Introduction

Radical Retirement: The Reinvention of Self After Work is a collection of narratives that bring together the experiences of professionals navigating the challenges of retirement or a change of identity. Unlike traditional books that focus on people’s retirement from the workforce, Radical Retirement highlights the potential for reinvention in retirement and throughout one’s working life. Through storytelling, a diverse range of contributions critique conventional notions of retirement and advocate for a radical approach to professional identity that transcends age-related biases. Contributors share personal reflections that emphasize the importance of self-awareness, lifelong learning, and the fluidity of identity in the face of change. Retirement does not signify and end to productivity but instead offers an opportunity for meaningful engagement with the world.