Five books for those in retirement

He was hanging around the offices, bantering with staff and joining them for lunch in the staff canteen. His colleagues who were still in the service were shy to tell him off and ease him out. He was there for a whole year, interrupting their work and interfering with everything as if he was still […]

He was hanging around the offices, bantering with staff and joining them for lunch in the staff canteen. His colleagues who were still in the service were shy to tell him off and ease him out. He was there for a whole year, interrupting their work and interfering with everything as if he was still a staff. It was a bit extreme and quite embarrassing. But this happens and often times it is when we are in denial. One of the hardest things ever is to cut out a routine you have been doing for thirty years. Withdrawal symptoms set in and you do not know what to do with yourself. It happens to everyone who has retired. At first it seems like a dream then after a week or so you miss your office, your colleagues and everything in between. Then you feel certain emptiness in your heart. This is when you must find an activity to fill that void. May I please recommend reading in addition to whatever other active thing you have lined up for yourself. Here are five books therefore to go to if you are either preparing to go into retirement or you have already retired. Enrich your mind.

1) Buy a travel book. Get yourself involved with travelogues. If you have saved enough this is when to visit those exotic places you have always wanted to go or even a neighbouring country like Ghana. I am a great traveller as it opens my mind. I have been to all the continents except two, Antarctica and Latin America. But I am reading everything I can about them. This is also the time to pick up history books and read about your country and travel to see the incredible historical sites in Nigeria. The great walls of Kano, the intriguing Bini kingdom, the history of the slave market in Badagry. Nigeria has such a rich resource. Your retirement is a time to see the vastness of your country. The other day I met two Swedes from the University of Stockholm. They had been in Jos for six months. They were PhD students studying the traditional architectural masterpieces of Jos. Amazing. But one of my favourite travel books of all time is the Ox travels, a great many travel stories by some of the best writers in the world; a great book of charming stories.

2) Soul of a Butterfly by Muhammad Ali. No one ever used his bragging rights like the greatest boxer of all times. Muhammad Ali surmounted racism and discrimination built himself and was the most successful self -promoter I have ever seen. I find self- promotion cheesy but with Muhammad Ali, it was elegant. He was a fine orator and will beat any marketer at their own game. It is time to celebrate you. You have paid your dues, you now have bragging rights. Your children have finished school but you have still got soul. Here is a book to energise you. Retirement is not the end of the world.

3) Lessons of Life with Lara by Lara Owoeye is a small book written by a broadcaster about the vicissitudes of life. A copy will do you good and give you the opportunity to see how the generation after you are thinking.

5) Fatherhood by Bill Cosby. For the men, this is the time to re-assess your relationship with your children who think you are old fashioned. This book cracks me up and tells me how fathers should be dealing with their kids in a more stylish, fresh and self- assured way.

Bonus Books:

Religious books. It is time to understand your faith more.
Philosophical books. Take a deep breath, learn new lessons in life.
For women, Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In. You might want to look at a new career or work from home.
A crafts book and a cookbook.
Enjoy your retirement!