An interesting book exploring getting older and what it means. What it means now and how people are defying the expectation that it means less. Less active, less adventurous, less fun, less interesting, just less. Increases in health and the age of mortality means that many of us will live a lot longer to live. And many, many people are making the most of these additional years. The author of this book gives an excellent Ted Talk, which is basically a synopsis of his book. Ageism is built into our culture, but being older gives us so much more. We are wiser, we understand the world and our place in it, we have experience and can give so much. The example of the car production line that adapted their line to suit older people, increasing lighting, having magnifying glasses available, more breaks, allowing people to sit or stand meant that the 'mistakes' on the production line plummeted, especially when the young were able to integrate these working practices into their work as well.
The book generated an excellent discussion about aging, what we can expect to do, creativity isn't age bound, writers, scientists, artists, mathematicians are not on the slag heap once you reach a certain age. Some felt the book was a bit 'woman's magazine article' and didn't have enough depth. However, if read in snap shots it was an interesting and insightful book.
Words used to describe it: affirming, rampant ageism, insightful, cause for optimism, pedestrian, inspiring, still thinking
Marks out of 10: between 6 -10 so a varied mark
Next Book
The Promise by Damien Galgut
Next Meeting
Venue - TBC
Date: Thursday 2nd September
