Why do so many seemingly successful professionals hit the wall in middle age, and decide to either radically scale back their careers or set off in an entirely new direction? Clinical psychologist Steven Berglas, a specialist in success-induced burnout, believes it stems from the "self-handicapping behavior" that baby boomers are exhibiting in record numbers as they climb the corporate ladder and find they aren't happy with what results. Terming the phenomena Supernova Burnout, Berglas defines this workplace ennui as "the constrictive effects of being branded a 'success'" and offers some advice for the psychological distress that is an increasing consequence. In Reclaiming the Fire, he advances his arguments in a serious but accessible manner with references to cultural touch points like Mark Monsky's Looking Out for #1 and help from philosophers such as Friedrich Nietzsche. He analyzes "performance-inhibiting" behaviors ranging from substance abuse to abrupt career changes that he says developed from societal attitudes of the last half century, and suggests a few individual and organizational responses (including his 60 Minutes cure, which relies upon passion and intrinsic motivation to battle career malaise). While not everyone will agree with his assessments and prescribed cures, businesspeople who fit Berglas's description--and human resource managers who deal them--will likely find the material intriguing and potentially helpful. --Howard Rothman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Berglas, a management consultant and psychology instructor at UCLA and Harvard, traces burnout among attorneys, doctors, executives and others. For example, he points to Michael Jordan, who left basketball in 1993 because of "Supernova Burnout"; after extraordinary achievements, excessive attention made him fear failure, Berglas theorizes. Other cases of people trapped by success demonstrate burnout variations. Readers without their own professional guidance will wish Berglas discussed more solutions. Agent, Jill Kneerim.

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