The 52 Weeks

Edging into forty-something, Karen and Pam found themselves in a state of stuck. They had checked off many of their major life goals-career, husband, children, friends-but they'd lost momentum. After griping over drinks one night, they came up with a plan to face their fears, rediscover their minds, give back to the community, and renew their relationships. They challenged themselves to try one new thing every week for a year-from test-driving a Maserati to target practice at a shooting range to ballroom dance lessons-and to blog about their journeys. They came through it with a new sense of clarity and purpose that has them itching to share the possibilities with the millions of middle-aged women out there who feel the same "stuck" way about one or many areas of their lives. Getting unstuck doesn't have to mean running a marathon, traveling the world, or ending a relationship with your partner. Through their experiences and a good dose of humor, Karen and Pam show readers how achieving small goals can give you a renewed sense of accomplishment and how you can keep growing, learning, and achieving at any age. Interspersed with the women's stories is expert advice from doctors, psychiatrists, artists, and even a poker diva (who happens to also be a Fortune 500 executive).

Karen Amster-Young is a marketing and public relations veteran and has amassed many awards for her work in public relations, including a spot on PR Week’s “Forty PR Stars under Forty.” Karen lives with her husband and daughter in New York City.

Pam Godwin began her career as a caseworker for a nonprofit refugee resettlement agency. After getting her master’s degree in elementary education, Pam was a classroom teacher and literacy specialist in the New York City public school system. She lives with her husband and children in New York City.