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

by William H. Thomas

Overview

Drawing from popular culture, history, science, a nd literature, a passionate and persuasive case is made for removing our ageist blinders and seeing old age as a developmental stage of life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781889242323
Publisher:	VanderWyk & Burnham
Publication date:	07/25/2007
Pages:	370
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.10(d)

Table of Contents

	Preface	xi
	True Longevity	1
	A New Wrinkle	3
	The Doctrine of Youth's Perfection	12
	The Hidden Powers of Age	22
	Myths and Other Theories	32
	Becoming Human	39
	A Matter of Life and Death	41
	Necessity's Virtue	50
	The Rise of Elderhood	65
	Old Age Long Ago	67
	Industrial-Strength Aging	79
	Victory	91
	Navigating Life	97
	Living on the Edge of the World	99
	Old Maps	106
	The Way We Live Now	115
	Five Ages	121
	Tragedy	129
	The Cult of Adulthood	131
	The Assault on Childhood	140
	Adult Forever	148
	The Old-Age Archipelago	157
	Private Grief, Public Tragedy	167
	Distant Thunder	177
	The Eden Alternative	179
	Resistance	191
	Place and No Place	202
	Elderhood's Sanctuary	208
	The Green House	222
	A Wink and a Smile	237
	Midwife of Elderhood	239
	The First Shahbaz	248
	The Problem of Protection	256
	Convivium	263
	The Twofold Path	270
	The Ripening	275
	Elderhood Reborn	277
	On Being an Elder	286
	Eldertopia	299
	Acknowledgments	315
Appendix	The First Green Houses	320
	Notes	327
	Bibliography	356
	Index	362