Ernie J. Zelinski

This book did me no good. No good at all. Take someone who has spent the last x many years being stressed out and overworked by their employer and put this book in front of them; either they'll be in euphoria by the end of it or in utter despair. Guess which side of the fence I fell on...

I get everything Zelinski is saying in this book, I really do. Life's too short - get off the hamster wheel, rediscover what used to light your fire before work consumed 9 or 10 hours a day of your life 5 show more days a week, improve your health, make new friends, se the world, RELAX.... He already had me before I opened the cover; no sales job was needed. I really didn't need the chapter on ideas of things to do when you stop work, as I've already got a list wayyyyy long of all the things I want to do but never get time to, but still - it was all interesting reading.

BUT - my heart sank when I got to the financial chapter on how to make it all a reality ( 'Financial independence on less than twenty dollars a day'). Actually, heart sank isn't strong enough to describe it. It's like I watched through a window the most beautiful view you could ever see - luscious green grass, soaring mountain peaks, birds singing, a double rainbow in the sky... and then someone pulled the curtains to, handed me a shovel and growled for me to return to my job in the fiery pit of hell (yes, that's how much I'm loving my job just now). Because sadly $20 a day is not sufficient when I'm the major breadwinner of a family of 4, not unless everyone in the family is prepared to do a complete 180 on the lifestyle we've all been used to.

I understand all of Zelinski's points about not needing as much money as you think you do, and that money doesn't buy happiness. Honestly - if I was single I think I'd make it happen. I would downsize to somewhere cosy in a heartbeat and never look back. But it's much more complicated when you've other dependents, especially children who are getting to tertiary education age and learning to drive, etc. etc.

The worst part of all is that I know this is a self-induced sentence in the pits of hell - only one person put me here and only one person can get me out. I've traded quality of life for a job I hate to sustain a lifestyle I don't have time to enjoy.

So yes - this book did me no good at all. It unsettled me no end and made me very cross with myself, but I'm still on the wheel, crying as I keep going round and round.

4 stars for content, but honestly - I wish I'd never read this and looked out of that window. show less

This is an excellent book, not just about retirement, but also about life. The author has wisdom about how to enjoy retirement and life and to understand what is really important. I hope to incorporate these ideas into my life.

This is a 229-page repetitive word salad of mostly obvious aspects of retirement: that you might consider beginning it earlier than later; that you can (and should) pursue myriad interests; that you might want to relocate; that you should optimize your health and relationships. It does not touch on financial-planning aspects. The only memorable take-away is his “Get-a-Life Tree” -- a template for creating a visual mind-map of one’s interests.

I read this book about five years ago and revisited it just recently. I love this book. It is so fun, full of humor, stories, brainstorming the ideas of why we feel guilty when we don't work and how to enjoy and be productive with your life besides working 9-5. I especially loved the letters from readers and their life situations and how they changed their work-life to live a life of less work and more fun.

This is not a scientific book, but I liked it that way. If it was full of stats, it show more would be 'work.'

What I liked about the book:
*People's stories
*Humor and light-hearted points.
*Options, possibilities, and perspectives of life that is more than your work.

What I didn't like about the book:
Too many quotes, and the layout is very dated.

Total 3.7/5
Readability - 4.5
Scope - 3
Depth - 3.5
Format - 3.5
Clarity -4

Read this book if:
*You are contemplating your work/life situation.
*You want to read inspiring stories of others who made a switch from 9-5 to a life of less work and more freedom.
*You don't want to read a serious book. show less