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Rating: 
Summary: Book Fails To Deliver Expected Quality
Review: Having read several recommendations for "Retire Early," by John Wasik, as a good book on retirement issues, I as anxious to read it. Maybe it's like being told a movie is good before seeing it, then being disappointed, because after having read "Retire Early," I can't see what all the fuss is about. The book's preface gets things off to a good start, as there is hardly a mention of how to accumulate or magnify one's nest egg and all that financial stuff that can be found in so many other "retirement" books. Here we get goodies like, "There is clearly another path that is more satisfying than the one we know," and "...for most of us, it's hard to break the chains that make us wage slaves." This is promising stuff. But after a first chapter, which is also promising, the good stuff ends abruptly. Unfortunately, the bulk of "Retire Early" is a compilation of all the financial basics you can get from a million other sources. And like so many of the "new" retirement books emerging, covering all the bases of financial advice seems to be the name of the game. Thus, we get advice on determining your nondiscretionary expenses, buying a car, using only one credit card, paying cash for meals, and on and on. And how about this for great advice: "For most people, real wealth is accumulated only if they spend a lot less than what they make." Now, there's something you can take to the bank with you on your next trip. This stuff goes on for about 150 pages: All kinds of financial dribble that, like many other books of this nature, surely includes something to offer to most. But the point here is that I was told this was a really good book on retirement. When do I get to that? Surely there is more to retirement than all this financial stuff! Bingo: Like an entirely different book, that last 30 pages are a hodgepodge of advice and information from nearly every conceivable angle other than financial. The problem is that it is too little too late, and much of it seems more appropriate to a "drop out" persona than a retiree. Some of it borders on just plain weird, like the author's suggestion to write down a list of one's failures in life. With this he says, "throw it in a drawer or file and review it later." Boy, that would be a valuable way to start your retirement plans. And how about his comparison of his "New Prosperity" with "Traditional Retirement?" Two of the entries here are "Chance to pursue passions" vs. "Chance to play golf all the time," and "Part of a global community" vs. "Member of gated community." Where are we going with this? Are we about to define "alternative retirement?" Then, to end the rambling, non-financial stuff, there's a chapter on happiness, where we find quotes from 14 books in just five pages, as if the author did a quick skim from books off his favorite bookshelf. I'm sorry, folks, I think the book is a mess, and I hope that this onslaught of retirement primers that start off with financial basics and all their inconsistencies, then end with rambling advice on how to be happy and fulfilled, soon will run their course. I'll stick with my two old favorites: "The Joy of Not Working," by Zelinski, and "breaking the watch," by Savishinsky. While there will probably never be the perfect "retirement" book, I think those two are at least valuable contributions to the quest. I don't think this Wasik book holds a candle to either.
Rating:
Summary: Book Fails To Deliver Expected Quality
Review: Having read several recommendations for "Retire Early," by John Wasik, as a good book on retirement issues, I as anxious to read it. Maybe it's like being told a movie is good before seeing it, then being disappointed, because after having read "Retire Early," I can't see what all the fuss is about. The book's preface gets things off to a good start, as there is hardly a mention of how to accumulate or magnify one's nest egg and all that financial stuff that can be found in so many other "retirement" books. Here we get goodies like, "There is clearly another path that is more satisfying than the one we know," and "...for most of us, it's hard to break the chains that make us wage slaves." This is promising stuff. But after a first chapter, which is also promising, the good stuff ends abruptly. Unfortunately, the bulk of "Retire Early" is a compilation of all the financial basics you can get from a million other sources. And like so many of the "new" retirement books emerging, covering all the bases of financial advice seems to be the name of the game. Thus, we get advice on determining your nondiscretionary expenses, buying a car, using only one credit card, paying cash for meals, and on and on. And how about this for great advice: "For most people, real wealth is accumulated only if they spend a lot less than what they make." Now, there's something you can take to the bank with you on your next trip. This stuff goes on for about 150 pages: All kinds of financial dribble that, like many other books of this nature, surely includes something to offer to most. But the point here is that I was told this was a really good book on retirement. When do I get to that? Surely there is more to retirement than all this financial stuff! Bingo: Like an entirely different book, that last 30 pages are a hodgepodge of advice and information from nearly every conceivable angle other than financial. The problem is that it is too little too late, and much of it seems more appropriate to a "drop out" persona than a retiree. Some of it borders on just plain weird, like the author's suggestion to write down a list of one's failures in life. With this he says, "throw it in a drawer or file and review it later." Boy, that would be a valuable way to start your retirement plans. And how about his comparison of his "New Prosperity" with "Traditional Retirement?" Two of the entries here are "Chance to pursue passions" vs. "Chance to play golf all the time," and "Part of a global community" vs. "Member of gated community." Where are we going with this? Are we about to define "alternative retirement?" Then, to end the rambling, non-financial stuff, there's a chapter on happiness, where we find quotes from 14 books in just five pages, as if the author did a quick skim from books off his favorite bookshelf. I'm sorry, folks, I think the book is a mess, and I hope that this onslaught of retirement primers that start off with financial basics and all their inconsistencies, then end with rambling advice on how to be happy and fulfilled, soon will run their course. I'll stick with my two old favorites: "The Joy of Not Working," by Zelinski, and "breaking the watch," by Savishinsky. While there will probably never be the perfect "retirement" book, I think those two are at least valuable contributions to the quest. I don't think this Wasik book holds a candle to either.
Rating: 
Summary: Covers all the bases...
Review: I have read several books on this subject and all seem to have some overt or hidden agenda to preach. John Wasik presents a very doable plan with common sense steps for achieving your goal. No hidden agenda here, just solid advice and very practical bits of usable information. The financial plan in Retire Early is the most realistic I have seen in any book. This is not a read once and discard book. I use it as a reference guide and refer to it often.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Excellent
Review: I loved this book so much I read it four times. Mr. Wasik takes the reader through all the steps neccessary to plan for an early retirement. The whole book is engrossing.
One thing is dated a bit though: I dont think that a technology mutual fund is the best bet right now...but I guess I could be wrong.
If you read this book you will figure out what you will do when do retire. This helps you to visualize more clearly and make you want to achieve your goal that much faster. It may also prevent much boredom in those years.
Like I said, this book is excellent and I read it four times.
The reference section is excellent. And I loved that Wasik covered the guy who runs the Retire Early Homepage.
Wasik makes a wonderful suggestion at the beginning of his book: Develop your skills, interests, and abilities, and have great faith in your dreams.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Excellent
Review: I loved this book so much I read it four times. Mr. Wasik takes the reader through all the steps neccessary to plan for an early retirement. The whole book is engrossing.
One thing is dated a bit though: I dont think that a technology mutual fund is the best bet right now...but I guess I could be wrong.
If you read this book you will figure out what you will do when do retire. This helps you to visualize more clearly and make you want to achieve your goal that much faster. It may also prevent much boredom in those years.
Like I said, this book is excellent and I read it four times.
The reference section is excellent. And I loved that Wasik covered the guy who runs the Retire Early Homepage.
Wasik makes a wonderful suggestion at the beginning of his book: Develop your skills, interests, and abilities, and have great faith in your dreams.
Rating:
Summary: Covers all the bases...
Review: The financial planning in this book was excellent, but the added value to me was the advice Wasik provides on how to enjoy and prosper with early retirement. He spends several chapters discussing the value of work and personal pursuits. How to form a personal ecology that balances growth, spirituality, and life passions. He also recommends many intriguing titles for further exploration of the topic. I'm 48 and ready to move on, and this book was just what I was looking for.
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