Unemployed and Overworked- 21st Century Edition - A Book for the Retired

This book is a good work book for recently retired or nearly retired persons. It does help one put things in perspective and helps the reader realize that there are advantages to adapting yourself to a new lifestyle.

I think the book glosses over certain imperatives and perhaps may give the impression that it is easy to live well on very little.

Nevertheless just looking at the book as a source of ideas makes it a worthwhile read. I don't think the author means for his word to be taken as gospel.

Provides numerous views of why the American way of life should be more than working till age 65 and then hoping your health and everything else falls into place. Why not start earlier like age 58 - 62 and enjoy the finer years doing what you like best. Recommend for anyone thinking about retiring earlier than the normal American.

Excellent book. Common sense tongue in cheek approach. If one thinks about what Ernie states it makes 100% sense. I am a workaholic that is trying to change. Also, the one who always trying fro more money and higher position. These do not make a good life. This book will be a great help in my goal.

I originally bought this book just to get the Super Savings on shipping and needed something to put me over the $25 mark for my order. I got it, put it to the side and forgot about it for a few months. Eventually I realized I was going home and playing video games every day and needed some help on how to improve my liesure time. I was really impressed with this book, and it has changed my thinking that way that Office Space or Fight Club can have an effect on your typical viewpoint. Although repetitive at points, it really drives home the desire to improve the quality of your life based on what you want, not what the world wants you to want.

If you're already leaning towards not working, this is a good book to re-affirm your desire. The specific examples and personal stories provide good ideas and inspiration for making the jobless life work. Haha. One doesn't need much outside oneself to get by. This book showcases this and how to bring that out.

Trivial and poorly written. Absolutely nothing new. If 200,000 copies were sold as is says, there are 195,000 disappointed people. Don't spend your money or time on this. There's a lot of other good stuff out there.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to Not working! Definitely gives everyone who is thinking of retiring, the unemployed or those who are overworked good insight on how to live without a J O B and be happy at it. Thanks for putting leisure time in perspective!

I have not finished the book, but question Ernie's wisdom where he suggests "just quitting" work when you are not happy and stressed out. I do agree that you need to maintain balance in your life if you ever expect to successfully (happily) retire. I've already failed at my own early retirement plans (back at work) - my reason for reading the book. Fairly easy read....

The suggestions in his book are misleading. Not for the motivated young people who want to make a difference in the world. No one can argue with his conclusions about workaholics. However, no one is going to achieve much success with a goal of living and raising a family on $6000 a year. I read his book in about 3 hours - really a waste of time as far as practical advice is concerned.

Self-help ideals without any substance to back it up. He titles chapters such as "Financial independence on less than twenty dollars a day" and then never gets around to telling the reader just how one would do that. If you want to learn how to be a happy street person, this is the book for you.

Bought this one and Zelinski's other book on retirement on recommendation of Scott Burns, financial writer in Texas. Maybe we were aware of most of his ideas already, but found it to be a disappointment. We wasted some of that retirement money we have worked hard to earn. Scott Burns might also have something to gain from pushing these books.
If you have never investigated approaching retirement, OK. But those looking to learn more can forget it.

i am the curious type and stumbled upon Ernie Zelinski by accident doing an interview about this book. at the time i was working a full time job on the graveyard shift and had two part time jobs also. i bought the book and started glancing through it to see what his angle was and soon found myself zoned in on the book. when it was time to get ready for work that night i decided to call into work and take a Ferris Bueller night off and continue to read.

That night started to change my life. I stepped out of the picture and started looking at where i was at, where i had been, and where i was going. i still worked a lot but i started changing my thought process and questioning my values. during this time i also buried friends of mine that never got to retire.

It took several years to position myself to walk out the door of a place i worked at for 38 years. When i did i never looked back. "The Joy of Not Working" was the main reason i was able leave

The Life Tree is a great tool to assist the transition...it is soul searching. The quotes and stories are inspirational.

Total leisure is the ultimate wealth and anybody can have it.

I found " The Joy of Not Working'' to be a great book and i hope you do too. Buy it, read it, and you too can have your own Life of Riley!

fred webster

My first thought while reading this book was how is someone supposed to live the "Life of Riley" and pay their bills, buy groceries, clothing, manage medical expenses, travel, and so many other necessities of life while not working? The author generated income by writing books, so he's doing something! It's not that simple to shuck it all if you're too young to retire but society deems you too old to work (age 50+). Without having a solid savings nest egg, a supportive spouse or significant other who's supporting you while living a life of leisure, there's NOT much joy when NOT working unless you want to be homeless!

I cannot believe this book got so many positive, even glowing reviews. It is one of the most boring books I've ever read, and I've read probably 2,000+ business and self-help books over the last 30 years! The cartoons are corny, most of the material is plain common sense,even trivial, the best part are quotations.
The material does not flow between sections and chapters, it comes across as a collection of thoughts and topics bundled together in slap dash manner. It certainly failed to engage me at any level ...

I was gifted copy of “The Joy of not Working” from a coworker when I retired earlier this year. For the past, few years I have been planning my retirement life. Ernie’s book turned out to be the perfect tool to bring my thoughts and plans together.

I found the exercises and personal testimonials from readers of prior seditions very insightful. The exercises made me more aware of my strengths and what I really wanted from retirement. His overriding theme of learning to love and embrace leisure time set me on the right course, one I had never considered.

Ernie is right on target when he points out that a happy life comes when we build a strong community, define our purpose in life, and structure life around our community and purpose. I can now see clearly that I must work on community, purpose and structure as I move forward in retirement.

It was by chance that I literally stumbled upon this book. I had been down due to my issues upon retiring from my career of thirty years and came across this used book. It wasn't much money, so I purchased it. From the moment I picked it up, the words that were printed on each page resonated with me, giving me hope for the choices I had made. I felt like Ernie J. Zelinkski understood me and the issues I was facing regarding retirement and my uncertain future.

Finding the pleasure of embracing leisure time after so many years of not allowing myself to do so, was something I had to learn. And it wasn't always easy to do. I had to rete achieve my brain to accept the extra time I now seemed to have now. And I had to do it on my own, without driving my wife and family insane during the process. The Joy of Not Working has given me the tools so that I will be able to use my time, not feel so much gulit, and become someone new. I recommend this book to anyone that is facing a life altering change regarding employment. It will help. Promise.