Synopses & Reviews
Impelled by the realization that his undergraduate students seem unaware of their place in a personal or societal trajectory over time, Achenbaum has written a book that will capture the attention of students and others alike. He states, Life's Uncertain Voyage attempts to grapple with major issues associated with societal aging from a historical perspective. Grounding his assessment in literature, philosophy, and history, Achenbaum looks at the demographics of our aging society and the impact on employment and markets, education, health care, religion and spirituality, and political action. The book ends by challenging the Baby Boomers to be trailblazers as members of particular networks and as citizens of the world. The reviewer says, Researchers have been aware for some time that the 'aging experience' is not uniform and the population of elders markedly diverse. The 'Uncertain Voyage]' will be distinctive in offering an extended and tightly knit exploration of these phenomena and ...] in doing so with the perspective of a masterful historian. This book will be read by students and professionals in adult development and aging (psychology and gerontology); some general readers may also be interested.
Synopsis
This thought-provoking work grapples with the vast range of issues associated with the aging population and challenges people of all ages to think more boldly and more creatively about the relationship between older Americans and their communities.
W. Andrew Achenbaum begins by exploring the demographics of our aging society and its effect on employment and markets, education, health care, religion, and political action. Drawing on history, literature, and philosophy, Achenbaum focuses on the way health care and increases in life expectancy have transformed late life from a phase characterized by illness, frailty, and debility to one of vitality, productivity, and spirituality. He shows how this transformation of aging is beginning to be felt in programs and policies for aging persons, as communities focus more effort on lifelong learning and extensive civic engagement.
Concerned that his own undergraduate students are too focused on the immediate future, Achenbaum encourages young people to consider their place in life's social and chronological trajectory. He calls on baby boomers to create institutional structures that promote productive, vital growth for the common good, and he invites people of all ages to think more boldly about what they will do with the long lives ahead of them.