Books Archive

The New Senior Man

Retirement Wisdom · Feb 22, 2018 ·

By Thelma Reese and Barbara M. Fleisher (2017 – Roman & Littlefield Publishers).

In Short

Following their 2013 book, The New Senior Woman, Reese and Fleisher, two retired college professors, tackled the sometimes thorny issue of how men successfully transition to life in retirement.

There are many things to love about this book.

First, there are thoughtful conversations with many men, from all walks of life, at various stages of their retirement journey woven into the book. These provide snippets of real-life case studies that paint a rich portrait of lived experience and wisdom. The reader comes away with a sense that each retirement is truly unique. However, there are some universal challenges that each man faces, primarily around identity and purpose. There’s a clear sense that despite the realities and challenges, many men are seizing the opportunities that this phase of life offers. These stories give concrete examples of men who are finding creative solutions and designs that work for them and align with their values and priorities. But there’s no sugar-coating in this book. The authors take on a myriad of tough issues head-on and extract the lessons learned from the stories of various men’s experiences.

Second, this book has a wonderful sense of humor. The authors provide a look at the lighter side, while still addressing serious issues such as ageism. The humor provides a great balance and you come away with a sense that you are getting to know not only the characters who were interviewed, but the co-authors as well. There is sound information and useful tends highlighted in the book, but their personalities come through as well.

Third, it’s one of those books you read where you find yourself slapping your forehead saying “That is brilliant. Why haven’t I ever thought of that?” My favorite example is the title of Chapter One: Manning Up to Retirement.

Takeaways

Financial planning in retirement is critical. But it’s not enough. Winning at retirement involves planning for other important ingredients such as purpose, identity and social connections
What you focus on matters – and it’s a choice. What’s your attitude toward retirement? The authors emphasize that this phase of life is an opportunity for renewal and reinvention, in contrast to some of the messages that our culture and society at large emphasize. But there are innovative ways many men are discovering to continue to contribute and add value.
Think differently. The authors note that “Life isn’t a matter of either -or.” Retirement today is vastly different today. There are new options to continue to work in different ways and build a portfolio of interests and activities.

Kickstarter

If you haven’t already, give some thought to what your identity was during your career and what you want it to be in retirement. It’s a harder question, and a more important one, than it first appears. How will you need to “Man Up’ to have a great retirement?

I found this book to be very insightful and inspiring, while being firmly grounded and rooted in the stories and experiences of the men they profiled.

If you are a senior man, or hope to be one someday, this book is well worth your time. If you know a senior man, who is approaching retirement or is in retirement, this book would make a meaningful gift.

– Joe Casey

Joe Casey is an executive coach, who also helps people think through and create their Second Act careers, at retirementwisdom.com

Buy The New Senior Man on Amazon

The Retirement Wisdom Podcast

Listen to our conversation with author Thelma Reese here

Retirement Wisdom · Dec 19, 2017 ·

By Anne C. Coon and Judith Ann Feuerherm

(2017-Praeger)

Book Review by Joe Casey

Women face some unique headwinds that can have a cumulative and lasting effect beyond the workplace and into retirement. The authors tell stories of 25 women across their careers and life course into their retirement years. It’s a timely book, as it includes frank recollections of the toll that discrimination and harassment played in the careers and lives of these women.

This book is primarily about resilience and creativity through the compelling stories of women who overcame multiple obstacles and are living satisfying lives in retirement – on their own terms.

The authors are also both thriving in their own retirements and bring different yet complementary perspectives to this work. Anne Coon brings an academic background, while Judith Feuerherm comes with extensive career coaching, consulting and leadership expertise.

What I really love about this book is that it puts the individual experiences of these 25 women in the context of historical events shared by the baby boomer generation, while delving into the specific challenges and opportunities they worked through following their corporate lives.

They paint a vivid portrait of the challenges and opportunities that are the essence of transitions to retirement, such as losing identity and building a new one, embracing the exhilarating freedom while dealing with the loss of structure. An example is a process of moving beyond titles and labels and into an unchartered phase of life where there is no longer a clear path laid out.

Many of these themes I also see in my coaching work among men and women alike. However, the authors provide a candid view into the concerns and fears of these women through their journey and some of the unique adaptions these women made, such as deciding that they needed to become their own role models.

This book is an excellent book for people approaching or currently in their own transition. It’s particularly relevant for high- achieving professionals, who will relate to these women as they retire from corporate life, but not real life, where they continue to thrive in new ways.

Joe Casey is an executive coach, who also helps people think through and create their Second Act careers, at retirementwisdom.com

Retirement Wisdom · Dec 9, 2017 ·

by Emily Esfahani Smith (2017 – Crown Publishing Group)

Book Review by Joe Casey

At Retirement Wisdom, we’re big on of purpose. In fact, studies have found that your longevity may even depend on it.

Yet, purpose is one of those subjects that I sometimes find hard to get my arms around. I wonder about how someone discovers their purpose – particularly when they transition from their primary career to their next chapter. I always feel like it requires a lengthy trip to mountains and extensive navel-gazing. That will need to wait for another day. Someday. Maybe.

It turns out that the mountains are optional. Emily Esfahani Smith uses an entertaining mix of wisdom from philosophers, research and stories to break this topic down. She draws useful distinctions between the related topics of purpose, happiness and meaning and illustrates the connection between purpose and identity.

She outlines the four pillars of a life of meaning – belonging, purpose story-telling and transcending beyond yourself. I found Esfahani Smith’s writing on the story-telling pillar, in particular, to be especially valuable. She describes the powerful role that narrative can play in rediscovering purpose. Approaching retirement, how you envision and craft the story of your next chapters can make all the difference.

Retirement is a major life transition and rediscovering your purpose is an important part of successfully navigating it. I highly recommend this book as an excellent way to begin exploring your purpose. It contains a wealth of practical knowledge and insights that can aid your journey.

Buy the Power of Meaning on Amazon

Listen to our conversation with the author on The Retirement Wisdom podcast here

Related Book Reviews You May Like:

Purpose and a Paycheck

Purposeful Retirement

About Retirement Wisdom

Are you retiring, but not done yet? Our coaches can help you create a retirement that’s a great one. A 20+ retirement is a terrible thing to waste. Design your life in retirement for more clarity, direction, and a sense of purpose aligned with your true values.

Retirement Wisdom · Oct 18, 2017 ·

By Dorie Clark (2017 – Harvard Business Review Press)

Book Review by Joe Casey

In Short

The ranks of silver entrepreneurs and entrepreneur women continue to grow. More and more people who are mid-career or beyond are concluding that moving on from corporate life offers greater flexibility and interesting, rewarding work. Many are deciding that it’s time to become their own boss.

Food for Thought

While the gig economy offers opportunities for Second Act careers and entrepreneurship, it’s quite competitive. You need an edge. Dorie Clark’s new book provides practical tips on how to build your own business and create multiple income streams in today’s economy. To succeed, you’ll need the right online strategies, and Clark walks you through the options. You’ll come away with a clear picture of what you’ll need to focus on, what you’ll need to start learning – or who you’ll need to hire to help you.

Takeaways

What I particularly like about this book is that it presents a variety of options for people to leverage their unique skill set and combine it with what they really enjoy doing. Some of the strategies she recommends can be implemented to begin building a business before taking the plunge full-time. In addition to her experiences, she includes stories from people who have done it successfully, all of whom started small, and shares their lessons learned. While some of the stories from younger folks may not immediately resonate, their expertise, tools, and tactics from the online arena may be exactly what you need.

A Kickstarter

Starting your own business after a corporate career involves risks. While you should consult your financial advisor before doing so, I think that this book offers savvy advice and smart approaches that can give you a leg up on your competition. Best of all it provides inspiration that can kick start your next chapter and gives you a roadmap of where to start.

Retirement Wisdom · Mar 22, 2017 ·

Answering Your Call: A Guide for Living Your Deepest Purpose

By John Schuster (2003 – Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.)

Book Review by Joe Casey

In Short

Some people discover their true life purpose early, yet it’s not uncommon for this to unfold later in life. For some, it happens mid-career and leads to a major shift. For others, approaching retirement offers the time and space for reflection, exploration and discovery of their deepest purpose.

John Schuster explains that discovering your life purpose is not a linear process. It is highly individual and doesn’t just occur organically – or magically. it’s a result of thoughtful reflection and attentive listening to yourself – “your inner voice”. Schuster highlights that it’s equally important to know what not to listen to, such as the expectations of others (“the social noise”) and our own ego. Schuster demystifies how callings work and how people can tune in to them at different phases of life.

This is a book you’ll want to read, but it’s one that you’ll want to take your time with and engage with. The author provides thought-provoking questions and useful exercises as well as a concise summary at the end of each chapter. It’s one of those books that you’ll use, not just read.

Food for Thought

An interesting part of the book spotlights the roles that two types of characters play in our careers and lives – Saboteurs and Evocateurs. We can learn from both. The Saboteurs are inevitable. They distract you from your true calling. But they can play a vital part in testing you and sharpening your focus. They can be pivotal catalysts for growth – if you are listening.

In contrast, Evocateurs have a way of bringing out the best in people. They often see your potential and gifts before you do.

I came away thinking that we can clearly see the Saboteurs. They are often noisy, active and in your face – or behind your back. While it’s easy to recall special people, who have helped you, some Evocateurs are subtler and fleeting – and you need to be alert for them. Schuster provides strategies to “endure the Saboteurs” and to “embrace the gifts” from Evocatuers – and how to pass their lessons forward to the next generation.

Takeaways

We tend to think of callings as a dramatic bolt from the blue – a clear message that we were put on earth for a particular purpose (“I was born to be a professional skateboarder’’ one of my daughters suddenly announced to me at age 6). The author explains that sometimes there are obvious talents that lead people to a calling, but more often it’s a matter of listening to nuanced cues and discovering it over time. He recommends “reviewing your Call History” to see those cues more clearly. (Since we’re all tied to our phones these days, this is a skill we already know and can apply here in a different way).

A Kickstarter

Four questions to consider:

How close are you today to pursuing your true calling?
How have Saboteurs and Evocateurs impacted your career and life?
What can you do to pass forward the gifts you received from Evocateurs?
Who can you help discover their potential?

If you’re at – or approaching – a cross-roads, I’d highly recommend this book to guide your reflection and discovery process. It can be an invaluable resource if you’re considering a career change or transitioning to retirement.