
Title : Get a Life: You Don't Need a Million to Retire Well
Author : Ralph E. Warner
Rating : 4 Stars out of 5.
Summary : One of the best all round books on retirement planning!
As a Certified Financial Planner, I recommend this book to many of my clients who are seriously planning their retirements. Warner has done a great job putting things in the proper perspective with a book that is an "easy read". While adequate money is important to a satisfactory retirement (and helping clients build a satisfactory net worth is how I make my living), I do find, as has Warner, that there are more important things such as health, friends, and a purpose (i.e., reasons to get up in the morning) when it comes to planning out one's retirement. I frequently ask clients what they plan to do when they retire. When they say "go fishing" or "play golf", I then ask them what they plan to do the second week/month/year. And I keep asking the question until they realize that its a serious one. Warner takes it further with discussion and clear examples. In short, a must read for anyone approaching retirement.

Title : Your Guide to Retiring to Mexico, Costa Rica and Beyond: Finding the Good Life on a Fixed Income
Author : Shelley Emling
Rating : 3 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Worth reading.
A good book in that it allows you to compare Mexico with other countries. The only negative I can think of is that in the Mexico section the author refers to Mexico City throughout. Not many retirees want to settle in Mexico City.

Title : Real Life Investing Guide: How to Buy Whatever You Want, Save for Retirement and Take the Vacation of Your Dreams While You're Still Young
Author : Kenan Pollack
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : This is a fabulous introduction to investing.
If you're a twenty- or thirty-something looking for an accessible, useful guide to investing, look no further. This is a great how-to guide to the markets, written in an inviting yet not condescending style. Buy it. Read it. Tell your friends.

Title : Celebration
Author : Harry Crews
Rating : 4 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Not one of his best, but a page-turner.
I just finished Harry Crews's _Celebration_. It's a Crews Cruise (TM) freak show, complete with stump-humpin', granny-drownin', Turkey suckin' good ole bad ole boys and girls, which incidentally answers the zen koan "What should you do if you meet the Buddha on the road and she offers to have outrageous sex with you?"

Title : The Old Fool's Retirement Guide
Author : Rob Davies
Rating : 2 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Disappointing book from an excellent stable
The 'Motley Fool' series is a really excellent one. For the first time reader of their works this book will provide something, indeed much, of interest. However, compared to their other books (and I have read them all) this is a disappointment. There is little which is new in this book and the retirement sections of, for example, the Motley Fool UK Investment guide, are actually more informative. The authors of Motley Fool really must decide on a standard version of thier investment philosophy and develop this, rather than simply repeat it in several differnet ways.
The book really cant make up its mind whether it is for those saving for old age, or already in it and trying to decide how best to take their income. It tries to do both and falls short on both counts, but particularly the latter. There is little or no discussion of many things -such as bonds or zeros - if only to dismiss them. These are (albeit briefly) explored in the Motley Fool UK Investment Guide - where the section on 'Hermiones old age' was very informative. If ths present book could have used this as a starting point we could have learned much more.
Likewise, there is little consideration of those already in their forties but with little or no investment. The book all to often assumes you are in the early stages of a career or at the end of it.
Buy this book if you are a first timer to the Motley Fool - otherwise stick with the UK Investment Guide and wait for the second edition of Old Age.......

Title : The Three Boxes of Life: How to Get Out of Them
Author : Richard Nelson Bolles
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : A profound book for life's sojourners
I first came across this book at my job's library and I STILL use a lot of the ideas and thoughts in it. I am so happy that Amazon carries it because I despaired of ever having it in my personal library - it has great ideas that are applicable no matter where you are in life - a student, worker, homemaker or executive.

Title : Social Security Benefits Handbook (Social Security Benefits Handbook)
Author : Stanley A. Tomkiel
Rating : 3 Stars out of 5.
Summary : SOUNDS GOOD
BUT DOSE THE BOOK HAVE ANYTHING ON SSI?? PLEASE LET ME KNOW SOON THANKS PAM