Happy Retirement: The Psychology of Reinvention

Consulting psychology professor Shultz and his collaborators have created a lively and energetic guide to retirement. The book, a graphic designer's dream, is organized primarily in two-page segments that address key questions ("What's in store?") and cite fascinating (and sometimes sobering) statistics in a lively layout. The topics are broad and intended to help readers identify key considerations when planning for%E2%80%94or floundering in the midst of%E2%80%94retirement. The content, developed by Shultz, addresses topics such as "the art of letting go" of jobs and coping once you do. Health (mental and physical) is also covered, as are financial matters, but readers looking for specific how-to advice won't find it here. Instead, they'll find a creative approach to many topics, such as discovering%E2%80%94and rediscovering%E2%80%94hobbies, returning to school, teaching a new generation, and being an involved grandparent. The book's graphic approach is bold and may disconcert those who are used to more conventional self-help manuals. For readers who want a well-researched field guide, however, this will be a valuable armchair resource, with its many points to consider and discuss. (Dec.)