The Other Side of Change cover art

The Other Side of Change

Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans

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The Other Side of Change

By: Maya Shankar
Narrated by: Maya Shankar
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

An unexpected diagnosis.
A breakup.
A redundancy.

When life throws a curveball, it can feel like we’re free-falling into the unknown. But what if upheaval was a chance to reimagine ourselves, rather than something to just endure?

Maya Shankar, a cognitive scientist, has spent decades researching the mind after an incident in her own life left her reeling. In this book, she shares the riveting stories of others who have gone through remarkable change, and weaves in scientific insights to illuminate universal lessons hidden within them.

We see how the unique stresses and demands of being thrust into a new reality can lead us to uncover new abilities, perspectives and values, transforming us in extraordinary ways. Exploring our complex reactions to change, we’re invited to rethink our relationship with it altogether, and offered a deep well of wisdom we can draw from during these experiences.

Whether you're processing a past change, grappling with a present one, or bracing for a future one, this will help you discover who you can become on the other side of change.

"THE BOOK WE ALL NEED" Mel Robbins, author of The Let Them Theory

© Maya Shankar 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

 Economics Neuroscience & Neuropsychology Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Stress Management

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Critic reviews

The Other Side of Change is a rare combination of beautiful storytelling, cognitive science and wholehearted wisdom. How lucky are we to have Maya walk with us through the unexpected and often uninvited moments that shape who we are and how we make our way through the world.
The book we all need when life knocks us sideways. This is your guide to finding strength in the mess, clarity in the chaos, and a version of yourself you never saw coming. Smart, deeply moving, and grounded in science - it will change how you see change.
Maya Shankar has written a moving and powerful book about a challenge that all of us will or have faced. What happens when our carefully laid plans and deeply held expectations go awry? I loved The Other Side of Change.
A wise and poignant read for our turbulent times. With powerful stories and practical science, Maya examines how we find purpose after adversity and possibility under uncertainty.
Having faced the bewildering wreckage of an aftermath, I can’t recommend this book highly enough. The Other Side of Change is a collection of stories where quaking forces like illness and loss cleave life into before and after, paired with practical wisdom and science-backed techniques for rebuilding. Maya Shanker has penned a tender, helpful companion for all of us.
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I assumed the book would be about people pursuing one kind of life but having to deal with another. The author also states in the first chapter that the second half of the book is a guide to coping with this. Instead it’s simply a series of anecdotes about people who have endured difficulties & how they coped with them. Not one of the stories deals with a total change in purpose or goals. There is also no guide in in the second half, just more stories. All of which are pretty mundane & told without much emotion or insight. I found the whole book a bit dull.

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