Narratives of Positive Aging: Seaside Stories

by Amia Lieblich

Overview

In Narratives of Positive Aging, Amia Lieblich presents a qualitative study that explores the life narratives of elderly men and women who engage in practices of "positive aging." They belong to a spontaneous community that assembles daily, early in the morning, on a beach near Tel-Aviv, Israel. At the seaside, the elders practice various outdoor sports, and converse over coffee at the local café. Based on their narratives, procured by individual open-ended interviews, and the author's participant observation, the book explores the impact of routine, physical activity, and social relationships on successful aging. Lieblich additionally presents an analysis of the tension-minimizing discourse adopted at the café and the pleasant bubble-like environment it fosters amongst the community members. Finally, the book debates the adaptive role of narrating one's life story, and its perceived manifestation of wisdom. A combination of complete life stories and extracts of conversations recorded on the beach color every chapter. These texts are complimented and elucidated by a variety of academic claims, theories and findings concerning narratives and aging. This book, based on an Israeli field study, may be viewed both as a local case study as well as a lesson relevant to aging everywhere.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199918041
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	07/17/2014
Series:	Explorations in Narrative Psychology
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Amia Lieblich, a psychologist and a writer, was educated in Israel and received her PhD at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1967. Among the pioneers of narrative research, her academic work explores different psychological aspects of Israeli society, including the effects of prolonged war and military service, gender issues, and the kibbutz. Currently she is the president of a college that specializes in training therapists using expressive arts.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: The setting: Field research in a seaside moveable community

Chapter 2: Reserved seats: On routines and aging

Chapter 3: Stopping time: The active life style of the elderly

Chapter 4: Forging a community of equals

Chapter 5: The discourse of the seaside community: Creating a bubble

Chapter 6: Wisdom, aging and stories

Chapter 7. Concluding reflections

Appendix 1. Methodological comments

Appendix 2. List of members of the community

References

Editorial Reviews

"[I]t is the illuminative and dynamic qualities of narrative that make Narratives of Aging: Seaside Stories by Amia Lieblich so attractive and informative. The organization of the book illuminates various narrative themes of positive aging. I was particularly impressed with the content the author offers on active lifestyle that unfolds within what she identifies as a 'community of equals.' As a whole, the book is as practical as it is scholarly. It is not short on relevant research content, interpretation by the author, or ideas about gerontology. It is not short on content that illuminates how the author constructs the aging experience either. It is timely and relevant to current discourse concerning aging." -David P. Moxley, PsycCRITIQUES

From the Publisher