Official Review: Your Next Chapter

mmm17 · Post by **mmm17** » 11 Jul 2020, 11:21

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Your Next Chapter" by Alexandra Armstrong & Mary R. Donahue.]

4 out of 4 stars

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In Your Next Chapter: A Woman’s Guide to a Successful Retirement, written by Alexandra Armstrong and Mary R. Donahue, the authors “explore retirement as women writing for women.” They use the stories of four fictional women (Catherine, Emily, Melissa, and Victoria) to analyze several aspects of retirement. In the first part of the book, the authors show how to assess one’s current situation to better prepare. In the second part, they talk about adjusting to retirement.

The book starts by presenting the four women’s profiles, which include profession, marital status, spouse, and children. Catherine is a partner in a law firm in Washington, DC. Emily, a divorcee in Atlanta, Georgia, struggles with money issues. Melissa is a homemaker in Detroit, Michigan, and Victoria, who is single, works as a tenured professor in Berkeley, California.

There are numerous positive aspects to mention in this book. For starters, I appreciated how it thoroughly explains how to put together a budget and assess one’s balance sheet, as well as possible sources of retirement income. The authors explain financial issues clearly, making themes like assets, pensions, personal investments, and life insurance easy to understand. I also liked how the book approaches emotional matters. The authors don’t shy away from topics that range from how to spend one’s time to spirituality and religion. I particularly liked how they propose an exercise of envisioning one’s future lifestyle in the first few months of retirement. They also consider physical and mental health issues, which I enjoyed.

Above all, I appreciated the concrete situations used to illustrate the discussions in each chapter. This aspect was what I liked the most. For instance, Catherine and her husband consult with a professional financial planner to help them sort through their options, which proves to be very useful. Emily, who has lived in the suburbs for many years, wants to retire somewhere she can walk rather than drive, as is often the case as people age. Melissa seeks a pastor to discuss some of her concerns about retirement, which include accommodating her husband’s desires to move to Florida. I was also touched by Victoria’s bout with breast cancer and how it prompted careful consideration of health care options.

In closing, there are no negatives worth mentioning here, and I give this well-structured and useful book 4 out of 4 stars. It is a well-written title that provides a wealth of information, as well as practical and actionable tips. I strongly recommend it to those who are planning their retirement, especially women.

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Your Next Chapter
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Chinelookeke · Post by **Chinelookeke** » 15 Jul 2020, 14:19

This is a must read for everyone that will retire sometime in the future. Thanks to the author for making it easy for us to understand. Thanks to the reviewer for the wonderful review.

Elvis Best · Post by **Elvis Best** » 15 Jul 2020, 14:24

Although I am not the appropriate audience for this book, I believe women would it to be very valuable. Thanks for this insightful review. Good job!

macleaney · Post by **macleaney** » 15 Jul 2020, 16:05

It seems that sisterhood-like camaraderie among women is a popular way to tell stories and promote ideas. I am adding the book to my to-read shelf, as it sounds like it could be a great read.

Adrianna Melillo · Post by **Adrianna Melillo** » 15 Jul 2020, 19:35

“Above all, I appreciated the concrete situations used to illustrate the discussions in each chapter.”

I think this is one of the best ways to teach! This sounds like a helpful read. Great review!

Joseph_ngaruiya · Post by **Joseph_ngaruiya** » 16 Jul 2020, 01:33

The lessons could apply to both genders. It's an informative piece. Receive my regards for the thorough review.

Dayodiola · Post by **Dayodiola** » 16 Jul 2020, 06:35

Is there anything surpassing sisterhood? I bet it hasn't been discovered.

Ms_Rita30 · Post by **Ms_Rita30** » 16 Jul 2020, 09:20

Retirement scares a lot of people. I think this book would help alleviate some of those fears through the options it's provided. Thanks for your detailed review.