Older Americans, Vital Communities

Provides a stirring wake-up call for all who have been reluctant to see their lives whole, from youth to age. A distinguished and influential work on aging and society. -- Robert Kastenbaum, Arizona State University Professor Achenbaum provides a uniquely historical and creative overview of societal aging that fires the imagination. The book's sensitivity to diversity and the complex issues facing older women, ethnic and minority aging, productive and spiritual aging, as well as the challenges of baby boomer leadership, make this is a must-read. -- Fernando Torres-Gil, director, Center for Policy Research on Aging, UCLA; former assistant secretary for aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services An impressive, fascinating analysis of our aging future. I could not put the book down. -- Donna E. Shalala, president, University of Miami; former secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Through the historical perspective that threads throughout this book, Andrew Achenbaum has produced a fascinating, positive, and encouraging account of the aging of America which demonstrates clearly that it is not true anymore that 'old age is not interesting until one gets there' (Sarton). He points to the timelag between population aging and our ability to build structures and services as well as cultural and spiritual ties to cope with and benefit from this demographic revolution. Achenbaum shows that a long-term vision is needed for people of all ages to meet the future challenges through the whole of the life course. It is an academically rigorous but eminently readable book that gives a strong message to all societies across the globe. -- Baroness Sally Greengross, chief executive, International Longevity Centre UK, and co-chair, Alliance on Health and the Future; member, House of Lords, London, United Kingdom By focusing on the history of age in America, Andrew Achenbaum has given us all a new way to imagine our futures. He also forces us to think about how to reinvent our institutions to meet human needs by enabling people to contribute to society throughout their lives. -- William D. Novelli, Chief Executive Officer, AARP Achenbaum has created a detailed portrait of aging in America at the dawn of a new century. This book illuminates the critical distance between what is and what could be. Its optimistic message is carefully developed and worthy of serious attention. -- William H. Thomas, M.D., President, The Eden Alternative, Author, What Are Old People For? How Elders Will Save the World

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.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.