Book Reviews
Here is my honest opinion about some of the books out there about transitioning into retirement.
Note: These reviews are focused on the psychological aspects of the adjustment to retirement. Please talk with your financial advisor for recommendations regarding financial planning books.Revitalizing Retirement: Reshaping your identity, Relationships and Purpose
Nancy K. Schlossberg (2009) 241 pages
Positives: Comprehensive review of the transitions and psychological change of early retirement. Provides an elegant description of the concept of "mattering" as a central principle of retirement.
Negatives: (Minor) reasonably sophisticated language used, but the advanced general reader should have no difficulty reading it.
Evaluation: The best overall book on the psychological transition to retirement, but not a brief introduction.
The Psychology of Retirement: Coping with the Transition from Work
Derek Milne (2013) 204 pages
Positives: Excellent overview of stress and coping applied to retirement. This book covers many essential topics like relationships (including with pets) and happiness.
Negatives: A bit academic in tone. Too much time spent on stress and coping in general.
Evaluation: A good second or third book to read on the topic to “go deeper” into the psychology of retirement.
The New Retirementality: Planning Your Life and Living Your Dreams...at Any Age You Want (4th Edition)
Mitch Anthony (2014) 224 Pages
Positives: Blends financial and psychological issues into one book.
Negatives: More information on the financial side than on the psychological side.
Evaluation: If you only want to read ONE book for financial and psychological issues related to retirement this may be a good choice.
Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes, Revised 25th Anniversary Edition
William Bridges (2004) 194 pages
Positives: Excellent book about the transition process.
Negatives: Not specifically about retirement transition.
Evaluation: A good book for understanding transition – but does not include specifics of relationship and identity shifts in retirement.
Purposeful Retirement: How to Bring Happiness and Meaning to Your Retirement
Hyrum W. Smith (2017) 200 pages
Positives: Easy to read. Many stories that illustrate concepts. Some useful ideas covered like Mentoring and volunteering.
Negatives: The concepts and steps are not laid out clearly – the stories get in the way of clear direction.
Evaluation: Interesting read, but not a useful guide to understanding and planning for transitions in retirement.
Retire Smart, Retire Happy
Nancy K. Schlossberg (2004) 183 pages
Positives An excellent overall guide that explores many transitions such as relationships, finding a new path in life. Research-based.
Negatives: Beginning is too focused on the author’s personal story.
Evaluation: Revitalizing Retirement is a better book by this author.
Retirement Rx: Small Doses of Wisdom, Inspiration and Truth
Robert Laura (2017) 70 pages
Positives: Brief book, short stories followed by reflection questions.
Negatives: Does not present a comprehensive view of the retirement process or explore the multiple psychological dimensions related to retirement transition and planning.
Evaluation: Can be good to “jump start” contemplation and conversation, but not a comprehensive approach.
Happy Retirement: The Psychology of Reinvention
Kenneth S. Schultz, Megan Kaye and Mike Annesley (2015) 224 pages
Positives: Very comprehensive – covers a multitude of topics in planning for, early and later phases of retirement.
Negatives: Shallow coverage of each topic (1 to 2 pages per topic).
Evaluation: Great resource that has brief coverage of a multitude of topics.
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