Radical Retirement: The Reinvention of Self After Work

Most retirement books advocate for a soft and safe landing into retirement. Radical Retirement awakens a sense of excitement about reinventing your sense of self and stepping out into a new time in your life, which might not follow what you had previously thought or what others had thought for you. Taking stock of one’s life upon retirement is daunting. Regret for lost opportunities, an awareness of unfulfilled goals, a nostalgia for happier times, and the inquiry into human purpose can feel overwhelming. Radical Retirement argues that it isn’t necessary to select from a conventional retirement portfolio of 'selves', such as that of the leisure seeker, cruise traveller, or avid gardener. And rather than clinging to a notion of ‘self’ built up during working lives, retirement can actually open up a huge opportunity for new directions and even ways of thinking about yourself. Each of the chapters, written by people across a wide variety of sectors and with different experiences and stories to tell, show in an honest way how to seize the opportunity to take life in a new and perhaps unexpected direction. Conscious of the formative psychological influences on personality, the chapter authors share with readers how to create appropriate new roles and identities in retirement. This book is for professionals working in any sector who are thinking about retirement, on the cusp of retirement, or who are retired and are rethinking their professional future. It will also be of use as a reference book for retirement coaches.