Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #65999 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 272 pages

From Booklist
Rentsch, a founding member of the Transition Network (a national community of women over 50 considering retirement), has extensively interviewed women approaching retirement, finding that they do so differently than men; their planning often leads to reflection and reassessment of who they are and what they want to do. Baby boomer women gained unprecedented recognition in their careers, with greater choices than earlier generations of women, and they will reshape the concept of retirement. Women may continue to work or find other ways to stay sharp and involved, intellectually and emotionally at the top of their game. Although our culture worships youth, the author views boomers’ large numbers as a source of power, and each individual will choose to be “an old fussbudget or youthful and vibrant.” Rentsch acknowledges that health plays an important role in retirement years, as do economic limitations and family demands. Nevertheless, retirement choices are available for many women, and this thoughtful, well-researched book will inspire a broad range of library patrons. --Mary Whaley

Review
Whereas parents before aspired to the ideal of completely escaping the work world for a warmer climate, baby boomers are developing new models for their "golden years." Public relations professional Rentsch is a founding member of the Transition Network, a national organization for women focused on retirement transition issues. Drawing on research and interviews, she explores a range of topics, from preparing for and deciding when to retire to overcoming self-defeating stereotypes about aging women and uplifting ideas about a meaningful retirement. Each chapter presents frank discussions, inventories and checklists, and case studies of real women's lives. Interpersonal topics like coordinating retirement with a spouse and cultivating friendships as one ages are also covered... This insightful book reinforces the idea that retirement can be transformative and even "cool."

---Library Journal

"All women 50+ should read this book...regardless of where they are on their retirement journey!"

--Jeri Sedlar, Co-author, Don't Retire, REWIRE! and Senior Advisor to the Conference Board on the Mature Workforce



"Boomers are continuing to pioneer each stage of life----in the next decade a huge number of women will be making a work-related transition from a life time career to whatever comes next. They will need sage advice and the community of like minded women to ensure that their transition is a positive one. This book from The Transition Network provides a valuable orientation to this process; it is rich in practical advice and inspiring stemming from the stories of women who have just recently journeyed through and navigated this complex stage of their lives..."

--Jennie Chin Hansen,President-Elect, AARP

"The Transition Network (TTN)...is the only organization I know that zeroes in on the needs of successful women as they enter a new and productive transition in their lives...Now they have developed an invaluable handbook that spells out the challenges along the way, along with solid advice about how to meet them."

--Suzanne Braun Levine, first editor-in-chief of Ms. Magazine and author of Inventing the Rest of Our Lives: Women is Second Adulthood

"Women are investing in their health by being part of the Transition Network-making the connections to explore retirement, finding new friends, and engaging in social and volunteer activities. This book will spread that message to women across the country."

--Dr. Eileen Hoffman, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine NYU School of Medicine, Specialist in women's health, pioneer in the field of gender-based medicine

About the Author
THE TRANSITION NETWORK (TTN) is a dynamic community of women who are creating exhilarating new transition possibilities. Members network online and through monthly programs and dynamic peer groups, with chapters in New York, Washington, Chicago, and other locations across the country. Members have had successful careers in government, finance, international corporations, education, and the arts. To find out more about The Transition Network, you can visit its Web site at www.TheTransitionNetwork.org.


Gail Rentsch is a founding member of The Transition Network and a veteran book-publishing professional. She lives in New York.

Customer Reviews

Get Ready for the Truly Golden Years!
Competent, skilled, experienced, a woman about to retire is on the brink of a world of possibilities! But there's a transition that a smart woman allows herself, a time to reflect on what has been and what is to come in the future that has valuable meaning. There are stages to this transition that involve some letting go and some planning, a process better done with precious care rather than by the driven schedule and plans most women pack into their working years. Smart Women Don't Retire - They Break Free is the perfect book to accompany a retiring woman on that journey!

Filled with advice and narrative examples of women who've "been there," this book provides a long and wide plan to bridge that gap between work and retirement. First and foremost, it includes some practical advice on where one's financial condition fits into the overall scheme of things; in that sense this is a book that could be wisely considered by many woman not even that close to retirement, a chance to plan early and avoid unforeseen stress later. For those who haven't given it much thought, at whatever age, it gives some basic suggestions to preparing financially, which in turn allows one to decide whether one must continue to work part-time or can know the bills will be paid without having to work.

The "breaking free" portion of the book consists of analyzing what one has loved, hated or somewhere in-between felt about the work, people, attitudes, expertise, relationships, and so much more taken for granted during the working years of an average woman's life. It's a chance to shed off the slough and put on what works best, perhaps even adding some phases and aspects that one never had a chance to try. Will you work for yourself? for others? both? Remember - anything's possible now!

Several boxed lists of ideas and suggestions to get the mind and heart to ponder fill the pages of this useful, practical and even inspirational book that any woman will love to peruse and think about seriously and with humor. The opportunity to donate to and volunteer for charity work is given ample consideration herein, as well as the chance to deepen old friendships and create new special ones.

A comprehensive list of resources and bibliography give the reader scope for further investigation into any and all areas where one may wish to delve for continued exploration.

This is a wonderful book, simply put! It deserves a wide berth of readers who are looking forward to those years when one is truly as "free"and happy with retirement as one allows one's self to be! For those who find the idea rather frightening, this is a great place to start relishing one's golden years!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on June 16, 2008

This is the perfect transition book for those in between careers or heading into retirement
I believe in setting the stage. At age 48, I'm just starting to think about the last decades of my career and what things I'll want to do as I slow down and eventually retire. This book, pitched at women, addresses so many of the questions (and fears) I have about these big transitions after so many years of work. I especially like the sidebar boxes such as "What Is Your Dream," "Managing Your Transition," and "Finding the Right Fit as a Volunteer," which go down lists of the very questions and concerns I have and give good advice and info. There's even a chapter about "How Can I Stay Connected with Friends and Make New Ones?" which I think is a concern of every woman, no matter whether nearing retirement or not. The back of the book has a 10-page resource list with dozens of career, lifestyle, finance and networking websites and their descriptions, followed by an extensive bibliography if you want to do more reading on entrepreneurship, phased retirement, midlife, and careers. I'm going to recommend this book to my family and friends as a great support group substitute and planning tool.

Fantastic Book
I have read several books in the last year about life after fifty and without a doubt this is the most thorough, well written, inspiring and thought provoking one I have read. It has opened the door to the many life enhancing experiences and discussions I am now having in workshops with other women. No woman over 50 fifty should be without it as a wonderful reference for this time in our lives. Just great.