Smart Women Don't Retire -- They Break Free: From Working Full-Time to Living Full-Time

by The Transition Network, Gail Rentsch, Lynn Sherr (Foreword by)

For the amazing female pioneers who shattered the glass ceiling, a practical and inspiring guide to reinventing what's next.

Boomer women have been trailblazers throughout their professional lives. Now that their careers are losing their edge and children leave the nest, these women are ready to do for retirement what they did for the working world--redefine it. The first book from The Transition Network focuses on the unique needs of women as they explore new possibilities and redesign the old model of retirement, which no longer offers the challenges that these women experienced throughout their careers.

This book shows how to create new and exciting work and volunteer opportunities and how to discover new outlets for creativity and passion. Rich in practical advice and stories from women who have successfully navigated this stage, SMART WOMEN DON'T RETIRE -- THEY BREAK FREE is a blueprint for women seeking a whole new set of life choices.


THE TRANSITION NETWORK is a nation-wide community of women who are creating exhilarating new transition possibilities. Members network through monthly programs; online; and through dynamic peer groups. Members have had successful careers in government, finance, international corporations, and the arts.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

272 pages, Hardcover

First published June 13, 2008

Reviews

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I talked about quitting work, a coworker gave me the book, What Color Is Your Parachute. I skimmed a few chapters, but that book wasn't for me, because I wasn't looking for a new job. I wanted an entirely different life than the one I currently had. So I went online to look for a book that might be more helpful in my transition, and I found this one. I liked it because it was written by women for women. I found myself nodding in agreement with assertions the authors and the interviewees made. The book didn't tell me exactly what to do, but it gave me a feeling of not being alone in my bewilderment and gave me ideas on how to get started finding a new life. The book is geared towards professional women with financial means so would not be useful for someone looking to switch gears but having to continue earning the same income.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave some new ways for me to think outside of the box. Retirement is a ways off.

[Milinda Yount · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book sounded great but didn't really live up to the description -- it was just okay. I skimmed a lot.

[Karen Ng · Rating 3 out of 5]

The intended audience for this book are the once movers and shakers of the female baby boomers: the ones that achieved much more than their mom could only dream of. Those high-achievers ( for real or in their own perception) in business, politics, education, cinema or other professions who saved enough money to have a comfortable retirement. Yes, you can say: the priviledged few. The rest of you can skip this book and save your money: there's nothing for you here. Go with a regular retirement book for your humble and normal retirement.

[Kerry Shoji · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part inspirational, part practical, very useful to me. This book is different from the other retirement advice books I've read so far in that it helps you develop a plan of action -- not just financial issues, things to consider and evaluate as you move forward, i.e. how to discover what really matters to you in retirement.

[Nina ( picturetalk321 ) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I skimread this book so am going to remove it from my shelf of books read in 2026. It was too stupid to read line by line. The addressees are middle-aged to elderly white professional well-off American women of 2008. That in itself is OK: addressing a focused demographic is as such not a wrong tactic. It did make me feel rather excluded, though, but I knew the demographic before I got it. After all, I am white and middle-aged and professional.

However, the relentless positivity did not do it for me. The talk of the second half of life made no sense (unless the book expects people to live to 120?). The use of the "we" recalls an earlier time (1970s and Our Bodies, Ourselves) which to me now felt exclusionary and cliqueish and presumptive of what I should be feeling alongside the authorial "we". The premise of this book is "keep going! you're not old! being old is a stereotype! sure, you may wear glasses but you can climb Kilimanjaro!" (literally: Kilimanjaro)

To me, though, retirement is an outward manifestation of the inescapable fact that time is running short. We are getting old. I and many friends have experienced incapacitated, dement and dying parents. Maybe I can "climb Kilimanjaro" when I'll be 67 (not that I want to) but aged 77? 87? Not so much. No matter how often this book keeps telling me that "we" are healthier than our grandmothers. (Sidenote: my grandmother lived to 104 and had the constitution of an ox. How can I compete with that level of health?)

Anyway, beyond suggestions to follow my dream and/ or to keep working (even for free), I did not gain anything from this book with its deceptively promising title. Jane Fonda, Mark Durrant and Suze Orman (and to a lesser extent, Bec Wilson) are much more clear-sighted about the third phase of life (which may include retirement) than the authors of this book.

The format is pleasant. Nice floppy pages, good-sized font and cute little greyed-out quote boxes.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. It includes lists and charts to help you focus and consider different aspects of the "transitional" process. As someone else mentioned in her review of this book, most women have already considered most of the topics explored in this book such as "what will I do with my time" and the real biggie: "Will I have enough money?" (Unfortunately, still no magic answer.) Still, the book includes some interesting information and a list of resources that may be helpful.

[Johanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

This must’ve been a good book for the times, I saw it more as a promotional tool for The Transition Network. Not being a boomer probably didn’t help. I was also annoyed at the repetitiveness of naming the jobs the women left as they were all high end senior positions. For a retirement book, it sure put a lot of emphasis on professional achievements.

I also couldn’t help but see how Covid will transform many of the activities mentioned here (ex. being part of a choir).

[Jocelyne · Rating 2 out of 5]

More relevant for a USA boomer-generation reader. Some ok info, but overall didn't live up to what I expected.

[Sue Jackson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not impressed with this book because my thought is that any woman ready to retire would have already considered almost everything mentioned in this book. In theory that would apply even more to the successful, professional women that this is the target audience.

In all fairness to the author, the original copyright date was 1976 when the world was a different place. Maybe spending retirement "taking trips to the mall or perfecting your recipe for peach cobbler" was relevant then but it is certainly not now.

There are some suggestions about how to spend retirement but there are many more current resources that are more helpful.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, probably not the BEST time to read this book, when the entire economy is going into total free fall.

I decided last week that I need to shift my attitude away from thinking about retirement: realistically, it is unlikely to happen. And I happen to be fortunate to have a job I love, so what the hell. I choose to believe that it is possible to live full-time despite working full-time!

Rationalization? Perhaps. But it's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I skipped to the retirement section of this book and found what I was looking for. What to do when you actually are retired so you don't feel like a sloth sitting around wondering what to do.
Anyone thinking of retiring and trying to figure how to get along with their spouce when you are tripping over each other will find some interesting facts too.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific book challenging the notion of retirement as a "winding down" of life. Well written, informed by focus groups, lots of resources. The book is full of zest and energy. Really enjoying this book!

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, what to do when you retire....some good material, one of the worst books I've ever seen design wise...couldn't be more boring!

[Wren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A guide to creating a life after career that is about pursuing one's passion and doing volunteer work with great purpose.

[Pat Mothner]

Inspiring. A fine acknowledgement of the significance of this life stage.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this several years ago - and what I remember is being inspired to think about alternatives to what I was currently doing. I don't recall a lot about the financial information.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for professional women contemplating retirement and need the motivation to look at retirement creatively and gain some new perspectives on transitioning to this new life chapter.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

But it wasn't as applicable to my situation because when the time comes, I have plenty of interests and hobbies and so won't have any transition issues.