George Oldenburg resigned his bank vice-presidency to buy a small-town zoo. Tina Georgeou had a baby at 51. At the same age, Louis Licari competed in the Hawaii Ironman for the first time. Alan Graham gave up a thriving property development business to found a charity that feeds Austin’s homeless.

These are just a few of the 45 people you’ll meet when you read “Thinking About Tomorrow: Reinventing Yourself at Midlife” (Warner Books, hardcover) by Susan Crandell. The former editor-in-chief of More magazine explores and illuminates what she calls “life entrepreneurs,” people who are not just reinventing their own lives, but redefining what it means to be middle-aged.

As Crandell’s life entrepreneurs share their stories, they teach readers how to get past the hurdles and challenges to realize an exciting new life. How do you find the right new path? How do you get through the “reinvention crazies,” when you’re terrified you’re making the worst mistake of your life? How do you let go of the safe-and-secure old ways and find the courage to reach for something new?

This book shows readers how they can re-imagine their lives. Each profile is accompanied by an important life-reinvention lesson. Scattered throughout the book are suggestions for change that Crandell calls 50 Ways to Jumpstart Your Life: Little Reinventions with Big Payoffs. The ideas range from raising a guide dog to creating your own adventure fund.

Available at local bookstores, amazon.com and hachettebookgroupusa.com.

Claire Yezbak Fadden is the Associate Editor of LifeAfter50.com.