School of Law Professor Nathalie Martin Publishes New Book
July 24, 2025
Professor Nathalie Martin recently published a new book titled The Inspired Retirement, released earlier this month by Beaver’s Pond Press.
Drawing from her own experiences as a legal scholar and certified yoga and meditation teacher, Professor Martin explores the emotional and psychological complexities of retirement, particularly for professionals who have spent decades immersed in demanding, high-achieving careers.
While some individuals resist retirement out of fear for physical, emotional, and spiritual decline, or because they find comfort and identity in their professional roles, others may feel drawn to new possibilities but are unsure of what comes next. The Inspired Retirement encourages readers to embrace this transition with curiosity, purpose, and courage.
The book was inspired by Professor Martin’s reaction to the biography of a travel writer who remained in the same career field for 66 years. Although the career sounded exciting, Professor Martin was struck by how limiting it seemed to focus on a single passion for such an extended period. This sparked a broader curiosity, and Professor Martin began her exploration into retirement, aging, and the lack of resources around planning for a joyful and meaningful life after a career.
Through personal interviews and research conducted across the country, Professor Martin collected insight from individuals of many backgrounds, including police officers, waitstaff, lawyers, and university presidents. She also incorporated findings from scientific studies to help readers navigate both the emotional and logistical aspects of post-career life.
The Inspired Retirement offers a roadmap for designing a fulfilling retirement, with practices that help the reader slow down and reflect and tools that enable retirees to create a joyful and purposeful retirement life based on their unique values, skills, and passions. The book also addresses financial considerations, including ways to use one’s resources in service of others.
The Inspired Retirement is endorsed by two #1 New York Times Bestselling authors, including Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks, has received three positive industry book reviews, and was the #1 bestseller in the category of adulthood and aging. It can be purchased online.
