Fire up your life in retirement 101 ways for women to reinvent themselves

This particular r-word, half of us look forward to, and the other half dread. Educator and author (Excuse Me, Your Participle's Dangling, 2013, is one) DePino graciously and gracefully helps women be thoughtful about this next stage in life. In an organized way, she tackles seven different segments to consider: general planning, physical and emotional health, brain and relationship work, spirituality, challenges, enjoyment, and realization actions. Each of her chapters features pithy to-dos, described in a few paragraphs, and concludes with a summary (called take-aways ) and, usually, a quiz, with scorecard answers. The activities are simple yet will consume thinking and journaling time and, perhaps, demand an Excel spreadsheet or two. Who could argue with such recommendations as keep moving, rev up the romance, care for caregivers, surround yourself with positive people, examine your belief system, and inspire young people? Her book is sensible and pragmatic, filled with common sense as well as a joy of living. It's time to embrace Eleanor Roosevelt's mandate, Do one thing every day that scares you. --Jacobs, Barbara Copyright 2010 Booklist