The Age Wave: How The Most Important Trend Of Our Time Can Change Your Future (Paperback)

by Ken Dychtwald Ph.D. (Author), Joe Flower (Author) "A young country is growing old..." (more)
Key Phrases: linear life plan, cyclic life plan, age wave, New York, United States, Sun City (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Dychtwald, 38, a psychologist and gerontologist, has spent the past 15 years researching and speaking about the abilities and strengths of the elderly. With freelance writer Flowers, he focuses here on the aging of the baby boom generation, predicting an "age wave" that will change society and challenge its gerontophobic myths because of the quality of life the boomers have come to expect. Many troubling statistics about aging reappearthe rising numbers of the frailest 85-plus group, the preponderance of single (usually widowed) women, the lower ratio of children to parentsbut the book's interest lies in its creative proposals: volunteer service credits that can be drawn on in later life, "matrix families" made up of adult peers living together, corporate "parent care" benefits, even lifestyle experiments such as man-sharing. 150,000 first printing, $100,000 ad/promo; first serial to Family Circle; BOMC, QPBC and Fortune Book Club alternates.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
YA As the trend toward the aging of America continues, books on this topic will be in greater demand. This particular book gives current data on such topics as the rise in the average life expectancy, annual birth rate, and changing behavioral patterns. In addition, considerable space is spent on looking at trends in leisure, life styles, work, personal relationships, family, and the market place. Rather than dwelling on such statistics as frequency of abuse in nursing homes, Dychtwald looks at the changing ratio of grandparents to grandchildren and the increase in college attendance by people over 65. He profiles what may be major changes in retirement living and the design and look of America when we become a nation of elder boomers. Today's students may find particularly relevent the section about the shift in responsibility and focus that they will be required to make when their parents and grandparents turn to them for financial support and care giving. The lack of an index restricts the book's use for research on specific areas, but it does include many names of people and organizations within the text which could lead to further research. Carolyn Praytor Boyd, Episcopal High School, Bellaire, Tex.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (January 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 055334806X
• ISBN-13: 978-0553348064
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #106,504 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #45 in	Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Gerontology
  #49 in	Books > Parenting & Families > Aging Parents > Aging
  #89 in	Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Sociology > Social Groups

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely incredible, scary, but has given me a mission., September 3, 1999

By	[e-mail] (North Canton, Oh) - See all my reviews

I first came across "Age Wave' as a footnote in an insurance flyer. Something made me want to read it. It had to be ordered it since it was hard to find, but I am so glad that I followed my gut instinct. I have read, reread, highligted, bookmarked and folded over corners in my at least seven times through it. The reality has become such an integral portion of my life that I left my position with an insurance agency to do what I really feel is important -- to educate people and TRY to make them understand the importance of long term care insurance to protect our parents, ourselves, and our children. I have never in my life been an activist (during Viet Nam I was in a "coma"), but after having read Age Wave, I have become an activist. I agree that this can be a more devastating situation than any in our age or any preceeding. Ken Dychtwald and his wife are Renaissance people in putting all of the inevitabilities of the modern technologies that we embrace in perspective. What they are trying to tell us, without a doubt, is that we have to cover our butts or "get out of Dodge." The wonderful world that our parents and we as "Boomers" have tried to to build will not last unless we get rid of the denial that people do age and need care and it is not always available. We cannot hide money any longer to qualify for Medicaid. We cannot expect the government to pay for it. The governmet has already told us that. We cannot expect our children and grandchildren to pay 50 to 60 % of their paychecks for entitlements so that we can ignore needed protection or hide money. We need to be responsible once again in our lives and accept the fact that we will age, and will develop chronic illnesses because of advanced age and we will need care. So we must protect our world and our heirs from the devastating effects. I can't wait to read the new book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive Overview on the Subject of Aging, May 29, 1999

By A Customer

Age Wave is really a classic, well-written book that covers all kinds of subjects on aging. The graphics that show the changes in demographics in the U.S. may be worth the book's price alone. One section that talks about how we now play and rest more than we used to was clearly written before the downsizing trend began. But, for the most part, the comprehensive coverage of work, play and all the rest expected in retirement is presented in a consise, easy-to-read style. It is truly a classic, well-written book that should be a good read for anyone interested in retirement and aging issues.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Newer book available, August 7, 2002

By	"wendywolf" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

Great book! Important - very important - issues, but dated. Read his new book _Age_Power_. Lots of good facts and lots of excellent suggestions. If you want to be in the know, read this book and write your congressional reps.