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By John E. Nelson What Color Is Your Parachute? for Retirement, Second Edition: Planning a Prosperous, Healthy, and Ha (2nd Second Edition) [Paperback]
Once upon a time, retirement planning was just about saving money. But retirement is changing. Today, we're living longer and expecting more from those vital years. For many of us, the question isn't “What work will I retire from?” but “What life will I retire to?”Inspired by the timeless wisdom of WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE?, the bestselling career book in the world, WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE? FOR RETIREMENT will help you prepare for the next stage of life, whether you're in your early, mid, or late career or you've already retired. What does retirement mean to you? Do you know what will give you the most fulfillment years down the road? How do you plan for your health and happiness? Filled with practical exercises and resources, this step-by-step guide will help you answer these questions and develop a complete picture of your ideal retirement. From taking inventory of your income to discovering your calling, you'll create a map for your retirement journey so that you not only survive but also thrive throughout the years.Whether you decide to quit working, pursue a new career path, or try something in between, WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE? FOR RETIREMENT will help you satisfy your lifelong goals, passions, and dreams.Reviews“A useful, practical roadmap for anyone thinking about retirement, no matter how distant.”—USA TodayRecommended in a list of “some of the best books and workbooks to sharpen one's financial IQ.”—Bankrate.com“A step-by-step plan and practical exercises for achieving a more fulfilling life in retirement.”—Fidelity Investments STAGES“What's crucial,Mr. Nelson and others say, is to sample opportunities before retirement D-Day.”—New York Times“A nice complement to the more typical IRA-intensive school of retirement planning.”—Reuters in the Washington Post “Can help Americans sort through the retirement lifestyle they want and need instead of the one that Madison Avenue wants to sell them.”—Dow Jones Marketwatch“Before taking on more extensive programs, try the free Retirement Strengths worksheet at www.RetirementWellBeing.com. It captures key elements of the retirement planning process in one exercise.”—Business Week“The idea that leisure activities alone can produce an enjoyable retirement is more than half a century out of date.”—Bottom Line Personal“Read the book if you want a happy retired life, not only a moneyed one.”—Shanghai Daily“I dare you to make it through even one chapter without feeling the urge to set your imagination loose and think of more fulfilling ways to spend retirement.”—Better Investing“Filled with exercises and resources on such matters as making lasting friendships, evaluating medical treatment plans and finding the ideal place to settle down.”—Employee Benefit News“Retirement researcher and writer John Nelson argues that there are at least five other key components of a successful retirement, in addition to the financial one.”—Investment Advisor“May be just the track to follow when the client conversation strays from the comfortable nuts and bolts of financial planning.”—Research Magazine“Engage clients not only on financial issues, but on all the matters related to retirement well-being and happiness.”—Money Management Executive
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2007
16 people are currently reading
428 people want to read
About the author
Richard Nelson Bolles
51 books97 followersDick Bolles, more formally known as Richard Nelson Bolles, was a former Episcopal clergyman, a member of high-IQ society Mensa, and the author of the best-selling job-hunting book, What Color is Your Parachute? The book remained on The New York Times best-seller list for more than a decade and has sold over 10 million copies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 5, 2016
I have found the Parachute series helpful in the past; if nothing else, they always give me something helpful to think over. This entry was similar. It's more of a workbook than something to just read, although even reading it and taking notes (along with doing a few of the exercises) helped me to begin really imagining my retirement and making me aware of some concrete steps I need to take.
I found the Kindle edition difficult to use so I've bought the tree copy as well. (No Kindle edition is listed for this book, oddly enough)
I found the Kindle edition difficult to use so I've bought the tree copy as well. (No Kindle edition is listed for this book, oddly enough)
November 1, 2014
This book covers a lot of territory that is not covered in the usual retirement literature. Along the same lines of it's namesake: What Color Is Your Parachute? 2015, it poses questions to consider. The subtitle of this book: Planning a Prosperous, Healthy and Happy Future, gives a small hint of the breadth of material it covers.
From the Preface:
"I prefer to think of life in terms of music. My favorite metaphor is that of a symphony. A symphony, traditionally, has four parts to it - four movements, as they're called. So does Life. There is infancy, then the time of learning, then the time of working, and finally the time that we are talking about, often called "retirement." But if we discourage the use of the word "retirement," then this might be better called the Fourth Movement."
"The Fourth Movement, in the symphonic world, is a kind of blank slate. It was and is up to the composer to decide what to write upon it. Traditionally, the composer writes of triumph, victor, and joy - as in Beethoven's Symphony #3, the Eroica. But it may, alternatively, be a kind of anticlimactic, meandering piece of music - as in Tchaikovsky's Symphony #6, the Pathetique. There the Third Movement ends with a bombastic, stirring march. The Fourth Movement, immediately following, is subdued, meditative, meandering, and sounds almost like an afterthought."
"Well, there are our choices about our own lives: Shall the Fourth Movement, the final movement, of our lives be pathetique or erotica - pathetic or heroic? Your call!"
"I like this defining of our lives in terms of music, rather than in terms of work."
"To carry the metaphor onward, in this Fourth Movement of our lives, we have instruments , which we must treat with care. They are: our body, our mind, our spirit, and what we poetically speak of as our heart, which Chinese medicine calls "the Emperor." Body, mind, spirit, heart. Some of these instruments are in shiny, splendid conditions. Others are slightly dented. Or greatly dented. But these are the instruments that play the musical notes of this time of our lives."
"The traditional notes are: sleep, water, eating, faith, love, loneliness, survival (financial and spiritual, health care, dreams (fulfilled or unfulfilled), and triumph -- over all adversities -- and even death." (Page ix)
"The nicest compliment any of us can hear as we grow older is: 'What a passion for life she still has! Or, he has! It's thrilling to be around them." (Page xi)
A few interesting points from the book.
After moving, we usually don't keep in touch with friends from where we moved from.
The relationship with one's spouse usually intensifies. If it was bad, it usually gets worse, if it was good, it usually gets even better.
As with other books in the Parachute series, there are exercise, but fortunately, a lot fewer than in the namesake book.
From the Preface:
"I prefer to think of life in terms of music. My favorite metaphor is that of a symphony. A symphony, traditionally, has four parts to it - four movements, as they're called. So does Life. There is infancy, then the time of learning, then the time of working, and finally the time that we are talking about, often called "retirement." But if we discourage the use of the word "retirement," then this might be better called the Fourth Movement."
"The Fourth Movement, in the symphonic world, is a kind of blank slate. It was and is up to the composer to decide what to write upon it. Traditionally, the composer writes of triumph, victor, and joy - as in Beethoven's Symphony #3, the Eroica. But it may, alternatively, be a kind of anticlimactic, meandering piece of music - as in Tchaikovsky's Symphony #6, the Pathetique. There the Third Movement ends with a bombastic, stirring march. The Fourth Movement, immediately following, is subdued, meditative, meandering, and sounds almost like an afterthought."
"Well, there are our choices about our own lives: Shall the Fourth Movement, the final movement, of our lives be pathetique or erotica - pathetic or heroic? Your call!"
"I like this defining of our lives in terms of music, rather than in terms of work."
"To carry the metaphor onward, in this Fourth Movement of our lives, we have instruments , which we must treat with care. They are: our body, our mind, our spirit, and what we poetically speak of as our heart, which Chinese medicine calls "the Emperor." Body, mind, spirit, heart. Some of these instruments are in shiny, splendid conditions. Others are slightly dented. Or greatly dented. But these are the instruments that play the musical notes of this time of our lives."
"The traditional notes are: sleep, water, eating, faith, love, loneliness, survival (financial and spiritual, health care, dreams (fulfilled or unfulfilled), and triumph -- over all adversities -- and even death." (Page ix)
"The nicest compliment any of us can hear as we grow older is: 'What a passion for life she still has! Or, he has! It's thrilling to be around them." (Page xi)
A few interesting points from the book.
After moving, we usually don't keep in touch with friends from where we moved from.
The relationship with one's spouse usually intensifies. If it was bad, it usually gets worse, if it was good, it usually gets even better.
As with other books in the Parachute series, there are exercise, but fortunately, a lot fewer than in the namesake book.
December 26, 2013
This is a refreshing book. It rightly begins by turning the conventional idea of retirement onto its head, and then gets the reader thinking about what he/she REALLY wants to do with the rest of life. Although it does not have the answers, the book asks all the right questions, and has a lot of exercises which the reader can use to understand and decide what to do in the forseeable future.
This is the kind of book you skip through, delving into the main parts and leaving things you already konw about. I found it very useful, and can recommend it to everyone, no matter what the age. In fact, the younger you are, the better. If there is a version local to your own country, get that, as there are some country-specific things in the book.
This is the kind of book you skip through, delving into the main parts and leaving things you already konw about. I found it very useful, and can recommend it to everyone, no matter what the age. In fact, the younger you are, the better. If there is a version local to your own country, get that, as there are some country-specific things in the book.
May 30, 2017
what you need to know when you read this book is that you will only get out what you put in to it. the book is not a magic oracle that you can just put a quarter in and expect it to spit out what your dream job is.
that being said, it is a great tool for making some assessments about your skills, likes, dislikes, dreams, etc. maybe it will only be one part of your planning. i did not read it and instantly know what i was supposed to be doing. but it definitely gave me a clearer picture of the direction i should be heading and was a major factor in helping me leave my longtime job and start my own business!
definitely worth it if you're willing to put the work in!
that being said, it is a great tool for making some assessments about your skills, likes, dislikes, dreams, etc. maybe it will only be one part of your planning. i did not read it and instantly know what i was supposed to be doing. but it definitely gave me a clearer picture of the direction i should be heading and was a major factor in helping me leave my longtime job and start my own business!
definitely worth it if you're willing to put the work in!
May 5, 2008
This book is terrible. The content might be good, but the execution is so horrendous I felt brain cells dying. The first fifteen pages include a list of effectiveness rates in percentages. After each percentage, is a paragraph explaining that if 8% were successful, 8 out of 100 people did well and 92 out of 100 did not. Yes, I actually understand how percentages work, you don't have to keep killing trees to explain it to me after each occurance of a percentage!
June 5, 2010
This is a great book for not only those who are nearing retirement but also for the younger set to help them begin planning and thinking about the "big picture." For those of us who are just around the corner from retirement it is very helpful in planning financial, geographical,and social goals. The catch is that unless you do the exercises as you go through the book you will probably find it rather meaningless when you have completed reading it.
March 10, 2016
This book is overwhelming me. I quickly went through the financial part, then stopped half-way. I was reading it to deeply. It has good ideas for helping people think about their strengths. I have one more year to teach, then I can retire.
September 29, 2022
The first book was invaluable in my initial job search and I returned to it several times in my 20s and 30s. I was expecting worksheets and thought provoking questions. I found nothing about this 'sequel' useful. There was barely a coherent thought on any page, let alone any helpful info.
January 7, 2017
Kind of basic information.
It is collected in a single source, but still . . . kind of basic.
It is collected in a single source, but still . . . kind of basic.
September 7, 2018
Wasn’t what I was looking for. Seemed to tell me what I needed to know with out helping me know about them.
May 9, 2025
Not just useless but stunningly useless
Wanna know what the plan is? Dwell on things you likely already know about and write them down. Really. That's the plan.
Nothing here about creating a plan or what that might look like. What you get instead is a questionnaire that will remind you of those Cosmo questionnaires you read when no one was looking at you at the magazine stand. Then a lot of rah-rah about how great it is to write down your thoughts on the pillars of money, health, and happiness.
Do you really want to know more? Then just read the Table of Contents. For example: What's your biological age. Three practices for biological vitality. Three paths to happiness. Build relationships in advance. Your three levels of social connection. . . . And so on.
Here's my advice: Eat balanced meals, exercise regularly, don't smoke, don't overdo alcohol, save prudently, pay off your debts, don't run a balance on credit cards, maintain friendships, get out of the house and engage in social activities you like. There. Free.
I should have known that this would be a lousy book when I was reading and reading and waiting and reading and waiting for the book to take off, when I began to think, Gee, this is really overwritten.
Please do not buy this book . Don't even take it out from your library. This will merely encourage the author to put out another edition and make himself richer. (We know what colour his parachute is: it's green, as in money. And he's got my $25 that would have been better off saved in my bank account.) Caveat emptor (yes, a cliche, but very apt).
Wanna know what the plan is? Dwell on things you likely already know about and write them down. Really. That's the plan.
Nothing here about creating a plan or what that might look like. What you get instead is a questionnaire that will remind you of those Cosmo questionnaires you read when no one was looking at you at the magazine stand. Then a lot of rah-rah about how great it is to write down your thoughts on the pillars of money, health, and happiness.
Do you really want to know more? Then just read the Table of Contents. For example: What's your biological age. Three practices for biological vitality. Three paths to happiness. Build relationships in advance. Your three levels of social connection. . . . And so on.
Here's my advice: Eat balanced meals, exercise regularly, don't smoke, don't overdo alcohol, save prudently, pay off your debts, don't run a balance on credit cards, maintain friendships, get out of the house and engage in social activities you like. There. Free.
I should have known that this would be a lousy book when I was reading and reading and waiting and reading and waiting for the book to take off, when I began to think, Gee, this is really overwritten.
Please do not buy this book . Don't even take it out from your library. This will merely encourage the author to put out another edition and make himself richer. (We know what colour his parachute is: it's green, as in money. And he's got my $25 that would have been better off saved in my bank account.) Caveat emptor (yes, a cliche, but very apt).
June 4, 2025
When I was in my early twenties, I had a co-worker who was 7 years out from retirement and counting down. Now that I am 7 to 12 years out, I understand. It is never to early to start planning!
The Third Age explores a powerful and often overlooked stage of life — the period from roughly age 50 to 75 — when many people experience fewer responsibilities, yet still enjoy strong health, energy, and vitality. Rather than seeing this time as a slow fade into old age, the book reframes it as a period of opportunity, growth, and reinvention.
Sadler identifies key components of retirement well-being, including:
-Purpose: Life doesn’t stop at retirement — it changes. Having meaningful goals or contributions remains essential.
-Health: Staying physically and mentally active is foundational to enjoying these years.
-Relationships: A strong social network is just as important as financial resources.
-Learning and growth: Lifelong learning keeps the mind sharp and the spirit engaged.
-Flexibility: Letting go of rigid ideas about what this phase “should” look like helps individuals adapt and thrive.
What stood out most to me was the idea that the Third Age isn’t about stepping back — it’s about stepping into a new version of yourself, one shaped more by choice than obligation. I appreciated that the book took a holistic view of retirement, covering everything from where to live, to how to spend your time, to what truly matters. It’s a valuable read for anyone approaching retirement or simply thinking about how to make the most of life after 50. Practical and inspiring.
The Third Age explores a powerful and often overlooked stage of life — the period from roughly age 50 to 75 — when many people experience fewer responsibilities, yet still enjoy strong health, energy, and vitality. Rather than seeing this time as a slow fade into old age, the book reframes it as a period of opportunity, growth, and reinvention.
Sadler identifies key components of retirement well-being, including:
-Purpose: Life doesn’t stop at retirement — it changes. Having meaningful goals or contributions remains essential.
-Health: Staying physically and mentally active is foundational to enjoying these years.
-Relationships: A strong social network is just as important as financial resources.
-Learning and growth: Lifelong learning keeps the mind sharp and the spirit engaged.
-Flexibility: Letting go of rigid ideas about what this phase “should” look like helps individuals adapt and thrive.
What stood out most to me was the idea that the Third Age isn’t about stepping back — it’s about stepping into a new version of yourself, one shaped more by choice than obligation. I appreciated that the book took a holistic view of retirement, covering everything from where to live, to how to spend your time, to what truly matters. It’s a valuable read for anyone approaching retirement or simply thinking about how to make the most of life after 50. Practical and inspiring.
February 20, 2017
skimmed it only-maybe would like it if it was the first retirement book I'd looked at. Does have exercises to know oneself better and apply to retirement.
August 29, 2017
Very good start for those even ten years from retirement. I read it after retirement and I still learned quite a lot about living healthy into old age.
Read
July 17, 2010The venerable What Color is Your Parachute folks have a new twist on their popular title. The newest book in the Parachute stable is What Color is Your Parachute for Retirement. This title works much like the guides that graduating students and those looking to change jobs or careers have used for years. Richard N. Bolles and John E. Nelson have expanded retirement planning from just saving enough money to how to plan for all aspects of the next stage of your life.
What Color is your Parachute for Retirement uses the Three Boxes of Life- self-development, productivity, and leisure. The authors consider retirement as part of life’s journey and they offer a way to plan your journey to and through it. The ten chapters is the book range from 1. Will You Ever Retire? to 4. What the Retirement Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know to 7. Where in the World Will You Retire to the final chapter 10. Retirement Calling.
So if retirement is in your near or not-so-near future, take a look at What Color is Your Parachute for Retirement. You might just find this guide asks questions you have never considered before. --Maeve
From ICPL Staff Picks Blog
What Color is your Parachute for Retirement uses the Three Boxes of Life- self-development, productivity, and leisure. The authors consider retirement as part of life’s journey and they offer a way to plan your journey to and through it. The ten chapters is the book range from 1. Will You Ever Retire? to 4. What the Retirement Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know to 7. Where in the World Will You Retire to the final chapter 10. Retirement Calling.
So if retirement is in your near or not-so-near future, take a look at What Color is Your Parachute for Retirement. You might just find this guide asks questions you have never considered before. --Maeve
From ICPL Staff Picks Blog
January 11, 2014
4-. A guide to retirement that touches on financial, personal strengths, relationships, living (location, type of home or community), medical philosophy/payment plans and practitioners, biology/ health. Although well rounded, it was more of an overview. The list of personal strengths wasn't that helpful to me. It did get me to look at the idea of laying a foundation for possible retirement and getting started now to optimize health =habits, relationship building, and volunteer or hobby interests.
The author included some good additional resources.
The author included some good additional resources.
September 17, 2013
holistic look at transitioning. Develops one page plan (mine was a little more as I made notes) of values, strengths, relationships, location, financial considerations, and three other areas. You know many of these but consolidating to one page helps with direction. Hubby took the values quizzed and it was really enlightening to me. Just fun thing to ponder.
January 2, 2022
Home as retreat: people want to be left alone in peace and quiet and interact with the world on their own terms.
Wisdom and knowledge: creativity, curiosity, open mindedness, love of learning, perspective.
Courage: bravery, persistence, integrity, vitality.
Wisdom and knowledge: creativity, curiosity, open mindedness, love of learning, perspective.
Courage: bravery, persistence, integrity, vitality.
November 8, 2007
It's not about money... it's not about 'lifestyle'... it's about you.. what do you want from the rest of your life?
February 2, 2008
good start before stage
May 14, 2008
Has some value in providing a perspective on retirement as a stage of life rather than simply cessation of work.
April 2, 2008
Lots of good, practical info. This book (or the then-current edition) will be more useful when I actually get to the retirement stage of my life.
Want to read
August 4, 2008I own this
Want to read
November 2, 2009Here's something that can help me with looking at how to map out early retirement.
October 12, 2011
Thoughtful book. Not a detailed financial guide (there are good references to financial guides however) but lots of helpful worksheets and advice about how to achieve a satisfying retirement.
November 3, 2012
This is a fairly good overview of issues to consider when planning retirement and has a number of good resources.
December 31, 2012
Good, but a little simplistic. Not really what I was looking for.
April 8, 2013
The authors challenge you to ask yourself the hardest questions such as to start planning for your last stage of life while you're much younger and far from it.
July 22, 2014
I read this just because it was a free Library Book. Was OK - I did like the values quiz and also made my husband take it too. I haven't read the original book but this was was pretty good.
January 21, 2015
Practical planning for money health and happiness.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews