Synopsis
The best-selling author of Age Wave and Bodymind explores the implications of the aging of the baby-boom generation for American business, family life, health care, social institutions, and the political system. 35,000 first printing.
Reviews
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.
The baby-boom generation is expected to redefine old age, just as they have redefined every stage of their lives. Because boomers will be the largest generation of elderly, they will impact everything from housing to health care as the market caters to their wealth, longevity, and interest in new technology, according to Dychtwald, a psychologist and gerontologist. Still, he sees several "key aging-related dangers toward which we are speeding," including research needed to prevent--not just treat--ailments of the aged, such as Alzheimer's, and the need to prepare for the financial burden of so many retired, long-lived elderly. He urges a recalibration of the retirement age and benefits and improved relations between generations to avoid hostilities as more young people are burdened by financing the care for the elderly, and as the aging baby boomers carry their political clout into old age. During this century, the population of 65 and older rose from 3 million to 33 million; the same age group is projected to increase to 70 million by 2035, says Dychtwald, in this insightful look at the aging of the baby boomers. Vanessa Bush
Continuing themes discussed in several of his previous books (Age Wave: The Challenges and Opportunities of an Aging America, LJ 3/15/89), Dychtwald, the founding president of Age Wave, LLC, a business development firm, here considers the personal and societal implications of having tens of millions of people living to the age of 80 and beyond in the coming years. Dychtwald assures us that the glass is half full that is, if we follow his advice in both the public policy arena and in our personal lives. His sweep is broad, if not necessarily deep, as he touches on everything from spare body parts to intergenerational relations, and his prose is punchy and jargon-laden. The book is partially redeemed by a wealth of scholarly references but even these are typographically difficult to follow. There is nothing remarkably new here, but the book is a fairly complete, nicely wrapped package that public libraries will want to consider.AEllen Gilbert, Rutgers Univ. Lib., New Brunswick, NJ
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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