Others say...

"This book is right......you DON'T need a million!"
I have to admit I would have been far more skeptical about the points made in this book if I hadn't seen people already living on far less than a million dollars...and doing just fine.
One lived independently for years (admittedly, not on a champagne and caviar budget, but not poorly,either) and then moved into a nursing home, all expenses paid. This person is happy. Health costs have not driven that person to poverty and the medical care is just fine.
Another friend lives modestly but has family and friends nearby, an active social life and lives in a lovely Arts and Crafts style bungalow, bought for a modest amount and very tastefully decorated. She lives (as this book suggests) a life full of meaningful activities, many of them free, some of them volunteer work, some of them low-cost or free programs such as concerts in the parks or nature programs or lectures. Again, not an expensive lifestyle.. but fully satisfying.
ONE SUGGESTION: If you read this book, it is quite possible that you can start NOW to learn to live on far less money than you may be spending mindlessly today - and not feel deprived. If you do that, of course, you may save even more for your later years, when health issues and other concerns may impact your finances in a less predictable manner than today.
In any case, this is a refreshing change from the books which promote worry and anxiety about not being able to afford retirement. This book advocates finding a happy medium, neither advocating a "no savings" plan or needless worry and obsessions about the future and doomsday scenarios.

"Not a bad overview, has some good ideas, but beware..."
The 'Where will the Money come from' chapter , pgs 240-244 on Social Security, is delusional. The author seems to think that Social Security is safe, that pending boomers will get full benefits, and nothing is further from the truth. The author should check the annual letter from Social security that states that withdrawls will exceed contributions within the next 10 years unless something is done. Nothing will be done because our politicians have no spine and are afraid of not being around to milk the tax payer and receive endless kickbacks and graft, all the while being exempt from the very system created as a last resort.

His other ideas are good, however, and worth a read. Id get it from the library first before I decided if I wanted to keep this book around.

"An excellent handbook for holistic retirement planning"
I read this book along with several others two years ago as my husband and I contemplated early retirement. It was by far the best book I read. Most other books were the author's personal musings about what makes for a good retirement. In contrast, Warner's book backs up his views with both solid research and compelling testimonies from actual retirees. He doesn't downplay the importance of financial well-being in retirement, just puts it in context as ONE element of successful retirement. As someone who's now been retired (at age 52) for a year, I can attest to the usefulness of this book. It helped me honestly analyze my own life situation and has been a catalyst for some of the choices and decisions I am making as I create a life without (much) work. Warner's admonishment that you have to start integrating good practices in your life BEFORE retirement is particularly important; for example, if you don't foster close and healthy relationships with your family and friends when you are younger, they aren't going to magically happen once you're retired. Likewise for good health and spiritual habits. I highly recommend this book to anyone, regardless of age, who wants practical and sage advice on building a fulfilling life in retirement.

"A few comments"
Like all "royal road to retirement" advice books this one is a mixed bag with some very sage and wise advice on some topics, but weaker on other topics with a lot of facile generalities and waving of hands in regard to how actually to do it on less than a million bucks. Overall though, I applaud the author's emphasis on quality of life vs. a life devoid of meaning and quality personal relationships but with plenty of money--which is what the financial types will try to sell you. As some wag once said, real money is easy to come by--it just takes a lifetime of hard work. Of course, by that time, your wife has left you, your kids hate you, and you have no friends. What's the point of that? I think a compromise is therefore in order, with a downscaled, more modest retirement but with having preserved one's family and friendships intact. On the other hand, this is America, the land of the Almighty Dollar, to which we all bow and scrape and perform obeisance, and if you've got a gadzillion bucks up the wazzoo you can always buy friends, if you can call them that. And I've discovered that in the U.S., money truly does buy friendship of a sort--at least you'll never be bored and alone on a Friday or Saturday night. Anyway, whatever you decide, this book offers an alternative. The decision is up to you.

"Live authentically"
Retirement books written by authors who understand that a good retirement is about more than money, are wonderful! Constructed in a light, yet logical format, "Get a Life" covers much of what you need to think about before you retire. And it's not just money!
I believe that retirement life planning begins five to ten years prior to the event. If you haven't ever done something like paint, travel or volunteer before you retire, it is very unlikely you will do it after you retire. And if you don't have activities and friends outside of work, statistics show that the likely result is depression and an early demise. This is particularly true for men.
Much of what Warner talks about in this book supports my conviction that this is a time of life to act with the vigor of our innermost convictions. It's what will keep us strong in retirement and make the world a better place.
For example, in his chapter on loving life, Warner makes the following observation:
"Trying to conform to the expectations of others all one's life seems to carry with it a heavy price after retirement. It's as if now, when you finally have the freedom to be the individual you really wanted to be all your life, you've forgotten who that person is."
Whether or not you agree with Ralph Warner, this book is one you should definitely read, if only to challenge your own assumptions.