Thrive in Retirement - by Eric Thurman (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Discover the three secrets to happiness--and much more--in the later years of life.

Never before in human history have so many people lived for decades beyond their working years. 10,000 Americans turn 65 each day, and their average life expectancy is another 20 years--and many will live longer. But will they just live or have a meaningful life? The truth is that many--if not most--people approaching the latter years do not have a plan, much less a strategy to thrive instead of just survive. Packed with information based on research as well as common-sense wisdom, here are some examples of what readers will discover:

How retiring at the wrong time increases the likelihood of dying 89%.

What can delay Alzheimer's onset an average of 9 years.

How everything that makes you happy comes in just 3 forms.

Which partner is most likely to initiate divorce after decades of marriage and why.

Review Quotes

"Whether you are thirty, fifty, or eighty years old, it's not too late to take Eric Thurman's advice for a happy, healthy, and secure retirement. With the secrets he offers in Thrive in Retirement, you can enjoy what many of us feel are the best years of our lives! Thank you, Eric, for writing such a great road map!"
--Marilyn and Jim Lovell, astronaut and commander of Apollo 8 and Apollo 13

"Leaving my long executive career was a big change. Thrive in Retirement is a candid and well-researched wealth of information and encouragement on how to not only navigate but thrive in the great third season of my life."
--Jerry Forte, CEO Colorado Springs Utilities (retired)

"As retirement nears, we encourage older adults to plan for their future financial or health care needs, but what Eric Thurman insightfully notes is that we often overlook the need to plan for what will make us happy. I encourage older adults to use this book as their guide to happiness."
--Marla Fronczak, MSNM, executive director, Northeastern Illinois Agency on Aging

"Retirement is more than having enough money saved. It is making sure that your finances are taken care of while also planning what to do in your free time, identifying what your passions are, and deciding how you are going to execute those plans after you retire. Eric's book has it all. I give it to my clients of all ages...to think about as they plan for retirement. Eric, thank you for writing what I think is the comprehensive manual to a happy and prosperous retirement!"
--Mark F. Saran, investment advisor, Lake Forest, IL

"What a wonderful guide for successful aging! In a culture that values youthfulness, this book shows us we don't have to buy into the stereotypes of growing older. Having worked in the field of aging for over twenty-five years, I found Eric Thurman's book to be insightful, poignant, uplifting, and practical. As our nation is on the cusp of experiencing the 'silver tsunami, ' this is a must read--especially for anyone of the baby boom generation."
--Angel Hoffman, MA gerontology

"Grounded in much insight, Thrive in Retirement is a practical guide to anyone in retirement or considering it. I think everyone over fifty should read it. The book really helps people reflect on their lives and live more purposefully, longer, and happier!"
--Charley Shin, founder and CEO of Charleys Philly Steaks restaurants

"I love adventure, not just in comics, but also in real life. I don't want my life to be boring, sad, or lack for meaning. Life is meant to be overflowing. I love to use all my potential, not just in my drawings but also in my ministries and leisure times. I expect to enjoy all the years God gives me. That's why I love Thrive in Retirement. It has a wealth of information on how to make the most of all my decades ahead."
--Sergio Cariello, cartoonist of famous characters including The Lone Ranger, Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain America, and The Action Bible

"Psalm 92 shares that God's people will prosper and be like trees that stay healthy and fruitful, even in old age. I encourage you to read Thrive in Retirement, to consider and apply what Eric Thurman shares about abundant living in your later years and finishing this life well."
--Dr. Roy Peterson, president and CEO, American Bible Society

"In over thirty years of psychiatric care with older adults, we find that social isolation and lack of meaningful activity are common risk factors. As we age, it is how we nurture our relationships and build meaning in our souls that makes the difference between just surviving and truly thriving."
--Dr. Ken Phillips, psychiatrist, Alliance Clinical Associates, Wheaton, IL

"Thrive in Retirement is a must-read. I found the practical applications in the book to be most helpful, including the online information and especially the checklists. I laugh that even though as a judge and a lawyer I am familiar with many of the checklists, I believe those in the book are very thorough, and I had not considered some of the personal lists."
--Justice Barbara Gilleran Johnson, Illinois appellate court judge (retired)

"We have not stopped hearing from our congregation since we held a workshop around this book. We had double the usual number sign up. The information is highly engaging, practical, and challenging. It has been a true game changer for our people."
--Dave K. Smith, executive pastor, Willow Creek Community Church-Crystal Lake

"Having just retired at eighty, after reading Thrive in Retirement, I'm reconsidering! The book is challenging, provocative, insightful, practical, and provides hope for a productive future. I want to grow old as Eric suggests, not merely become old."
--Dr. Gordon D. Loux, founding president Prison Fellowship International

"This part of life is a big jump and anxiety producing for a lot of people. At the very least, it can be confusing. Thrive in Retirement provides a really nice transition because it is entertaining to read, chock full of information, and very practical."
--Nancy Barrett Chickerneo, Ph.D., therapist, author, and professor (retired)

"Eric gives invaluable information and advice in this book. I have implemented things he wrote to improve my own retirement."
--Philip B. Smith, oil industry CEO (retired)

"This book is your pathway to being fulfilled and happy in every step of your life's journey."
--James T. Draper Jr., president emeritus, LifeWay

"Eric doesn't just write about how to flourish in retirement, he shows us how. In Thrive in Retirement, Eric shares from his own life experience to help us make the most of the time we are given. You will be inspired to thrive in this season with rekindled clarity and purpose."
--Peter Greer, president and CEO, HOPE International

"As someone who has dedicated his life to empowering corporate leaders to unleash the creativity, intelligence, and worth of their employees, I commend Eric Thurman for masterfully carving out a game plan for vital, postretirement years--years that he demonstrates can be entirely productive and fulfilling. In Thrive in Retirement, Eric has written a book that might also be called 'The Best Years of Our Lives'!"
--Dr. Cleve W. Stevens, leadership development expert, author, and former professor at USC and Beijing University

"Eric Thurman has written a masterful book for older adults who seek to make their years beyond retirement the most fulfilling, creative, and happy time of their lives. A great humanitarian who has enriched the poorest of the poor in developing countries, Eric is now in service to enriching the lives of those hardworking people whose best and most joy-filled days may lie ahead of them!"
--Jeffrey B. Peters, president, the US-Mexican Development Corporation

"Thrive in Retirement provides a clear and compelling case for embracing the third season of our lives with purpose and gusto! Although financial health typically comes to mind for people facing retirement, Thurman skillfully advises us on the power of purpose, pleasure, and peace to fill us with lasting happiness."
--Dennis Ripley, chief program officer, Opportunity International

"Eric Thurman has written a book that touches every [retirement] subject you may be interested in knowing more about. It's written in a way that keeps your attention, and it gives hope for our future and tips about how we should view the aging process. I love the word thrive in the title. You may think and feel your age, but this book will give you a new way to think about the truth. Think more about "thriving" and less about "dying" because what we think adds life to our living."
--Anne Beiler, founder of Auntie Anne's Pretzels, author, and speaker

About the Author

ERIC THURMAN has a history of blazing trails. He was one of the early leaders of the microfinance movement, heading anti-poverty programs in 30 less developed nations. Now, driven by personal passion to find both meaning and enjoyment during his later life, he is creating a new path for people who also want to thrive during the last third of their life. Thurman began his career as a broadcast journalist and has extensive media experience. A partial list of his coverage or appearances include: CNN, Fox and Friends, Wall Street Week, PBS, CBS News, Newsweek, Time, Harvard International Review, CNBC TV, Forbes, Christianity Today, The 700 Club, Financial Times, and The Economist. Thurman and his wife, Diane, reside in Illinois.