From Publishers Weekly
This guide for retired career women or those about to make this life change starts out coolly but warms up to a friendly support-group style discussion of the psychological pitfalls associated with leaving a life of work. The authors, a psychologist and a workplace-issues expert who founded a networking organization by the title's name, illustrate their approach to retirement as renewal. The book's businesslike title is a bit misleading; chapters are short and punchy and lacking detailed how-tos on the practical points of retirement, such as exit strategies or financial planning. The book's strengths lie in its you're not alone tone, with anonymous anecdotes and quotes from the mostly married, 60-somethings in Project Renewment groups throughout Southern California. Also useful is the book's Guide to Creating a Project Renewment Group, which gives a step-by-step how-to for finding like-minded women at or about to embark on the same life stage. Skeptics may identify this self-help book as a disguise to expand the Renewment brand, but it works on its own terms. Illus. (Mar.)
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Review
"Project Renewment is one of those books that becomes a faithful, trusted friend, the imaginary kind who's always there with wise advice and never needs to talk about herself. It's a soulful, pragmatic, delightfully entertaining guide for any woman who plans to keep growing older and intends to enjoy it come hell or high water. I'm rereading it several times in an attempt to impress it upon my subconscious mind before I misplace my copy. Not that my memory is getting patchy or anything. Of course, I'm not nearly old enough to need Project Renewment. I just happen to love it."
-- Martha Beck, author of Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live
"Project Renewment is a terrific book. Its cutting-edge approach to retirement for a new generation of career women is based on sound knowledge, a depth of experience and the rich dialogues of highly effective women creating their future. It's also a great read -- fun, informative and hopeful. I was particularly drawn to the essays through the creative illustrations, timely topics and clear writing."
-- Ken Dychtwald,CEO, Age Wave,author of Age Power and The Power Years
"Here is a window on the changes facing career women when they consider retirement. Women are working longer without many models from the past about how to handle the next phase of life. A grassroots effort began in Southern California at meetings held by the authors, where talented, accomplished women discussed alternatives to their work lives and ways of pursuing objectives other than the pursuit of income. These meetings provided the evidence on which the ideas of this book are based. Reading Project Renewment is like getting a 'new set of tires' and driving off in new directions. It results from the wisdom that evolves from considering alternatives to work in the mature years. "
-- James E. Birren, professor emeritus, University of Southern California, and former dean of the Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center
About the Author
Bernice Bratter, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and an advocate for both women and the aging. In recognition of her leadership in the nonprofit arena, she has received numerous awards including an honorary doctor of law degree from Pepperdine University. She has been featured on 60 Minutes, 20/20 and in Hour Detroit magazine.
Helen Dennis, a nationally recognized expert on the issues of aging, employment and retirement, has received awards for her university teaching and contributions to the field of aging. Editor of two books, popular speaker and weekly columnist, she has helped more than ten thousand employees prepare for their retirement. Her expertise is sought by employers, national publications like The Wall Street Journal and such network news programs as ABC's Primetime.
