Customer Reviews

Retirement RX: The Retirement Docs' Proven Prescription for Living a Happy, Fulfilling Rest ofYour Life

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

The authors of Retirement Rx have strong credentials and they seem like really nice guys. They've got a great subtitle: "Why Financial Planning Isn't Enough." Unfortunately the book itself delivered a set of platitudes and aphorisms that are useful but not really new.

The authors begin with a superb question: Why do some people thrive in retirement while others are miserable? They seek answers in a survey that they claim was "professionally designed" to get "accurate" data (page 2). They got a 72% response rate to 1500 surveys from patients in their practices.

I wish they had consulted with a social scientist or statistician before beginning the survey, let alone publishing it. These doctors work in fields where patients need help desperately: urology and ophthalmology. They build bonds with their patients, so compliance with a survey is no surprise.

But they're also getting a highly biased sample. They're not getting people who avoid care or simply don't need any. They're getting responses from people who can afford to see a specialist and who most likely have bought into mainstream medical values.

The best parts of the book come when the doctors write about their own experiences, such as the way people react to devastating news. I wish they had expanded these sections instead of providing trite suggestions to develop a "positive attitude."

The sections on family and religion seem value-driven and not always realistic. For instance, the authors encourage readers to heal family relationships (p. 92). It's a nice idea but some people will do better to divorce their dysfunctional family members.

Often there's not much you can do. I know one delightful couple in their 80s who are estranged from both their children. Maybe they made a lot of mistakes in their younger days, but their kids are not interested in reviving old ties. The couple has wisely moved on. They realize their kids won't be available if they need help.

The authors encourage us to have a few close friends. Great idea! I wish they had read some of the research on 21st century friendship. These days it's not just a matter of joining a chess club or taking a language class.

The section on spirituality may be the most frustrating of all. The authors write (p. 156) "If it hasn't been a part of your life before entering your second career, this spiritual trait is one of the most, if not *the* most, difficult to achieve." This sentence is exactly the kind of wisdom that I'd like to see in the whole book. Why didn't the authors expand this valuable point?

On the next page they acknowledged there is no standard "FDA approved prescription" for becoming spiritual. But then they go on to expand at length on the benefits of spirituality, which would seem irrelevant to those who aren't already spiritually inclined and obvious to those who are.

Imagine going to a doctor with a painful headache and getting told, "You're in a lot of pain. You need to do something. But I don't know what you can do. Figure it out and oh yes, be sure to pay our bill."

Even the health recommendations seem surprisingly generic. For instance, the authors encourage weight training, but some research (and a ton of anecdotal evidence) suggests that heavy weight lifting can affect blood pressure and specifically ocular pressure. The authors recommend a slice of whole wheat toast for breakfast, but some sources (including at least one cardiologist) recommends an all-protein meal to start the day.

These authors seem well-intentioned and smart. Why don't they write a well-researched book about aging and health? Or tackle the challenge of healthy people who suddenly find themselves forced to accept the aging process? Or tell us how we should get doctors to take us seriously (and what to do when a doctor or staff person is rude and arrogant)?

Let's hope these retirement docs follow up with a more targeted prescription. So far they've just given us an aspirin and said, "Hope you feel better in the morning."

Up until now both my husband and I have focused solely on the financial aspect of our retirement. We never realized how crucial it is to plan and be prepared for the non-fiscal aspect. Now that we have read Retirement Rx and have taken the Retirement Docs' Quiz we feel much more secure in knowing what we need to do in order to have a happy, successful retirement. Plus the Retirement Docs' Quiz is something that we can use and reuse for years to come in order to re-evaluate our progress towards a successful retirement. As I read the book, I found myself repeatedly calling my own parents providing them with the tips that I had learned. They are both anxious to read it. Retirement Rx is a must have for people of any age and any stage of retirement!

As a venture capitalist who has started 13 healthcare companies, I know that the principles described in Retirement Rx are enduring and essential to a fulfilling retirement. I especially appreciate that the principles were derived from the actual experiences of 1000 patients of the Retirement Docs. These are real life experiences and not guesswork. I couldn't put the book down.

I'm "only" 45, not yet ready to retire, but certainly old enough to wonder why my father is floundering in his retirement. This book has all the answers. It is now so clear that my organized, overachieving dad did not adequately plan for his retirement. He turned 65 and retirement was just what happened next. He wasn't ready financially, emotionally or health-wise. If he'd had this book he'd have done so many things so very differently. I gave him this book and now he's thanking me for the gift. Its wisdom will add years of happiness and understanding to his life. And for me, with this book, I have a blueprint to build my own custom retirement. Retirement will not sneak up on me.

Retirement Rx IS just what the doctor ordered! It's well written and organized, and each page contains a "jewel." The self-evaluation tools are quick and insightful, and the science behind this book provides credibility and resources in a thoughtful and practical format. The 8 traits apply to everyone, and can be used at any stage of retirement or pre-retirement. This book is a must for men and women of all ages.

This is a great book for everyone in any phase of life. It gives a comprehensive look at what is required to make retirement your best phase of life. I loved the way the book clearly identifies the eight critical traits that are needed to ensure a highly successful retirement and the tools needed for developing those traits. I am fortunate to still have time to prepare for the coming four phases of retirement. My wife and I have begun to implement several of the books suggestions and have found them very helpful in guiding our future. Thanks Retirement RX's.

Excellent book. One of the few that focus on the non-financial aspects of retirement. Because the authors base their recommendations on the extensive research they have done, it adds to the credibility of their recommendations. This book is a must read for anyone beginning to plan for retirement, who just retired or have already entered retirement. They include a great tool (retirement quiz) that provides a way to monitor how effectively you are adjusting to and enjoying this phase in your life.

I read this book with new thoughts on looking at our retirement objectives. It gave me new ideas on how we could use our time but more important it was very emotionally supportive to enjoying life. It also reduced my fear of facing our older years especially fear of getting ill. THEN- using our strengths to fight illness and possible disabilities.

Loved the book. Not only is it a great read, I think it's important. Lot's of well-researched insight regarding what could amount to the final 20 or 30 years of your life. Also, the solutions are extremely pragmatic. For the reader nearing retirement, I think the "8 traits" described in the book will provide a "no nonsense" road map to successful retirement and eliminate guesswork. For readers like me with a few more years to prepare, it sets off a few alarms regarding areas that may need a tune-up. I'm planning on living a long time. And I'd prefer to finish strong. I think this book is going to help me get it done.

Many of us doctors are nearing retirement age, but have little or no guidance on how to be "successful" at this endeavor.
This carefully researched book may help one retire more successfully. Not having retired yet, I can't vouch for the helpfulness of this book, but it sure is a welcome addition to a field that is woefully lacking.