Book excerpt: An expert in retirement issues, aging, and social work shows how workaholics who have been downsized, forced into retirement, or burned out on their current jobs can remain actively engaged in meaningful projects and maintain their happiness. A practical guide for workers who have been downsized or forced to take retirement before they're ready, Retirement for Workaholics: Life after Work in a Downsized Economy explains workaholic behavior, why it develops, and what can be done about it. Rather than taking a negative approach to work addictions, the book provides a sympathetic and logical way of understanding and coping. Organized around research explaining work addictions and the problems workaholics have coping with retirement, the book also includes numerous personal stories from workaholics and case studies of work-addicted individuals. These stories illustrate the effects of work addiction on self, friends, and loved ones, as well as how people have dealt with the overwhelming need to work. More positively, it offers concrete suggestions for dealing with postretirement issues, such as loneliness, boredom, and substance abuse, and for finding satisfaction and fulfillment whether through volunteer activities, a new career, or the pursuit of previously shelved passions.