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Posted June 17, 2003 Book: It Ain't Over Till It's Over Authors: William Diehl and Judith Diehl (Augsburg Books [2003], P.O. Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440; $12.99) Book Review taken from Initiatives, National Center for the Laity In Retirement It Ain't Over Till It's Over is a sensitive, thought-provoking reflection for those who hope to keep their Christianity central to their lives once they retire. Through personal anecdotes, the Diehls relate unfortunate consequences of inadequate preparation for retirement. Boredom, for example, can sometimes lead to severe depression. The decline in social capital, the Diehls explain, is a major yet overlooked factor impinging upon today's retirees. They reference Robert Putnam, who in Bowling Alone (Simon & Schuster [2001] 1230 Ave. of Americas, New York, NY 10020; $16 chronicles how service clubs, fraternal organizations, neighborhoods and church groups are losing membership, particularly as elderly members die and are not replaced. Excessive individualism in our society might eventually result in the demise of most voluntary activities. Subsequent chapters in It Ain't Over Till It's Over cover senior living arrangements, retirement income, the importance of charitable giving and more. The last chapter, "That Time of Year," is an especially well presented discussion of impending death. The book contains several Scripture references and information on some national organizations. For more information on the National Center for the Laity write: National Center for the Laity, P.O. Box 291102, Chicago, IL 60629 E-mail wdroel@cs.com |