Work Less, Live More: The Way to Semi-Retirement

I found WORK LESS, LIVE MORE an informative and (for me) surprisingly interesting read. The book is a well-researched financial how-to guide as well as a candid lifestyle book. The author (who actually did retire early) includes financial advice and investment strategies to use while planning for retirement, but he doesn't stop there - the book also explains how to make the most of early retirement once you get there. It's thoughtful organization and index make it easy to skip through the book, reading only the sections you really need.

As one of the early semi-retirees profiled in the book and related to the author, it would be fair to suspect my recommendations here, but I can assure you that Bob has written a complete and concise book addressing the issues to be faced if you wish to break out of the day to day grind of the modern day work force. It may seem like I would be automatically privy to all of this information by virtue of my relation, but the plain truth is that I needed this book, especially the detailed information about where to put my money to make it work the hardest for me. All of the theories and studies from the last 75 years have been boiled down to easily digested and implemented solutions, which I am now in the process of carrying out. Bob also addresses lifestyle issues that I am currently going through, and it helps to know that I am not unique in the problems I am facing regarding constructive use of my time and mind. This information alone is important to all retirees, early or not. It is critical to all humans that we have something stimulating to do every day to avoid sliding into early dementia and depression. Bob covers these subjects and more from an experienced point of view. (This is not to infer that he suffers from dementia, at least not the type brought on by early retirement!) Bottom line is that for the price of 3 Happy Meals you can set an incredible foundation for the rest of your life, no matter when you actually leave the work force.

This book is great and the author goes out of his way to assist with any questions. He gives you his personal Email and answers all questions promptly. He has helped me with numerous questions about retirement. Give it a try, you'll be a lot smarter about how to handle this difficult subject. Joe

I have read many retirement books and this is the most well organized and clearly written of them. This is one that you will want to keep handy for reference. It has given me the assurance that I need to take a major step towards semi-retirement. I also emailed the author and received a gracious and helpful reply!

This is the most useful and carefully written of literally dozens of books on retirement and financial planning I've read. As a writer myself I appreciate how hard it is to write so clearly and concisely about complex matters. There's a tremendous amount of research and expertise backing up every section of the book, and the investment planning section in particular is superb. Mr. Clyatt's expertise is made all the more accessible by his obvious warmth and compassion for the difficulties faced by anyone contemplating a full or partial retreat from the world of full-time work.