A review of Encore: Finding Work That Matters, a book by Marc Freedman

In the 1960s, I thought we could change the world. Encore gives me hope that we still can. 

Marc Freedman is the founder of Civic Ventures and the co-founder of The Purpose Prize and Experience Corps. Instead of focusing on retirement as a time of freedom from work, Encore celebrates the freedom to work. It is not a how-to manual on how to find work after 50. It is about reinventing retirement as a time to find meaning, make connections, learn new skills and leave a legacy. It’s about finding a “new dream” to replace the traditional idea of retirement.

Encore draws upon research involving approximately 200 people who participated in the Still Working Project. In their own voices, they share moving stories about their personal pursuit of purpose. These encore pioneers include a woman who transitioned from a truant officer to a critical care nurse; a man who morphed from a car salesman to a social entrepreneur; a woman who made the change from homemaker to Episcopal priest; and many others. These people embody vision, persistence and resilience in their quest to find their true calling.  

Encore chronicles historical events and trends including the introduction of Social Security and other entitlement programs. It explores the evolution of retirement and the role played by the financial services industry in the creation of the construct “the golden years.” It cites research into the positive impact of working on health and longevity.  

Baby boomers are in a position to solve some of the most pressing problems facing society today. We are the answer to the brain drain. As we launch serial careers or try something new, we are positioned to improve society by contributing our time, our talents and our wisdom.

The appendix to Encore is a working guide for anyone hoping to make the transition to an encore career. It provides an introductory guide to finding your encore career and offers resources for careers in health care, education, aging, government, social entrepreneurship and the nonprofit sector.