Q: My husband and I would like to manage our own personal finances in retirement. We will retire in about one year. Can you recommend some books we should read in order to educate and prepare ourselves for this task?

Sue and Bruce

A: I highly recommend Jane Bryant Quinn's new book, "How to Make Your Money Last: The Indispensable Retirement Guide." Quinn covers everything from maximizing Social Security benefits to advice on how much you might safely withdraw from retirement savings plans each year.

"How to Make Your Money Last" isn't the kind of book most people will read from beginning to end. Instead, read with an eye toward learning more about the inevitable trade-offs that come from managing money in retirement.

Quinn is opinionated and I agree with most of what she says, although not all her assessments. For example, she is more positive on immediate annuities than I am. That said, the value of her book is that her insights and recommendations will help you design your own personal finance blueprint for retirement, which is her goal.

Another book with a smart perspective on the transition toward retirement is syndicated columnist Mark Miller's "The Hard Times Guide to Retirement Security: Practical Strategies for Money, Work, and Living." I'd also look at "Get a Life: You Don't Need a Million to Retire Well," by Ralph Warner, the founder of the self-help legal organization Nolo.com. His book is a nice antidote to the money fear that infects far too much of the commentary about finances and retirement.

For DIY retirement folks I recommend familiarizing yourself with online programs like ESPlanner and Analyzenow.com and see which one works for you. These programs are time-consuming to work with but the return is detailed information and recommendations, from taxes to Social Security.

Last, I would pick up a book like "The Power of Purpose," by Richard Leider or "The Big Shift," by Marc Freedman. Neither is a personal finance book. But Leider and Freedman push us to think seriously about what it is we want to accomplish in our next chapter. If you know the "why" — what really matters to you — you can always figure out the "how," — the money strategy or financial tactics to support your values. Enjoy the adventure!

Chris Farrell is senior economics contributor, "Marketplace," and commentator, Minnesota Public Radio.