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Elizabeth White
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55, Underemployed, and Faking Normal: Your Guide to a Better Life Hardcover – January 8, 2019

by Elizabeth White (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 212 ratings
See all formats and editions
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A practical plan for the millions of people in their fifties and sixties who find themselves out of work, unable to find a job, and financially incapable of retiring, Elizabeth White shows how to get past any blame or shame, overcome denial, and find a path to a new normal.

Elizabeth White has an impressive resume, which includes advanced degrees from Harvard and Johns Hopkins and a distinguished employment history. She started a business that failed and then tried to re-enter the work force in her mid-fifties, only to learn that there is little demand for workers her age. For a while Elizabeth lived in denial, but then had to adjust to her new reality, shedding the gym membership, getting a roommate, forgoing restaurant meals, and so on. She soon learned she wasn’t alone: there are millions of Americans in her predicament and worse, exhausted from trying to survive and overcome every day.

In 55, Underemployed, and Faking Normal, Elizabeth invites you to look beyond your immediate circumstances to what is possible in the new normal of financial insecurity. You’re in your fifties and sixties, and may have saved nothing or not nearly enough to retire. It’s too late for blame or shame—and it wouldn’t help anyway. What you want to know is what you can do now to have a shot at a decent retirement.

“This relevant and well-researched book will appeal not only to those 55 plus, but to the generation coming right behind them who may face similar issues” (Booklist, starred review). 55, Underemployed, and Faking Normal is a must-have for anyone whose income has suddenly diminished or even disappeared. “Providing practical solutions with a focus on retirement and maximizing savings, White maintains authority with a realistic, empathetic tone throughout. This deeply useful work will resonate with aging readers of all income levels and situations” (Publishers Weekly). If you’re ready to get serious about feeling good again, this book is for you.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster
  4. Publication date
    January 8, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.9 x 8.38 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1501196804
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1501196805
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Every so often someone names an invisible pattern in society with such honesty and accuracy that it becomes a seed of a national conversation. Elizabeth White has brought to light the unexpected challenges of Boomers turning the corner into older age. She offers straight talk to her generation while giving everyone an eye-opening look at the travails of aging out of relevance in America.” -- Vicki Robin, author of Your Money or Your Life and Blessing the Hands That Feed Us

“Simultaneously a terrifying wake-up call and a heartening, idea-filled guide to navigating the new realities so many of us face or will face.” -- Kate Tuttle ― The Los Angeles Times

“This relevant and well-researched book will appeal not only to those 55 plus, but to the generation coming right behind them who may face similar issues.” ― Booklist (starred review)

"Providing practical solutions with a focus on retirement and maximizing savings, White maintains authority with a realistic, empathetic tone throughout. This deeply useful work will resonate with aging readers of all income levels and situations." ― Publishers Weekly

"Generously guides a generation of Americans finding a healthy, sustainable new normal and better life in their golden years." -- Dylan Schleicher ― 800-CEO-READ

"55, Underemployed, and Faking Normal is required reading for all those who fear the finances of longer lives and a job market rife with age discrimination—in other words, everyone. Get a copy and breathe a bit easier: This book doubles as a lifesaving device!" -- Marc Freedman, president and CEO of Encore.org and author of How to Live Forever: The Enduring Power of Connecting the Generations

"Elizabeth White's story is poignant and powerful. And, her new book is a fierce, insightful rallying call for both personal resilience and political action. 55, Underemployed, and Faking Normal is a tale of our age and our aging and it's one of my favorite books on the subject of midlife and beyond." -- Chip Conley, Hospitality Entrepreneur and Author of Wisdom@Work: The Making of a Modern Elder

About the Author

Elizabeth White is an author and aging solutions advocate for older adults facing uncertain work and financial insecurity. Most recently she served as Special Advisor to the Executive Director of Senior Service America. Before joining SSA, she was the Chief Operating Officer of a midsize nonprofit focused on improving economic conditions in Africa. She is also an entrepreneur, having cofounded and led a chain of decorative home stores in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, and New York. She began her career in international development at the World Bank. Ms. White earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Masters in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University, and a BS in Political Science from Oberlin College. She resides in Washington, DC, with her daughter and grandson.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster; 1st edition (January 8, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1501196804
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1501196805
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.38 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 212 ratings

About the author

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Elizabeth White

Elizabeth White

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Ms. White is an author and aging advocate for older adults facing uncertain work and in financial jeopardy.

She has an MBA from Harvard University, an MA in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University, and a BS in Political Science from Oberlin College. She is currently serving as a Collaborator with the Institute for Career Transitions, a Special Advisor to the Interim Executive Director of Senior Service America, a contributing writer to various websites and blogs, and an adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia.

Ms. White’s latest project is Fifty-five, Unemployed, and Faking Normal, a book about the millions of older Americans who, despite career choice and decent incomes are facing the prospect of downward mobility in old age. Based on interviews and discussions with experts and older adults, Fifty-five, Unemployed and Faking Normal looks at the tools and strategies boomers can utilize to make sense of changed circumstances, better manage financial hardship, and achieve a more satisfying life.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
212 global ratings
A Life Changing Transformational Book
5 Stars
A Life Changing Transformational Book
55, Underemployed and Faking Normal is a life changing, thought provoking book! Eye-opening which causes you to examine yourself and re-evaluate your life and face up to the faking normal you've been doing for months and maybe years! This book changed my life so much that I created a podcast, entitled "The Retirepreneur" to help other women in their fifties and older transition them from underemployed into Retirepreneurship. The Retirepreneur Podcast first episode features her famous essay and TEDx TALK "You Know her" and on episode 2 is an up close and personal with this lovely author Elizabeth White! An eye-opening, in your face book, that will truly change your life. It changed mine. Enjoy!
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Top reviews from the United States

Draco
5.0 out of 5 stars A good read
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2024
Verified Purchase
Interesting information for anyone near or at retirement age and wondering how they’ll make ends meet. Also good for younger people to help them consider their future plans and options
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alma carter
5.0 out of 5 stars good read
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2024
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i enjoyed the book
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Florizelle B. Liser
5.0 out of 5 stars Pracrical solutions for a modern day crisis
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2019
Verified Purchase
This timely and well-researched book is an urgent call for action. Everyone should read it. Even if you personally are OK financially, you, without a doubt, know someone in their fifties or older who used to be in good shape financially but now struggles to make ends meet. Retirent income insecurity is that widespread. Lots of.books make.recommendarions on how to.deal with the retirement income crisis. Too often they focus on big systemic fixes to be implemented by others that are too far in the future to be of benefit to people living in financial jeopardy now. 55, Underemployed, and Faking Normal is the only book I've read on the retirement crisis focusing on the here and now. It talks about what you, as an individual living this crisis, can do in the meantime - offering practical solutions and dozens of resources.
19 people found this helpful
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Dollie Chase
4.0 out of 5 stars Informative Book
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2021
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Thank you to Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read this book for free on Glose. This book was a real eye-opener for me and I learned a lot from it. I’m in my mid-60s and have been underemployed for the last several years. I didn't really give ageism a lot of thought until I read this very organized, instructive and informative book. Perhaps it’s vanity which has kept me from coming to grips with the fact that I’m aging. This book was a powerful reminder that I still have a lot to think about and a lot to plan. I thought this book was so good that I bought my best friend and I each a copy.
3 people found this helpful
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Anne
5.0 out of 5 stars This book cuts deep
Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2020
Verified Purchase
I finished this book in small pieces because it was so difficult for me to read all it once. It exceeded my expectations. I found it to be the BEST piece on retirement planning I have read. While this is enough to make the author and the book very special, it is so much more. It’s is a record of the authors personal struggle that she shared and it touched me.

The humanity of the written message reached deep, through hurts and blocks and anger, and in the end simply inspired me with awe. As far as I can see, the author gained this insight without compromising her own values or her pride. (Pride when truly released comes back to the releaser as an impenetrable uncompromising shield that requires no control.) She did it. She succeeded. In the end she won. I’m amazed.

I found the relationship she had with Elijah particularly touching. I think she recognized in him some of her shared core values, but where he saw the rigged game and refused to play, she persevered, she found a way forward and she shared it. Elizabeth had the self confidence to look at herself and her situation clearly, objectively, and humbly, and focused on how to transform her relationship with society. She used her insight to serve others. That makes her a wonderful human being and a powerful leader. She showed us a way forward.

Her positive energy is inspiring. I would like to thank her from the bottom of my heart.
12 people found this helpful
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Arthur H. Mitchell
5.0 out of 5 stars Read this when you finally get serious about facing your finances and your future
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2019
Verified Purchase
You worry about money – obsessively – so do I. If you are my age – mid-60’s, you may expect to live another twenty or thirty years. That should be a good thing, right? You want to figure out how to keep funding your retirement and stop worrying so much about the money. You want that so much – so you can get back to enjoying life and being of help and service to others – isn’t that right? And you do want to keep working – “retirement” is an obscene word and has no meaning for most of us – you want to have a reason to get up in the morning – a purpose that is in line with your values, strengths and experience. You have a lot to offer. And you may say you have tried. Of course you have, but there are times in our lives when we need a guide – a catalyst to say just the right thing, propose just the right action – an ah-ha moment that will propel us toward action that will lead to greater security and happiness. Elizabeth White is that guide to lead you though the myths of ageism that YOU bought into and now must reject. Her guidance is solid, down-to-earth – because she has been there – and she challenges us to just stop thinking magically, to wake up, face our reality, and – most importantly – take action!
20 people found this helpful
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amazonliz
5.0 out of 5 stars A Go-To Guide For Facing Financial Insecurity In Our Middle Years
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2020
Verified Purchase
A timely and practical resource on recognizing that in fact, this is a real issue for many. Elizabeth White delivers not only her own story but other's stories who have experienced the same or similar in their middle years of life. With our lifespans reaching farther than ever before, this is a serious concern for many. How to remain financially secure and relevant? Becoming aware of this reality is powerfully supported in the book with facts and statistics revealing significant issues already being experienced.
Enjoyable to read and packed with resources, stories that will resonate, and solutions not yet considered, this book is a must-read wake up call and support for those already experiencing financial insecurity in midlife.
One person found this helpful
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C B
3.0 out of 5 stars While realistic, also profoundly depressing
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2019
Grimly realistic, this book is a real beat-down of a read. Some good resources listed though.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Ajita Chakraborty
5.0 out of 5 stars Authentic
Reviewed in India on November 3, 2019
Verified Purchase
This is one of the best book on personal finance. It is authentic and part memoir. This book talks about the situation of baby boomers in America. Please watch the author's interview and Ted talk on YouTube before buying this book.
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