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The word “Retirement” is now synonymous with “financial planning “or “health care,” and if you’re lucky enough, you’ve found this word going hand in hand with “traveling.” While anything you want to learn about is just a search engine away, wouldn’t it be great if you found all the information you need, compiled by an expert, all in one place? Maybe a book is what you need in this case?
Books are not only great information hubs but are great companions and well-loved by all. If you love reading, learn about the best books on retirement that can kickstart your life’s next chapter!
What are the top 10 best retirement books to read?
While books are fun to carry around, you might actually be someone who prefers audiobooks. Audiobooks can let you progress through that reading list for people who are exercising, on the go, or need assistance with activities of daily living. Audiobooks are a fun, brain-stimulating experience, and as a bonus, you end up being more imaginative and have a chance to develop better story-telling skills!
In our past book list for patients needing memory care, we explored the benefits of audiobooks. For best retirement books, we have them divided into the following categories:
The 4 best books on retirement planning
Before such a significant change, you should know what the next phase of life looks like. Many retirees bid adieu to work life (now it’s up to you to grab the tissues out of joy or melancholy; personal business owners look away), so you need a savings plan. Also, there’s no sugar-coating the fact that your health isn’t what it used to be; therefore, planning on health care and for your future diet is a step in the right direction.
On the flip side, this means thinking about your long-awaited bucket list. Interesting right? Here is a list of recommendations for you to start off with:
1. The Smartest Retirement Book You’ll Ever Read: Written by Daniel R. Solin: This popular book provides you with the answer to various financial topics for soon-to-be retirees who are trying to navigate the complicated world of 401Ks, Roth IRAs, trustees, etc.
2. We’ve Got You Covered: Rebooting American Healthcare by Amy Finkelstein and Liran Einav: Published in 2023, this book can help you understand the US healthcare system for seniors planning retirement. You gain an overall understanding of Medicare, Medicaid, and other private health insurance options. Not only that, but you’ll get an insight into healthcare access challenges.
You might find these interesting:
- Mind Diet Cookbook For Seniors 2024: Discover Flavorful & Simple Meals for Your Healthy Transformation by Elva H. Miller: Enjoy the evidence-based recipes for older adults paired with simple, straightforward instructions. Cooking can be challenging with age, so a cookbook with meal plans and a variety of dishes can make preparing for retirement easier!
- The Ultimate Senior Travel Guide by Pauline Winslow: This book is more than just a list of senior-friendly travel destinations. From solo travel tips to app recommendations for comfortable senior travel, it can be your best friend during your post-retirement trip!
3 Books for an enjoyable retirement
- The Golden Rules of Retirement: A Psychologist’s Guide to Living Retirement to the Fullest, No Matter Your Financial Situation (The Golden Series) by Lee Penn: If you’re looking for a book on retirement that addresses the psychological challenges, stress, and finding purpose during this new phase of life, this book will be a delight to read.
- Keys to a Successful Retirement: The tagline of this book is as direct as it gets: Staying Happy, Active, and Productive in Your Retired Years. Fritz Gilbert writes the truth and nothing but it! For the brave-hearted who have stepped into the realm of retirement and are wondering what’s next, this book is for you. Here, you steer yourself along the changing waves in your social world, learn about fulfilling hobbies, and redefine your life’s purpose.
- Retire Early with Real Estate: This is one of the top books on early retirement by Chad Carson. Well-loved by fans of The 4-Hour Workweek, this book has tried-and-true practical strategies on real estate that can bring you out of the 9-to-5 job and help you retire early.
3 Humorous books on retirement
Your entire retirement life does not have to be turned into another corporate world, with each year divided into quarters and crunching numbers. To shake off the gravity of planning, read the following books to see the funny side of chilling all day:
- How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free: Retirement Wisdom That You Won’t Get from Your Financial Advisor” – Ernie J. Zelinski
- Old Age: A Beginner’s Guide – Michael Kinsley
- Retirement for Beginners – Clive Whichelow and Mike Haskins
A book about life after retirement to have on-the-go
Ranked #1 New York Times bestseller, “From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life” by Artur C. Brooks is a book you can carry on-the-go or as an audiobook. This book provides a roadmap that guides you while you fall off the highs of career-driven success to floating peacefully back up the peace and joy of post-retirement.
Popular books for an entertaining retirement
You might wonder, “Surely not everything here will be just about retirement books, right?” Sometimes, retirement should be just about getting lost inside the stories of writers who weave their experiences under the guise of a fun, dramatic, and often a magical fictitious bubble.
So whether you’re someone who needs the occasional home care or you just moved into an assisted living facility, you might need some entertaining books to take your mind off of your current life:
7 Modern fictional books
- The Alchemist – written by Paulo Coelho
- The Break-Up Book Club – written by Wendy Max
- A Man Called Ove – written by Fredrik Backman
- Eat, Pray, Love – written by Elizabeth Gilbert
- The Harry Potter series – written by J.K. Rowling
- The Wedding – written by Nicholas Sparks (Psst – it’s the sequel to The Notebook, which was adapted into a famous movie)!
- The Forty Rules of Love – written by Elif Shafak
Travel back in time by reading these 6 popular classics
- Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
- Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë
- Gone with the Wind – Margaret Mitchell
- The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
- Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
- Anne of Green Gables – L.M. Montgomery
10 Self-help books to empower you through retirement
- You Can Heal Your Life – Louise Hay
- The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle
- The 5 Second Rule – Mel Robbins
- Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert
- Atomic Habits – James Clear
- The 4-Hour Workweek – Timothy Ferriss
- You Are a Badass – Jen Sincero
- Money: Master the Game – Tony Robbins
Final thoughts on this chapter
While certain books about retirement may offer an unconventional yet humorous perspective, books on senior living can be an invaluable origin for guidance, encouragement, and financial preparation for this new dawn of your life.
Now! Are you ready to begin the next chapter of your life?
We are curious about what’s on your reading list. Let us know in the comments below!
FAQs
What are the top five books on retirement?
Here are 5 good retirement books:
- The Smartest Retirement Book You’ll Ever Read -written by Daniel R. Solin
- How to Make Your Money Last – written by Jane Bryant Quinn
- The 5 Years Before You Retire – written by Emily Guy Birken
- Your Money or Your Life – written by Vicki Robin
- Retire Before Mom and Dad – written by Rob Berger
Can you recommend any books on retirement and aging?
Here are some of the best books for retirees:
- The Second Mountain – written by David Brooks
- Keys to a Successful Retirement – written by Fritz Gilbert
- Breaking the Age Code – written by Dr. Becca Levy
- The New Rules of Retirement – written by Robert C. Carlson
- The Good Life – written by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz
What do people who retire early do the whole day?
People usually enjoy early morning hiking or gardening. Others are delighted to get the time to pursue personal projects, be they as complicated as launching a new business or learning new skills like painting. Some seniors even volunteer for causes that they strongly believe in.
What did you do to have a good life after retirement?
Staying healthy should be the priority. You can keep your body active by doing yoga regularly. Also, nurture the mind to try mindful practices like meditation or journaling. We are naturally social creatures, so spending quality time with friends and family is a good idea. You can take part in social community events. Many older adults teach at local community colleges to leave a memorable legacy.
