When is the right time to start planning for retirement? Apparently not the week after the gold-watch dinner — at least according to . . . everyone.

Most conversations about retirement planning used to center on finances. People in their 30s and 40s were told to put as much as possible into 401(k)s, fiftysomethings were told how to kick their investments into gear, and anyone older than 60 was looked at with either pity or envy, depending on their bank balances.

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Now, at last, the conversation focuses on the lifestyle choices that will make each person happiest. Of course, those choices still rely on financial planning, but that aspect takes a back seat in the conversation.

The following three recent books have holistic retirement planning as the central thesis.

"Mapping Your Retirement: A Personal Guide to Maintaining Your Health, Managing Your Money and Living Well" by Mark Skeie, Janet Skeie and Julie Roles (MYR Publications, 2007), $25.

A self-published book, "Mapping Your Retirement" features an interactive design that goes beyond the traditional "do-this" instruction of most workbooks.

This partnership with the reader even extends to the table of contents, which has a grid to rate your interest or need for each topic. Based on the rankings, you are encouraged to skip directly to the most important section; once there, you'll discover that key concepts are cross-referenced with other sections, making it possible to hopscotch around while untangling a specific issue. Working with this book reminded me of being on the Internet.

Although the material in its three sections — "Living Your Life," "Maintaining Your Health" and "Managing Your Money" — was written by several contributors, the book doesn't suffer from the choppiness of so many voices. Instead, tight editing and a cohesive vision ensure that the reader is given a smooth pathway from one topic to another.

It would be difficult to describe the content in only a few paragraphs, but I can say that this is one of the most balanced and practical tools I have seen in which the goal is to help someone make a decision and then a plan. It has the potential to become a classic in its category, if the authors can reach their market.

This is an excellent value at $25; you shouldn't hesitate to buy it if you're thinking about how to make the most of retirement.

"What Color is Your Parachute? For Retirement: Planning Now for the Life You Want" by Richard N. Bolles and John E. Nelson (Ten Speed Press, 2007), $17.

At a public forum in the spring, I heard Richard Bolles note that the new series of books printed by Ten Speed Press, which include his name and the "Parachute" concept on the cover, aren't actually written by him. This book is one of those titles. I don't think the average reader will feel cheated, as John Nelson is more than capable of handling the discussion.

"Discussion" is the key word; there are almost no worksheets or planning elements included here. This book takes a philosophical approach, moving among topics such as relocation, medical issues and relationship-building, all in a conversational tone.

This is a good book to read as an introduction to this life stage, but you'll do fine to check it out of the library instead of buying it.

"Your Retirement, Your Way: Why It Takes More Than Money to Live Your Dream" by Alan Bernstein and John Trauth (McGraw-Hill, 2007), $17.

In the Midwest, we almost always choose the middle option if one is provided. It's our way of not saying "yes" or "no," exactly, but still getting something out of the situation. Drives Easterners out of their minds, which is fun all by itself.

If you're feeling a little Midwestern, this is the book for you. It doesn't have the detailed, action-based planning tools of "Mapping Your Retirement," although it does include some shorter worksheets and a "First-Year Activities Timeline" that I appreciate. At the same time, it doesn't tangle the reader up in too much conversation but still provides a sense of relationship with the writers through well-placed anecdotes and examples.

As an extra feature for those who like these things, there is a chapter on self-assessment that includes a short questionnaire that produces answers on a grid for later analysis.

All in all, this is a credible entry into the growing library of retirement planning books.

- Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecare rservice.com or at 1071 W. Seventh St., St. Paul, MN 55102.