The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement

by Barbara L. Pagano

Circumvent the tired and conventional approaches of finding purpose, passion, or happiness to discover a path of fulfillment after 60 by pursuing desires, mastering risk-taking, and expanding horizons with confidence. The crisis of unfulfilled lives unfolds gradually, often with acquiesced boredom and a flimsy search for purpose. Our relevancy comes into question, or we succumb to the idea that the future will be one of slow-moving ambition and then an even slower glide into comfort as the flush of freedom fades. We can change this outcome if we want to. We should want to. The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement is the first book to circumvent the tired and conventional approaches of finding purpose, passion, or happiness, or using reinvention to discover a path of fulfillment after 60. It presents a clear, practical framework through four portals—geography of place, yield, kinship, and freedom—to navigate and support future well-being and happiness. Readers will learn how to pursue desires, not roadmaps, to increase self-confidence and master risk-taking, and will discover the power and potential of investing in themselves at this time of life. Barbara L. Pagano provides the foundation for taking on or taking back late-stage growth and shifts the conversation from “What’s next?” to “What do I need to know, what do I need to do now, and how soon can I get started?” This book is more than happy talk. Pre-retirees on the brink of a major life transition or retirees who want more from life will find themselves pulled toward a higher target of well-being that endures. Mature adults, now novices in an unfamiliar, uncharted landscape, will welcome a smart, well-written, practical, and poignant guide to hustle them forward, anchored in an award-winning author’s deeply personal experience, well-researched content, and over 200 interviews with retirees and pre-retires. The 60-Something Crisis offers a powerful message for the last third of life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook

240 pages, Hardcover

Published July 17, 2022

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hopeful there would be something new in here to guide me as I am now 65. It is well-written, but seems to ignore anyone who isn't upper middle class. So... just not for me. Your mileage may vary.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

[Craig Amason · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected. I'm not saying I was disappointed. Pagano offers her readers a particularly philosophical approach to preparing for retirement. She invites everyone who is facing the time when they will leave their full-time positions to reflect on how they can enjoy a rich, rewarding next (perhaps final) chapter of their lives. As we might anticipate, she recognizes that many people will continue to work "in retirement," a concept we have all heard of before that makes no sense to me. If you're still working, you aren't truly retired in my mind. But okay, you may elect to work part time and perhaps in a field that wasn't where you made a living for most of your working life. I call that semi-retired, at best.

The primary thesis of this book is that we don't need to think of retirement as a bunch of years filled with nothing more than rest and relaxation. Yes, we need to avoid stress if we want to live to ripe old ages, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't seek adventure, engagement, entertainment, intellectual stimulation, and deeper meaning along the way. Pagona offers plenty of real-life examples, some from her own retirement life and family members, of people who have made the best and the worst of their golden years. She shares some incredible stories of retirees who are in their 80s and 90s tackling projects and diving into ventures I wouldn't have considered in my 20s.

This is not a book about how to secure your financial future, although the author does talk about money, especially the problem of not having enough of it. This is not a book advising readers where to live in retirement, although the chapter on "geography of place" presents a truly unconventional approach to deciding where to live (including being separated by significant distance from a spouse). There are several iconoclastic moments in this book, which is good because it forces readers to rethink long-held assumptions about retirement. This is a book that spends a great deal of time examining trends, citing polls, and looking at statistics, not ad nauseam but quite effectively. Being 60-something and facing retirement is only a crisis if we fail to appreciate how long we might live beyond our 60s, and how much living we still have left.

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 2 out of 5]

The 60-Something Crisis details the author’s difficulty with turning 60. I agree that reaching 60 is likely to contain both regrets and joyful memories. However, this book is less how to deal with either and more about the author venting about rich people problems. The 60-Something Crisis is less a self-help book than a memoir. So, for both of those issues for me, the book receives 2 stars.

Thanks to Rowman & Littlefield and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

[Gijs Limonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars; not quite sixty yet but enjoyed it anyway; extremely well considered text on making the last third of your life the best it can be; Pagano does an admirable job in laying out the pittfalls and opportunities in later life; very practical and dare I say it, inspiring; on the subject be sure to check out these works: From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life, The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, The Second Mountain and Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know about a crisis. The author gave some useful tips on how to have an extraordinary life in retirement and I enjoyed reading it. You must have/live a plan that taps purposefully into your passions, develops, and keeps an active social network, and has a purpose for living - either through paid or volunteer work. Probably most helpful for those with mid to upper middle class income.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A number of people have commented on being disappointed by this book, but I quite liked it. Part sociology and part self-help, it really focuses on the last third of life and making decisions about what each individual wants it to be. Others have commented that the author is privileged (she is since she has been a professional her entire life), but I don’t think this book only speaks to those with money. One main point she makes, that really struck me, is the importance of work and how it is important to continue to work — for self-identity as well as financial benefits. Parts of the book were a bit of a slog, but it gave me a lot to think about, and I’m pretty sure that is the point.

[Kelley Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was brought to my attention through a podcast OKBoomer. Being a boomer nearing retirement age I was curious to see this approach the next “30” years or the last third of your life. I think many people ask themselves the question what does retirement look like to you? What goals, dreams and truths do you want to pursue that perhaps you were unable to because of working? In this book you will learn strategies and gather the tools needed to navigate the last third of your life. I do think the title might be misleading- The 60 Something Crisis makes one think it may be a bad thing. We are in charge of our own boat and that course is going to look different for everyone. The information in the book will give you a guideline and solid starting point in charting what retirement will look like in your life. I will say at times I got bogged down just a lot of information to absorb, so my advice take away what benefits you and put into practice your truth.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess this book may have more of an impact if you are in your 50s or 60s, because I am just now retiring in my 70s and find some points interesting but no crisis here. It feels like the author thinks everyone needs to have a detailed game plan to follow before we retire, my folks survived just fine without a detailed game plan. They just went with the flow and enjoyed life, family, and friends. Although they did have a general outline, which provided room for flexibility in their retirement plans.

For people who feel lonely with no-one to talk with, I recommend they start writing their personal history to pass on to those they care about (for those in their family who do not ask the pertinent questions). That way they can pass on their knowledge about life as well as their views on aging.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is left unfulfilled? The big question for those of use in the third or even fourth quarter of our lives.

This is a thought-provoking, nudge-producing, reflection on redefining age and retirement. It's asking you to reevaluate and get moving.

This author suggests we should keep working, patch up relationships SOON, and tackle any adventures that are on one's wish list. This is very practical, and even inspiring, in general although there are parts that just would not be possible without a fair amount of money (two homes, sailing around the world).

Commendable is Pagano's attempt to relabel the word "retirement" and a wide list of considerations for reflection. Worth your time to read.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the title is hyperbolic, the message of the book is important. The author’s thesis is that by making plans and discerning, life in one’s 60s and beyond can be extraordinary. Advice I found most appealing was the following: work to create friendships with different kinds of people and decide what “work” to do in retirement, even if it’s not quite paid work. The book overall was inspiring. Though I’m not quite 60, I’m often thinking about retiring. As I ponder, I need to discern what retirement looks like for me and make a concerted effort not to waste away the last 25 years of my life.

[Alan Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

My company has provided excellent retirement training and planning and I am grateful for it. I am now a couple of years away from "Retirement" and find that this planning made some false assumptions on what retirement looks like in this post boomer era. Ms Pagano's book expands our horizons on retirement without judgment. This is a practical book about decision making in general but a well written and practical work for anyone in that third season of live. Well done!

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of it are very informative. The information is very up to date. Agree with some of the other reviews that the author has been fortunate to have financial resources to live an extraordinary life. It does contain good food for thought on making plans & questioning what one would like in this next phase of life.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Typical rah rah self help. Skip the first half of the book which she spends convincing you to think ahead and think about how you will spend your time when you retire. I don’t need to be convinced as evidenced by picking up this book.


Her retirement advice Go or go home. Lots of judgement for those of us who are. Not interested inBig and just want to stay home 🤦‍♀️

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have I lived the life that I was meant to live?

Defining moments have shaped me and my life. Time for some new ones. Try. I have time.

Who matters, who doesn't, who never did, who won't and who always will.

I have a chance to choose what I want to do in life, to reduce negative stress, to be more thoughtful, more outgoing, more creative.

[Travis]

Couldn’t make it past the introduction. Baby boomers cannot seem to ever stop congratulating themselves for being born in a specific date range.

[Maralee Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took enough away from this book to give it a good rating. Some of the book was common sense, other parts didn't apply, but, again, I learned.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting discussion on finding our path late in life.

[Ann Schulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of books on this topic and put it as one of the top. Well-researched, interesting and actionable. Loved it!

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need the physical book to review the chapters. I didn't feel "extraordinary" reading it, but gave me a few ideas to chew on.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 self-hype stars
From the publisher: “Formerly an executive coach and seasoned speaker, Barbara has motivated thousands of senior leaders and middle managers to higher levels of performance in work and life.” Pagano uses her extensive experience to encourage 60-somethings to make the most of their retirement years. “We can create extraordinary lives. We can take advantage of our extended lifespan to live deeply with fewer regrets. This book is a guide and resource to encourage this journey.”

First, I would change the title of The 60-Something Crisis. Pagano points out how the Boomer generation has much going for it. I suggest call it The 60-Something Handbook or as she writes, “reinvention event”? This is more positive than the ‘Crisis’ and is in line with the optimistic tone of her book.

Pagano has done the research and organizes well, but l didn’t find main points to easily sum up. At one point she asks, “how do we make the most of this time ahead?” (I noted, ‘so far, by not reading this book.’) After detailing why ‘finding one’s purpose’ is not helpful for many, she goes on about Finding Your Truth. ”Purpose and passion get you to the roundabout of happy life, but truth tells you where to turn on that roundabout.” I felt like I lost the map.

Pagano suggests that we let dreams go that don’t make sense and stay open to our own development. Paying attention to our wants is important. (Reviewer’s note, Pagano places a high value on ‘work’ and glosses over satisfaction from volunteering.) She asks what would give a BIG sense of accomplishment? (I respond, big can be overrated, it’s all about what’s important, loving and serving well.)

The value of friendships and family is pointed out, and “growing and maintaining a strong social network is the work to be done.” We need to make friendships a priority. She writes that we are role models and should have conversations with those who are closest to us about retirement choices.

What identities do you miss from your past? What places have you been that you loved? Good reflection questions are a tool to help one sort out “The 60-Something Crisis.” Pagano includes extensive notes, resources, bibliography, and an index.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.