Early Bird: A Memoir of Premature Retirement

by Rodney Rothman

Hardcover, 2005

Status

Available

Collections

Biography, Science Fiction/Fantasy, War

Genres

Publication

Simon & Schuster (2005), Edition: First ed, 256 pages

Description

A former writer for David Letterman's show recounts his decision to retire from big-city life in his mid-twenties, his relocation to South Florida, and his humorous experiences with the older retired crowd that comprised his new neighbors.

User reviews

LibraryThing member lefty33

This was an interesting insight into the world of retirement and elderly people. Rothman spends more than six months in a retirement community to get a feel for what retirement is like. The book made me feel empathetic towards the elderly, allowing me to glimpse life from a new perspective. I liked

getting to know the cliques within the community as well as the individuals who formed the cliques. Rothman's writing style is casual, allowing for a personal account of the time spent in the retirement community. It was an unexpectedly good read.

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LibraryThing member JoeVaughan

Kind of a fun book. Lots of meaning for those of us who live in a retirement community. It reminds one of retired people shown in TV shows like: The Odd Couple and Seinfeld. Caricatured people, but pleasantly done. I read this book over and over.. at least the first part.. but I don't know if I'll

ever finish it. Even though I like it, it loses me.. surely some fellow senior citizens can't be so rude.. or so dumb!

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LibraryThing member Othemts

This book starts off with a 28 year old Rothman losing his job as a television comedy writer and deciding to "retire early" to a senior community in Florida. The premise reads like the plot of a dumb sitcom and the cornball style of writing in the early going of this book almost made me put it

down. Somewhere along the way the book changes its tone. First, Ro thman finds himself unable to leave after the joke has played out and second he begins to see the humanity of the elderly people living in retirement in South Florida and even makes some friends. He also makes some wry observations of the cliques and petty gossip in the community that should disabuse anyone of escaping these things with the wisdom of old age. Overall, its enjoyable book with some funny bits and some insightful bits that makes it just good enough to barely overcomes its weak start.

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