Steve Lopez is such a good writer he could probably make a refrigerator repair manual into a page-turner.
In his latest book, "Independence Day," Lopez's topic is retirement, specifically his own. Lopez explains that at age 66, he was wondering if it was time for him to exit the working world, so he decided to give himself one year to look into the pros and cons of retirement. The result is this very readable 2022 book.
Lopez recognized that retirement would be a major change for him. An award-winning columnist with the Los Angeles Times since 2001, he has worked as a journalist all his life (he also wrote the best-selling book, "The Soloist").
"I left college on a Tuesday night in 1975, started work the next morning, and I haven't stopped. It's all I know and what's more important, it's a big part of who I am."
Was it time to give it a rest? Or would he miss his work, which gave him the opportunity to go places and meet people he otherwise never would?
On his one-year quest, Lopez talks to people like 102-year-old Hedda Bolgar, who continued to work as a therapist because she felt her services were still needed. "If there's an unmet need in the world, you try to meet it," she said.
He also talks to a California couple, Joan and Ted, who retired at the ages of 53 and 58 then spent 30 years happily traveling the world on their boat. "I would say don't wait," Joan advised. "Do it now. Do it while you're young."
He talks to TV producer Norman Lear and movie-maker Mel Brooks, both in the never-retire camp, though Brooks suggests that Lopez could cut back a little."I'd say keep doing what you're doing, but don't do as much of it," Brooks said. "But always look forward to waking up with something that you do well."
He talks to Jane, who retired but then missed working, so she went back part-time. "It was great!" After three years of that, though, she was happy to retire for good.
Some of Lopez's interviewees retired and struggled to keep busy, others had an armful of tasks. One couple retired with optimism but financial issues forced them back to work.
He talked to Maurice Kitchens, who retired from the insurance business as soon as he could, then launched a bountiful second act, directing, producing and acting in community theater.
In short, Lopez talks to all kinds of people with all kinds of opinions on retirement.
Lopez is such as smooth writer that the book flows easily. He emphasizes personal stories — his own and others' — and his conversational style makes it feel like you're just sitting across from him chatting. One chapter passes easily into the next. Even if you're not that interested in retirement, you would probably enjoy "Independence Day."
Lopez does veer off the topic once in a while, talking about such things as his diet, TV drug commercials, or his daughter's search for a college. You could strain to find the connection to retirement in these passages, but frankly you'll probably enjoy these stories as much as the others.
I won't spoil the ending by revealing what Lopez ultimately decided. But he's not recommending people imitate him anyway. The main takeaway from this book is that everyone is different, with different needs and goals, and each person must make his or her own decision about retirement.
