Amazon.com Review
"Old simply isn't what it used to be," writes gerontologist Ken Dychtwald, bestselling author of
Age Wave. In the 20th century, the number of Americans ages 65 and older increased from 3 million to 33 million. This number is likely to
double by 2035! After 30 years in the field of aging, Dychtwald is convinced that "'Age Power' will rule the 21st century" and that "dramatic anti-aging breakthroughs" in supernutrition, hormone replacement, gene therapy, bionics, and organ cloning will be discovered in the near future.
This all sounds like wonderful news, except that Dychtwald fears that "we are woefully unprepared" for the aging of the boomers. He sounds a wake-up call to "the five social train wrecks we need to prevent." For example, society will face epidemics of chronic diseases such as Alzheimer's (14 million Americans will have it by the mid-21st century). Tens of millions will live their long, last years in poverty. And living longer will be worthless if the elderly spend their last decades doing little more than watching television--40 million retirees average 43 hours a week of TV now!
Age Power describes the aging-related dangers ahead of us and solutions (both social and personal) for preventing them. "Tips to age-proof your life" at the end of many chapters help you put the points into action. "Many of the painful, punishing challenges of old age could be prevented if informed choices were made earlier in life," says Dychtwald, and although this serious book is not easy reading, it will help you make much more informed choices. --Joan Price
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
In a far-sighted and important report, Dychtwald warns that unless we productively integrate the elderly into all levels of our society, the U.S. will rapidly become an "elder wasteland." A psychologist, gerontologist and corporate consultant, Dychtwald's (Age Wave, Bodymind) new book is a wake-up call to debt-laden baby boomers heading toward poverty-stricken old age, to senior citizens and to society as a whole. He succeeds admirably, even though his presentation is weakened by catchy generalizations, facile predictions and lecture-circuit style ("The epicenter of economic and political power will shift from the young to the old" as the nation is transformed into a "gerontocracy"). Instead of a standard retirement at age 65, Dychtwald recommends "phased retirement" programs, long practiced in Europe, as well as more portable pensions. He advocates making self-care and disease prevention national priorities and calls for the creation of a National Elder Corps (loosely modeled on the Peace Corps). Some of his proposals will prove controversial, such as raising the age when Social Security and Medicare benefits begin or privatizing portions of Social Security. In Dychtwald's framework, "middlescence" (a greatly extended middle period of life, from age 40 to 60 and beyond) will afford countless boomers a second chance to fulfill their dreams. His optimism and openness to new ways of making the golden years productive render this book a thought-provoking and worthwhile read. Eight-city author tour. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
