From Working to Wisdom: The Adventures and Dreams of Older Americans - Couverture souple

For much of our lives we ask: Can we find meaning and happiness in work? When it comes to retirement we ask: Can we find meaning and happiness in retirement?

The author asked older Americans to discuss their feelings, fears, and hopes. He spoke with a remarkable group, which included a big-city mayor, an adventurer, a missionary, a Marine Corps general, athletes, philanthropists, factory workers, nurses, and teachers.

The resulting book shows rather than tells how to age and live well. It is many things: a series of reflections on growing older, a store of insight and instruction, and a sustained argument for the power of choosing—no matter the circumstance—to live well.

From Working to Wisdom is a testament to the richness of each person’s life. On every page, the book challenges its readers to live with authenticity, imagination, and courage, and to begin doing so right now.

Brendan M. Hare is a recent retiree. He lives outside Boston with his wife, near their three grown children.

Mr. Hare worked as a teacher, a college economics instructor, and for over forty years, as an attorney. He served as chief litigation counsel for a Fortune 50 company and later as the founder and managing partner of his own law firm. For over twenty years, he built and guided a sizeable national practice, with clients drawn from some of the largest corporations in America.

Few experiences in his career have been as rewarding as this book project. He spent two years traveling the country, meeting new people, and listening to them discuss their lives and thoughts about growing older.

Writing this book changed him profoundly. He hopes it will have a similar impact on readers.