter enrolled in the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design. In her memoir, she recounts her struggles with teachers who judge her work especially harshly, as she perceives it, and describes the feelings of strangeness among students who could be her grandchildren. But she also celebrates many joys, from learning to dress like an artist to becoming more and more confident in her approach to art.
#7 Gerald Marzorati: Late to the Ball
At 60, Marzorati, a long-time editor and author, attempts to become a nationally competitive tennis player. Not a small feat! He challenges his body to defy age, finds a professional trainer willing to take on a student with gray hair, and systematically builds his game. A “soulful meditation on aging, companionship, and the power of self-improvement” (The Wall Street Journal).
#8 Doree Shafrir: Thanks for Waiting: The Joy (& Weirdness) of Being a Late Bloomer
A memoir by a witty millennial about how important markers in life like finding a professional home, getting married, and starting a family, don’t always happen on the timeline you imagined. Shafrir explores the pressures, especially for women, to hit particular milestones at certain times and how we can redefine what it means to be a late bloomer.
#9 Sari Botton: And You May Find Yourself...Confessions of a Late-Blooming Gen X Weirdo
Another memoir about late-blooming in a more general way. In a series of essays, the Gen-X author Sari Botton describes coming to feminism and self-actualization as an older person, taking detours and second chances, and how it's never too late to find your way.
#10 Robert Kraus: Leo the Late Bloomer
Okay, I admit, not a biography but … Leo the Late Bloomer is a lovely and beloved children's book about a little tiger who isn't speaking, reading, or drawing. While Leo’s father is concerned, his mother trusts that Leo will do all these things when he's ready.
Non-fiction books
The most comprehensive account I am aware of about what it means to be a late bloomer. Karlgaard, a journalist, publisher, and self-proclaimed late bloomer, argues that early achievements, so admired and cherished today, are not necessarily a good indicator of success in life. He analyzes why so many people don’t explode out of the gates in life, delves into the strengths and disadvantages of late bloomers, and gives advice on how to start and keep flourishing at a mature age. Very informative!
#12 David Epstein: Range. Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World (2019)
In areas like music, sports, and science, early specialization is regarded by many as the only path to success. Journalist David Epstein sets out to debunk this notion. After taking a closer look at research on the world’s top performers, he concludes that generalists, not specialists, are primed to excel, especially in complex and unpredictable fields. And because generalists juggle many interests instead of just one, they often find their path late.
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