Rating: 
Summary: The reader-friendly retirement guide -
Review: "This careful, detailed book should be required reading for any retiree considering moving to a better area . . . On my scale of one to ten, you won't find a better retirement book than this one, which rates a solid ten." Nationally syndicated real estate columnist Robert Bruss
In this thoroughly updated edition, Where to Retire provides personal advice on locating comfortable, affordable, and stimulating places to retire throughout the United States. John Howells emphasizes the diversity of lifestyles among people of retirement age and looks beyond statistics to present clear descriptions of life in hundreds of large and small communities. Up-to-the-minute information based upon visits to each of the locations mentioned covers climate, housing, costs, recreation, available health care, and safety in a lively, enjoyable style with user-friendly graphics.
For Snowbirds and RVers, too!
Rating: 
Summary: Disagree with the negative reviews on this book
Review: I found the information and the slant of this book both useful but it didn't supply enough information. It might be retitled Where men may retire. The descriptions seem to stress activities as golf and fishing, which to my mind are more male activities. I would have liked more extensive information about cultural activities and availabilty of libraries. These are touched on but not in enough detail. The bulk of retirees are women and their needs differ from men and couples. More information on specialized services, such as public transporation,would be desireable. The of attitudes of native residents is touched on but not in depth. My experience with some of these areas has been very negative. Over all this book is a very good place to start. It deals with areas that are not normally thought of as retirement destinations. Weather, housing prices and taxes are often described. The author also provides addesses for more infomation. Websites would have been helpful.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost but not quite
Review: I found the information and the slant of this book both useful but it didn't supply enough information. It might be retitled Where men may retire. The descriptions seem to stress activities as golf and fishing, which to my mind are more male activities. I would have liked more extensive information about cultural activities and availabilty of libraries. These are touched on but not in enough detail. The bulk of retirees are women and their needs differ from men and couples. More information on specialized services, such as public transporation,would be desireable. The of attitudes of native residents is touched on but not in depth. My experience with some of these areas has been very negative. Over all this book is a very good place to start. It deals with areas that are not normally thought of as retirement destinations. Weather, housing prices and taxes are often described. The author also provides addesses for more infomation. Websites would have been helpful.
Rating: 
Summary: This could (should) be a much better book.
Review: I have lived in or near several of the places reviewed in this book and find the descriptions to be less than 100% and the weather data to be quite different than I experienced while living there. Since I know the data for these places was less than 'on track', I did not have confidence in the information presented for other areas of the country. I recommend "Retirement Places Rated". It seems to present data that agrees with my experience.
Rating: 
Summary: Very pleased with information presented
Review: I have read several retirement books dealing with various subjects about what to consider when retiring. Although I am about 1/2 way through this book, I am a little surprised and quite happy with the information so far. I liked the author's "at a glance" tax breakdown tables, and in several cases he asked questions and stated perspectives that I had not thought about before (and as I said, I have read other retirement books). Howells style of writing and is very readable and interesting (unlike some other rather "dry" or limited portrayals of retirement information) and he sets forth reasonable criteria in my opinion. I have not yet picked up on the "male oriented hunting and fishing" slant mentioned by another reviewer (and I am a female). I really like this book.
Rating:
Summary: Very pleased with information presented
Review: I have read several retirement books dealing with various subjects about what to consider when retiring. Although I am about 1/2 way through this book, I am a little surprised and quite happy with the information so far. I liked the author's "at a glance" tax breakdown tables, and in several cases he asked questions and stated perspectives that I had not thought about before (and as I said, I have read other retirement books). Howells style of writing and is very readable and interesting (unlike some other rather "dry" or limited portrayals of retirement information) and he sets forth reasonable criteria in my opinion. I have not yet picked up on the "male oriented hunting and fishing" slant mentioned by another reviewer (and I am a female). I really like this book.
Rating:
Summary: A solid primer - sorting out the best places
Review: I took 'Where to Retire' with me (along with several good State guides - like Fodor's) when I went on a sixteen day journey through three Southwestern States (Nevada, Arizona & New Mexico) where I was looking for "the place" to relocate and semi-retire. Howells' guide gave me a 'leg up' on the destinations that were 'definite maybes'. The guide was extremely valuable in leading me to destinations I would not have considered without the guide. (Las Cruces and Ruidoso in New Mexico and Bisbee and Ajo in Arizona). I found Howell's writing to be friendly and informative. He succinctly describes the best side of each of his selection, but, and I consider this a detraction, seldom does he point out negative aspects or flaws a community, town or city might have. Sadly, there is no web-page references, appendixes or references that could give you additional information on his locations. He omits information as basic as Chamber of Commerce contact information, or the names of the main newspapers.
Finding a new place to live is a lot like dating - most places leave you wishing for more, a few are provocative enough to warrant placing them on your "maybe list" , and one, or at best two, will tantalize you enough to want to come back for more. So, if you are at the beginning of your search for a new place to live, then this guide is a great first step. "Where to Retire" will speed up your search and give you a general feel for various places. This guide needs to work in tandem with other guides such as a State, Region or Country guide. Recommended 3.5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: A solid primer - sorting out the best places
Review: I took 'Where to Retire' with me (along with several good State guides - like Fodor's) when I went on a sixteen day journey through three Southwestern States (Nevada, Arizona & New Mexico) where I was looking for "the place" to relocate and semi-retire. Howells' guide gave me a 'leg up' on the destinations that were 'definite maybes'. The guide was extremely valuable in leading me to destinations I would not have considered without the guide. (Las Cruces and Ruidoso in New Mexico and Bisbee and Ajo in Arizona). I found Howell's writing to be friendly and informative. He succinctly describes the best side of each of his selection, but, and I consider this a detraction, seldom does he point out negative aspects or flaws a community, town or city might have. Sadly, there is no web-page references, appendixes or references that could give you additional information on his locations. He omits information as basic as Chamber of Commerce contact information, or the names of the main newspapers.
Finding a new place to live is a lot like dating - most places leave you wishing for more, a few are provocative enough to warrant placing them on your "maybe list" , and one, or at best two, will tantalize you enough to want to come back for more. So, if you are at the beginning of your search for a new place to live, then this guide is a great first step. "Where to Retire" will speed up your search and give you a general feel for various places. This guide needs to work in tandem with other guides such as a State, Region or Country guide. Recommended 3.5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: A solid primer - sorting out the best places
Review: I took `Where to Retire' with me (along with several good State guides - like Fodor's) when I went on a sixteen day journey through three Southwestern States (Nevada, Arizona & New Mexico) where I was looking for "the place" to relocate and semi-retire. Howells' guide gave me a `leg up' on the destinations that were `definite maybes'. The guide was extremely valuable in leading me to destinations I would not have considered without the guide. (Las Cruces and Ruidoso in New Mexico and Bisbee and Ajo in Arizona). I found Howell's writing to be friendly and informative. He succinctly describes the best side of each of his selection, but, and I consider this a detraction, seldom does he point out negative aspects or flaws a community, town or city might have. Sadly, there is no web-page references, appendixes or references that could give you additional information on his locations. He omits information as basic as Chamber of Commerce contact information, or the names of the main newspapers.
Finding a new place to live is a lot like dating - most places leave you wishing for more, a few are provocative enough to warrant placing them on your "maybe list" , and one, or at best two, will tantalize you enough to want to come back for more. So, if you are at the beginning of your search for a new place to live, then this guide is a great first step. "Where to Retire" will speed up your search and give you a general feel for various places. This guide needs to work in tandem with other guides such as a State, Region or Country guide. Recommended 3.5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Good for those starting out
Review: If basing a review on the 3rd or 4th editions is a disqualifier, perhaps I should recuse myself. Let me just say that I read Mr. Howells' 3rd edition when I just began looking for places, and I found it immensely helpful: worth five stars. The short, easy readings are enjoyable and make this volume a nice addition to the bedside table. The 4th edition contained a few updates. However, for the reader who has already narrowed the options, Where to Retire does not offer the detailed, substantive material one might wish for in order to refine those options.
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