Customer Reviews

A History of Old Age

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Actually, this is edited by Pat Thane. It includes essays by like-minded, somewhat creative, social historians. This is more of a coffee-table book, with some scholarly tendencies. The images are high-resolution, well-chosen, and beautifully printed. the layout is fabulous. In terms of content, there's nothing spectacular or innovative here but the research and analysis is solid.

I purchased this book for my philosophy class--Philosophy and Old Age--and have not been disappointed. The art work is extraordinary and allows one to not only read about the historical views of aging but to also see old age depicted throughout history in the art work from the Greek and Roman worlds to the 20th century. I have to say this is one textbook I was assigned to buy that I have not regretted paying the price (and it was much less than a textbook, I might add!). It would be perfect on the coffee table and should be somewhere that others can pick it up and browse through it. No matter what age one is, this book will grab the reader from the beginning, will make one think about his or her own life, will enlighten with its well-researched info, and will stay with the reader long after the reading ends.