Taking Retirement: A Beginner's Diary

The author begins recording the events of his upcoming retirement on a regular, almost daily basis. I wanted to read this book because of my interest in the effect of retirement on a person who had been in academia and also to observe what I knew was the author's notable writing skills. I was not disappointed on either count. The rhythmic style of his writing was not obvious, which made it all the more impressive to me and this was what I was expressly looking for. The book is over ten years old, so I knew as I was reading it that Kate, the author's wife, died suddenly a few years after the period this book covers. This made it all the more poignant.

If we are healthy and fortunate, most of us end up in retirement. Klaus's book suggests a more proactive attitude ("taking retirement") which he displays in his daily narrative as he approaches retirement. Too many people are caught by unexpected feelings and disappointments. TAKING RETIREMENT will help many readers to more thoughtfully consider their goals as well as the reality of their expectations. It's cliche, but retirement is not an end but a beginning, and Klaus does a fine job "taking retirement" as an intriguing and challenging new time of his life.

I recommend you read "Taking Retirement: A Beginners Diary," a diary of a personal journey, an examination of values, a search for answers. You can read it to learn about the author's journey; or perhaps, you can read it to share his quest while seeking answers to your own questions, allowing someone who has struggled with this transition to guide you. Let him help you answer your own questions about the role of work in your life and your future as you transition from an identity anchored in job and daily routine to a more unstructured daily life, a new life with an opportunity to spend the time in your own way. You could also read this diary because the stories are entertaining, especially wife Kate's education about washing fresh vegetables while on a trip, or the insight learned from a visit to an ancient scholar's study in the classical Chinese pavilion in Vancouver. Or, you could read it to appreciate the writing, noting the sense of flow, appreciating how the parts fit together smoothly, and the sense of focus, observing the clear unity of the whole. There is a simple understated style in this diary--the words don't shout at you, they don't compel you--"notice me," but the writing reflects measured choices, choosing not just what to write but how. The style is not like a translucent window--to be looked through solely for the underlying ideas. It is more like finely cut beveled glass--to be looked at, to be appreciated, to be enjoyed. This diary also tells of the author's love of gardening and his writing. But, truth be told, I believe his real passion is eating. A well-prepared meal, one with the right herbs and spices, the freshest produce, and the right combination of dishes, is an event always noted with relish and joy, documenting the pleasure of eating with friends, the opportunity to share events of the day. "Taking Retirement" deals a pack of anecdotes and lessons. The diary details a psychological journey and an actual vacation trip. The psychological journey includes an enquiry, or polling, of friends, business contacts, associates, and retirees, soliciting their views of retirement, each offering a range of attitudes and responses about retirement, about leaving work and leaving an identity drawn from that work. The vacation puts distance between the author and the start of his first semester, his first semester as an emeritus professor, a professor without fall classes, without students, without colleagues. Professor Klaus's personal account describes the start of a new life after 35 years of teaching. It records a search for meaning in retirement, a discovery seeking to balance the ship of life, seeking to reconcile conflicts, complete the journey, prepare to move to a new chapter in life.

Both my wife and I enjoyed Taking Retirement. Although I won't retire for another 25 months I can relate to many of Klaus's fears and concerns and was happy to witness his coming to terms with and embracing retirement. Not recommended for people who use terms like "wimps" and "girly men" but it was a blessing for me to read this work at this point in my life.

Just ending the first five months of my own retirement, I bought this book looking for some helpful advice. What I found was an honest, fascinating book about a person going through a life transition and not being afraid to share his experience, warts and all. It is a tremendously helpful book not only for its information but also as a model of great journal writing.