Review Excerpt:

I ONCE HEARD that there are more than 1,000 books in print on the subject of personal finance relating to retirement. That doesn't surprise me. Many times, bookstores make the assumption that's the only type of "retirement" book that matters.

Few bookstores identify a retirement section that really does justice to the wide spectrum of retirement issues. To be fair, though, there are very few retirement books available that are not about money. The truth is that there simply have not been many books written to date that concentrate on retirement issues other than finances. Of those, here are my winners, in order of preference:

1. The Joy of Not Working by Ernie Zelinski (Ten Speed Press).

Still very much in print, this book does not come up on Internet searches for retirement books. Why? Because "retirement" is not in the title! Dumb, but true. In any case, I rate it as the best book written on the overall subject of retirement to date. It has a good mix of depth and levity, it's easy to read and get through, and there even some great cartoons. It presents positive, bullish advice about life beyond working. The sections on activities are worth the price of admission in themselves. This is a great book for people in any stage of retirement or pre-retirement.

The Joy of Not Working: A Book for the Retired, Unemployed, and Overworked by Ernie J. Zelinski

The Joy of Not Working is all about learning to live every part of your life - employment, unemployment, retirement, and leisure time alike - to the fullest. You too can join the thousands of converts and learn to thrive at both work and play. Illustrated by eye-opening exercises, thought-provoking diagrams, and lively cartoons and quotations, The Joy of Not Working will guide you to enjoy life like never before.

Purchase The Joy of Not Working on Amazon.com with this direct link:

The Joy of Not Working on Amazon.com

Top 10 Reasons to Buy The Joy of Not Working

1. You are more independent and more creative than most people.

2. You were born a lover of life and not a workaholic.

3. You don't want the cheese; you just want to get out of the trap.

4. You like books that are reader friendly with lots of cartoons, quotations, and exercises.

5. You like books that make you smile and challenge traditional ways of living and thinking.

6. You agree with the words of Bertrand Russell: "To be able to fill leisure intelligently is the best product of civilization."

7. You are receptive to the concept that we can achieve more if we relax, enjoy life more, forget about what the majority in society thinks is important, and focus on the things that really matter.

8. Your parents and co-workers will not approve of your adopting this book as your lifestyle Bible.

9. You know a good deal when you see one - if a book has been published in 17 languages in 20 different countries and has sold over 225,000 copies, it must have great value.

10. You know something important that the hard workers of this world don't know: the secret to a happy and fulfilling life is to work smart and not hard.

Purchase The Joy of Not Working on Amazon.com with this direct link:

The Joy of Not Working on Amazon.com