---
title: "Book Notes: True Radiance"
description: Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS reviews True Radiance by Lisa Mladinich, a book that helps readers learn to rely upon and cooperate with grace in the second half of life.
---

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# Book Notes: True Radiance

Jan 21, 2016 12:00:54 PM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs)

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Lisa Mladinich's book ***[True Radiance](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1616369078/catholicmom)*** is subtitled "Finding Grace in the Second Half of Life."

[![True Radiance](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/True-Radiance-254x400-1.jpg?width=254&height=400&name=True-Radiance-254x400-1.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/True-Radiance-2.jpg)That subtitle! Since I read this book, I guess I'm admitting that I am squarely in the second half of life. Now, I don't mind the gray hairs that are appearing with increased frequency, but yikes! The second half of life!

It's time to make sure that this half of my life is not time wasted.

Covering such topics as beauty (interior and exterior), spiritual motherhood, friendship, self-care and interior peace, Lisa Mladinich takes aim in this book at the idea (which I've bought into more than I might care to admit) that women "of a certain age" have less to offer. In ***[True Radiance](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1616369078/catholicmom)***, Lisa explains just how much *more* we have to give.

Chapter 9, "Don't Tempt Me!" was one I particularly needed to read (and one I need to re-read) in my struggles with negative attitudes.

This book is a tribute to the power of the grace of God. Lisa Mladinich shares her own story of growth, conversion and transformation as she encourages the reader to rely on and cooperate with grace in the second half of life.

Even readers like me, who might not want to admit that the second half of life is where they are right now.

**Buy this book through our [Amazon link](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1616369078/catholicmom) and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase!**

**Be sure to check out [our Book Notes archive](http://catholicmom.com/category/book-notes/).**

*Copyright 2016 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS*

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#### About the Author

![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg)

### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs)

Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor.

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