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Encore: Finding Work that Matters in the Second Half of Life
In one of the most significant social trends of the new century, and the biggest transformation of the American workforce since the womenin other words, one that works better for all of us.
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
August 26th 2008
by PublicAffairs
(first published June 11th 2007)
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This book puts a positive spin to the prospect of the post WWII babyboom generation reaching retirement age. This book suggests that babyboomers will use their early retirement years to find meaningful and fulfilling work to take the place of their careers that they endured in order to make a living. Underlying this rosy scenario is the fact that if the babyboomer generation instead decides to retire to a life of unproductive leisure that the U.S. economy will simply not be able to sustain the ...more
Book is overly focused on ideas of the late Peter Drucker. Introduces concept of a "Third Age" career shift, but then repeats this idea over and over. Introduces but does not clearly explain career of "social entrepreneurship." Good online references for retired job seekers in last section of text.
This book makes the case that the time has come for people in the US to expect to have multiple careers throughout their lives. The book describes the history of retirement, including recent history starting with the advent of Sun City. Some examples of middle agers that have gone on to successful second careers are given, and the book ends with policy implications that would support this move to midlife career changing and learning. Kept my interest throughout. Of course, it helps that I'm near...more
One aspect of this book I particularly enjoyed was the history of how the concept of retirement was invented as recently as post-WWII as an economic strategy. I like Freedman's reality check that the original design and structure of retirement policy was not intended to support people through 30-40 years of non-work. He not only argues that the current policy is outmoded and a threat to the economic system of today, but also offers some inspiring ideas and case studies of how people are re-inven...more
More and more Baby Boomers are foregoing retirement to fulfill their career dreams. It is a trend that we are hearing a lot about lately. To me, it makes perfect sense. For the majority of people, raising our families, trying to pay off the mortgage, and just trying to survive financially forces us into jobs that pay the bills but leave us feeling cold and uninspired.
Many often fantasize about retirement but in reality the dream falls flat. Having a rest from the chaos of the rat ra...more
Many often fantasize about retirement but in reality the dream falls flat. Having a rest from the chaos of the rat ra...more
What makes this book tick is that Freedman shows that after "retirement", Freedman and I both think this word is now a dinosaur, many of us still have much toi contribute and can find work that matters in the second half of our lives. Older workers are loyal, have great work ethics, often can sghare their wisdom, and might well accomplish as much in 25 hours a week as other can in 40 - 45. Civic Ventures offers a "Purpose Prize" each year
Since most of us will spend at least 40 to 50 of our lives working, we may be drawn to find something more rewarding and fulfilling at some point. Even though this book focuses on people in their 50s and 60s finding a second career to fulfill their passion to make a difference, it's a good read for anyone considering a career change. It will make you think, inspire you and give you ideas about what's available out there.
This book starts out strong, sketching alternate scenarios of the year 2030. In the first scenario, "...the country has gotten tired of footing the bill for the boomers'lengthy retirement and generational conflicts abound." In the second scenario, "...the feared 'Gray2K' was a non event. Faced with the practical necessity of extended working lives, boomers have made it a virtue...and now function as the backbone of education, healthcare, nonprofits and government." The au...more
This book was not what I expected but I completely enjoyed it. I expected a guidebook of sorts on how to go about "finding meaningful work in the second half of life" but this book is full of ideas on how to recreate the entire view of work in the second half of life. It assert that we must rethink our view of the older worker and change our policies and society to support the older worker in view of our longer healthier life spans. It is brilliant! I am so happy there are people out t...more
How people did completely different work in their second half of life. Inspiring. The internet sites listed at the end are quite useful.
Excellent book to read when thinking about retirement.
Victoria Darling
Hollis
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
any one in their 50's and 60's
Shelves:
non-fiction
This was a great book for all of us 'boomers' trying to figure out what's next in our lives. It presents a wonderful vision of our generation returning to our roots of trying to make a difference in the world, but this time with more financial backing, wisdom, experience and time!
Kind of a tedious do-gooder book about finding fulfilment in second, post-midlife careers. The theme is the statisfactions of moving from a life of success to one of significance, through socially beneficial work. What if one is more interested in reversing the trend?
Kathy Jo
marked it as to-read
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