Life Begins at Fifty: A Handbook for Creative Retirement Planning [Paperback]

Leonard J. Hansen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1989

A manual of personal and financial advice for men and women contemplating retirement or already retired from full-time jobs.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The key to a successful and fulfilling retirement is careful planning. Though evaluation of lifestyle and goals can begin at any time, it is especially important for mature men and women approaching this new stage in their lives. Newspaper columnist Hansen has prepared a guide to the retirement planning process similar in concept and tone to Richard Bolles's What Color Is Your Parachute ? career planning books. The book summarizes issues to consider in areas such as health; career and employment; finances; travel; and personal relationships; and follows up with charts, forms, and work sheets designed to encourage the creation of a retirement life plan. Appendixes provide names and addresses of resource organizations and a list of suggested readings. Good for most general collections.
- Karen McNally Bensing, The Benjamin Rose Inst., Cleveland
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Inc (November 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812043294
• ISBN-13: 978-0812043297
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,320,759 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A valuable, user-friendly tool for constructing one's life., September 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Life Begins at Fifty: A Handbook for Creative Retirement Planning (Paperback)

As my own writing sometimes includes advice columns, an editor recommended I read "Life Begins at Fifty" as a primer on how to make a wide range of sometimes complex topics easily accessible for the lay reader. It proved an excellent direction. Mr. Hansen has obviously covered the waterfront for a long time, and the breadth of his knowledge and the manner in which he integrates and conveys his subjects provides a stark contrast to most of the platitudes and off the shelf advice readers are subjected to. My spry 82 year old mother found the book a fascination and said that if she'd had access to it decades ago it would have significantly influenced and changed a number of her decisions. I know the book will prove an interesting tool for me, as it prods me toward topics I know I should be thinking about but keep putting off. One of the most evident virtues of the book is that Mr. Hansen never seems to be fighting a rearguard action as Father Time starts piling on, but instead clearly views the last half of life as when things really get interesting, a viewpoint readers of his book are likely to embrace.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive guide for pre-retirement and retirement life, July 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Life Begins at Fifty: A Handbook for Creative Retirement Planning (Paperback)

As a reporter in the field of aging it is my business to keep up with the plethora of books on the subject, and mature-market pioneer Mr. Hansen's "Life Begins at 50'' is still for my money one of the very best comprehensive guides available for anyone seriously contemplating the myriad issues of growing older -- and better -- in America. As the oft-dubbed "guru" of the aging field, Mr. Hansen's 30 years as an award-winning publisher, journalist, author, syndicated columnist, investigative reporter and travel writer provides the reader with concise, insightful and authoritative information. To Mr. Hansen aging equals opportunity, and this philosophy is woven throughout each crisply written chapter laced with anecdotes, stories of inspirational people, life-plan options and hard-hitting facts. "Life Begins at 50'' is not only a fun read but also an indepensible how-to reference that pulls back the curtain of mystery on everything from Social Security and wellness to longevity and creative aging.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book has much valuable information about growing older, July 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Life Begins at Fifty: A Handbook for Creative Retirement Planning (Paperback)

I found this book to be very well written and full of valuable information about enjoying life well into one's mature years. I will soon be fifty and now I am thinking about how nice it will be as opposed to dreading growing old. This is a source of inspiration for me. This book helps one to understand the value of growing older and reinforces the idea that growing older is a great opportunity. This book has much to offer those in middle age as well as those in late adulthood. I would especially recommend this book to those in the baby boom generation as they approach fifty.