Customer Reviews

What Are Old People For?: How Elders Will Save the World

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I found this book to be interesting, challenging and easy to read. Part of the time it reads like a good novel, but each page is packed with jewels of information and ideas. The ideas in this book are being discussed by professionals in long-term care and the book presents a challenge to the traditional theories of aging and reframes the human aging process as part of a larger process of human development.

In terms of human development, our cultural biases against older adults (elders) is pointed out and how our society wants to keep people locked into adulthood has been exposed.

Elderhood was an important part of human culture in pre-industrial societ and Dr. Thomas advocates for the role of elder to be rediscovered and brought back into theories of human development.

I especially liked Dr. Thomas's use of the five ages of the lifecycle and his discussion on DOING and BEING. This was reminiscent in my mind of material I covered when taking pastoral counseling courses and how important it is to get people to feel comfortable just being human and being loved, cared for, and honored. Our society does have a focus on DOING and Dr. Thomas does and excellent job of placing this cultural critique and mode of living under the microscope. Rather than utilizing psychological terms, Thomas explains the importance of BEING in simple to understand and utilize terms.

The chapter that discussed the assault on childhood reminded me of Strauss and Howe's second book the 13th Generation, which pointed out the sociological trends that have impacted the lives of persons born from 1964 to 1980. This generation was robbed of its childhood and is the first post Baby Boom generation. Although Dr. Thomas gives no indication of having read Strauss and Howe, this chapter covers many of the same themes and makes many similar social critiques.

I was expecting more hard data and solid statistics in this book since Dr. Thomas indicated in the preface that it was written as a response to Dr. Robert Butler's Why Survive. Unlike Dr. Butler's book, this book does not contain the same depth and breadth of statistics and policy analysis.

The new model for long-term care presented by Dr. Thomas is worthy of further study and this book does make a contribution to the field of gerontology in that the Green House model is innovative and worthy of putting into practice. I look forward to reading the journal articles that grow from this work.

In terms of who would benefit from this book and its contribution to the field of gerontology, I believe that it should be read by professional in the field solely for the manner in which it exposes the insidious nature of ageism in our society. Long-term care professionals will benefit from reading this book as would policy makers, politicians, and those seeking to improve the lives of human beings at every stage of human development. I recommend this book. I would enjoy hearing what others think about this book.

On a personal level, it has helped me identify some of my own biases and in that it has pointed me to areas where I need to work and grow on my human growth and transformation. A good book should do that.

When I finish reading the last page of any book, I like to close the cover and spend a few moments reflecting on what I had just read. Sometimes I feel personally connected with the author as though he/she wrote the book for me and me alone. Other times, I am re-energized with a new awareness that propels me as I go about my day-to-day activities. Most often, I am inspired to look at life from another perspective - seeking to understand rather than being understood (this attitude comes in handy when I am repulsed by some of the things people say and do). Books also offer a sense of hope; that life on this earth, no matter what happens, is a gift from God. Finally, I am forever in awe of the power of the written word - one sentence can start a war while another offers peace to the dying.

WHAT ARE OLD PEOPLE FOR left me with these notions, and more. This is a book about kindness, about being human. I dare any adult to behave in the same way they did toward the elderly once they finish reading this book. In fact, I dare anyone to say one more negative thing about old people. Truth is... what we all have in common is the fact that we are aging. Like it or not, we are on our way to Tomorrow Land: A place where these old people will be replaced by us.

Bravo to Dr. Bill Thomas - for his guidance and vision. This book will undoubtedly help carve a new path on the subject of aging in America.

What Are Old People For? How Elders Will Save The World is a revolutionary resource of ideas presented by professional geriatrician William H. Thomas, M.D. Stressing the importance of learning to enjoy what aging has to offer, the need to replace today's nursing homes with positive alternatives so that elders need not fear institutionalization, suggestions for creating Green Houses where older people can live together intentionally, and recommending steps to build a society where aging, longevity, and the wisdom of the elderly are used to build an improved life for people of all ages, What Are Old People For? is a "must-read" in today's era when people are living longer than ever before. A keenly inspired look into the failings on an individual and cultural level that need to be rectified, as well as speculations upon the meaning of aging itself and practical applications to improve quality of life.

This is a "must read" book for everyone. It's an elegant book, in which Dr. Thomas is doing magnificent work in a field desperately requiring a lucid spotlight of hope. If you want to age gracefully and healthfully, first of all exercise. If you want to be valued for your age, your skills, your intellect and capacities, then read this book, and then pass it on to all the younger people you know -- and share it with all the people your own age...whatever that is. The United States doesn't really have a category such as "national treasures" except in the entertainment arena with the Lincoln Center honors...and yet each person aging (everyone does it) becomes just this, a national treasure of great value in each of their life worlds. Paraphrasing the great Pogo, Dr. Bill Thomas says of wrinkles: "Wrinkles are painless and harmless. They are us and we are them." Wrinkles are our individual medals of honor! Accepting them as badges of courage this book helps us to step into our rightful positions as leaders and guides to the rest of our society. Buy it! Share it! It really helps you shift your perception of your value as you age...gracefully and well. Did I say exercise was essential? It is.

Dr. Thomas is a master story teller who is totally informative without being clinical. He creates a welcomeness to elderhood instead of fear and resistance. An excellant gift for any age; presented with warmth and a passion. I will read all of his books. Thank you Dr. Thomas

Sharon J. Jeffer

While Bill Thomas is best known for his writings on reinventing nursing homes with the Eden Alternative, the wisdom he shares in his latest effort has something for every organization selling to or serving older adults - with the aging of the baby boom that's everyone. This book should be requried reading in every college and business. Further, it is must read for anyone that would like to develop positive aging self awareness and thus add some years to their life and definitely some life to their remaining years. I have been conducting workshops on marketing to middle age and older adults for over 20 years and this book will be recommended reading at every future seminar.

Dr. Bill Thomas' new book is essential, and provocative reading, for anyone who has a parent, an older member of his or her family, an elder friend or work colleague, or who wonders how our society can take advantage of the untapped energy and wisdom our elders provide us. All too soon, we age. Within a few short years, the population of our elders will double. The prospect can either overwhelm us or can fuel new perceptions about how we can learn from our global elders, so that our futures will be enriched and not endangered. Dr. Bill's insights are accessible. He could very well be described as our Guru of the Eldertopia he envisions and describes so eloquently.

The first sentence of Dr. Spock's "Baby And Child Care" does a good job of summarizing my attitude toward aging and longevity: "Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do." We are immersed in a shimmering sea of conflicting ideas and attitudes about aging and it is not surpirsing that people's feelings about aging can be complicated and conflicting. It is for this reason that I have done my best to stake out a "Common Sense" approach to thinking about the impact aging is likely ot have on our society and how that influence can be turned to the advantage of people of all ages.

This book derives its central argument from recent progress made in the fields of biology, mythology, sociology, and philosophy, but its heart belongs to the simplest observations of the way we live now. I recognize that some experts will find fault with some of its specifics. As a devout generalist, I believe that the truth of an important argument can be sustained even when fault can be found with certain of its specifics and I hope that you will agree.

It has been said that people are not interested in books about aging but, in fact, people are always interested in learning more about matters that concern their lives and well-being. The questions that revolve around aging and our longevity increasingly rise to that level. Issues related to aging define some of the most important risks and opportunities that confront our society. We live in an exciting time. There is a new old age waiting to be discovered, ready to be explored. Aging and the aged are not, as so often supposed, the cause of our problems--they are and have always been the source of the answers we need. Our longevity is ready freed from the shackles of prejudice and fear. It can and it will save our world.

As I read through Thomas' book, I was struck by two things. First that he has offered a new way of looking at the human life span by creating new 'ages' that describe our lives far better than simply childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. I applaud this introduction. The second aspect that struck me was the enormous amount of support he included in the book. While I became impatient with it, I realized it was because he was writing to someone who had already realized why the human race purposefully includes a period of physical lessening that is essential for the general survival. The wisdom that becomes apparent during this time is the key. However, the book is obviously also written for those who need help in understanding this. So, while it is long, the final conclusions are worthwhile.

I found this book extrememly helpful in opening my mind to a new way of looking at aging not only for society in general, but my own! I was left with positive feelings about the future. That is exciting! The book made a great gift for several of my aging friends. Definitely worth reading!