65 Things to Do When You Retire - More Than 65 Notable Achievers on How to Make the Most of the Rest of Your Life

by Mark Evan Chimsky (Editor)

Retirement is no longer just about recreational activities like shuffleboard and golf nowadays, it's often about re-creation: reinventing oneself and having the time to do all the things that got deferred while working 9 to 5 and/or raising a family. 65 Things To Do When You Retire is a fun, lively, and inspiring guide to how to make the most of the years ahead. This book includes 65 essays, with practical advice from noted authors, retirement experts, and people who have used their retirement as an opportunity to turn their personal dreams into a reality, whether it's starting a nonprofit, writing a novel, or inventing new technologies to help others. Contributors include President Jimmy Carter, Gloria Steinem, Ernie J. Zelinski, Jeri Sedlar and Rick Miners, and Nancy K. Schlossberg.

Genres: Nonfiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2012

About the author

Mark Evan Chimsky is the head of Mark Chimsky Editorial Services Unlimited (markchimskyeditorial.com), an editorial consulting business in which he helps authors develop and polish their manuscripts and book proposals.

Previously he was executive editor and editorial director of Harper San Francisco and headed the paperback divisions at Little, Brown and Macmillan. For nearly six years, Mark was the editor in chief of the book division of Sellers Publishing, an independent publishing company based in South Portland, Maine. In addition, he was on the faculty of New York University’s Center for Publishing, and for three years he served as the director of the book section of NYU’s Summer Publishing Institute.

Mark has edited a number of best-selling books, including Johnny Cash’s memoir, Cash, and he has worked with such notable authors as Melody Beattie, Arthur Hertzberg, Beryl Bender Birch, and Robert Coles. He was also project manager on Billy Graham’s New York Times best-selling memoir, Just As I Am. He conceived of the long-running series The Best American Erotica, which was compiled by Susie Bright, and he was the first editor to reissue the works of celebrated novelist Dawn Powell. His editorial achievements have been noted in Vanity Fair, the Nation, and Publishers Weekly.

In his career, Mark developed and compiled a number of acclaimed books, including Creating a Life You’ll Love, which won the silver in ForeWord’s 2009 Book of the Year Awards (self-help category) and 65 Things to Do When You Retire, which the Wall Street Journal called “[one of] the year’s best guides to later life.” He is also an award-winning poet whose poetry and essays have appeared in JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association), Wild Violet, Three Rivers Poetry Journal, and Mississippi Review.

Mark also teaches in the Writing, Literature, and Publishing Department at Emerson College in Boston, and he is the co-author of the new musical The Road of Life (roadoflifethemusical.com).

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a group of essays directed at baby boomers getting ready to retire. It's grouped by themes, and some were more interesting to me than others, but the overall theme that came across to me was take this opportunity to do what YOU want to do for a change, but keep active and be purposeful in your choices. I don't want to give the impression that it was all about being selfish though--some of the ideas were about volunteer opportunities. The part that spoke to me was the section on traveling, but there should be something there for most boomers.

[Dave Bernard · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who hopes to someday retire and enjoy that promised land of freedom and fun, I found Mark's collection of short stories inspiring. He brings together 65 different authors from all walks of life from Jimmy Carter to Jane Fonda to share their personal views on retirement and living that second act to the fullest. The stories are brief, often humorous and right on the money.

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short articles. Some really helpful and practical.Sone not. Skipped ones on starting your own business because I have no interest. Really glad I read it.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contributions by well known people like Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem, but most with a small story to tell about discovering exciting adventures, activities they never thought they'd do. But always wanted to do.
Fast reading. Nothing concrete but that's because there is no map for the sudden expanse of space and time 24/7.

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not horrible. It's just not very informative or inspiring. I scanned through about half of it in a half an hour, before I returned it to the library. It's essentially a collection of magazine articles printed in fairly large print with copious white space. Some of the articles are essentially still ads for other books on the subject.

[Karen Ng · Rating 2 out of 5]

Same as any other retirement book, readjust mindset, find something you love, etc, etc... basically a summary of a few other retirement books plus personal stories. Skip if you already have a good book. Weak / lack info on finance side.... main focus was on mental adjustment due to the fact that the author was a consulting firm owner before retirement.

[Sandee Lammers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got a few things out of the book - but not many. I am a younger retiree - so maybe that's why. Also - the few times there were some websites mentioned to check out, I went to the web page to find two of them didn't even exist anymore. Perhaps the book is too dated for those. A couple of ideas noted. On to read more books and do other fun things I have planned for my retirement!

[Kerry Shoji · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with Pat. All the articles say basically the same thing; still I came away with some resources for follow up.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a little dated, but I enjoyed the ideas.

[Ann Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really a list of 65 things to do, as much as 65 different peoples ideas of what you can do. Some very good advice, and some that is not for me. But might speak to someone else.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not what you think it is. It's not a bucket list book per se. It's more of a guideline for putting a plan together and is very philosophical. It's a great book. Happy I read it.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of essays about various aspects of retirement. Useful if you are beginning to think about retiring, as it gives you food for thought. The book casts a wide net, but it is rather shallow in details. I like it as most retirement books focus on the financial aspects, not on daily living.

[Pamela · Rating 1 out of 5]

boring and pretentious.... did not finish

[Jenny Naidu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing earthshattering......pretty common everyday stuff

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

65 articles about retirement and they all pretty much say the same thing.

[Pamela Grabowski · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a tough read because it really rehashed information I had read a dozen times before. If you are not a reader, or listen to NPR maybe these essays would be new, but I found the book redundant.

[ANNA DEMETRA · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the variety of sources, this book gave me some good ideas...

[Jaynie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps helpful when I get to the point of setting new goals. Right now I have a very good plan and don't need to do that yet.

[Karin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blah, Blah..nothing new here.