Age Power

This is an extremely interesting and important book. It seeks to identify the major social trend of the human future, and indicate ways it can be shaped for the benefit of us all. The dramatic rise in the average length of life which took place in the twentieth century is according to Ken Dychtwald going to continue in the future. The great cohort of the Baby Boomers, seventy- six million strong is moving into 'Old Age' and they will bring with them new demands and even a new definition of the condition of 'Old Age'. As the author sees it we are moving toward a 'gerontocracy' where the older segments of the population will have more and more power, not only in the market- place, but in determining the values and priorities of society as a whole. For Dychtwald the fact that more and more people will live longer and longer lives, and will be an increasingly large proportion of the population raises challenges for Humanity as a whole of a kind we have not faced before. Will Old Age become as it is for so many now a story of chronic illness, increasing disability? Or will the new technologies and medicines that are emerging enable for most a transformation where not only the age of old age will be pushed backward, but where a new ' cyclic' kind of life- style will begin with people starting new careers, new lives, new worlds of interest in old age? The questions are many and Dychtwald provides a text which is tremendously rich in information and suggestions. He points to the fact that the United States is not now really preparing itself for this dramatic demographic change. And he indicates that nonetheless many prescient and active individuals are moving toward extending their lives in a healthier and better way. There are many questions raised by the books arguments that I cannot begin to address in this review. One is the question of what happens to the human spirit , the human power of innovation, the whole feeling of hope in life when there is in effect a world of older generations only, with so little youth in it? Other questions I have relate to the overall purpose and meaning of lives seemingly dedicated to their endless extension and pleasure. And here I should say Dychtwald is very aware of the necessity of creating futures in which people ' give' to others, find meaning in their lives through helping. On the whole I am I think a bit less optimistic than the author of this work. Perhaps it is because I recently spent time , over a month, watching an elderly relative receiving the most advanced medical care , which did not prevent her suffering and decline. I have no doubt that the future will have many more people who live longer and healthier lives. But it seems to me at this point anyway that it will also have many more people living in conditions of chronic pain and disability. I too despite the 'vision' that is presented so competently here cannot in my heart cry out, "Brave new world that has so many old people in it."

Dychtwald's "Age Power" is a fascinating book about the implications that will come from the aging of 78 million baby boomers. As other reviewers have noted I was extremely interested on the social aspects of the aging of the boomers in the coming decades. What will the future look like in the United States and other industrialized nations in 2025? Will the boomers still influence society as greatly as they do now? Dychtwald believes that they will, and to prepare for the next millennium, boomers need to ensure that they will be financially secure. Dychtwald provides interesting questions and answers for this generation.Not to disparage the book, but I felt that Dychtwald could have focused more on Anti-Aging technology that is currently being developed. As with computer technology, the biotech industry is progressing at great leaps. And with the Human Genome Project being completed in either 2002 or 2003, anti-aging therapies willsure follow. If they do, the aging of the boomers will not be a huge problem since retirement would be eradicated with the anti-aging treatments. The Baby boomers would then need not worry about aging as they (and their pets [dogs, cats, etc.]) would live long and healthy lives, probably indefinitely.Still, one must ponder what role will the Baby Boomers play in the 21st century.

Dychtwald presents hard data to build the case for the need for all of us to prepare for the impact of the boomer bulge in the aging population. He recommends actions we can take as individuals. They may apply more to boomers than to geezers like me, but he is on target. There is a political subtext which suggests the need for political awakening to respond, something like a revitalized Gray Panthers, The Almost Gray Panthers. The vision must be broader than that offered by AARP or by boomers concerned about taking care of themselves. Dychtwald is underscoring a national issue which will affect all of us. Read this book. Become engaged.

I have followed this author's work for many years and this is his best book yet!I would heartily recomend it. Ken Dychtwalds' book Age Power is the most comprehensive and insightful analysis of the impact of the Baby Boomers on society. Written in an informative manner for the general reader, I found his book fresh with ideas about how to understand the landscape of the future. From the impact on health care, business, economics and education, the "New Old" will rule, accordingly to Dychtwald, and after reading this thoughtful book I now know how. I found his suggestions for how to influence this future to be very interesting. He makes a convincing case for a higher level of social responsibility required by the aging baby boomers as we move into the 21st century. Age Power is a book that I will refer back to for a long time. I will use it as a guide for my personal and business planning.

Age Power is a compelling look at how our world will be forever changed by the aging of the enormously powerful boomer generation. I was particularly moved by the implications of the "age wave" on the lives of American families. How will millions of working Americans afford the simultaneous costs of funding their children's education, caring for elderly parents, and saving for their own retirement? Age Power is well worth the read for the chapter on the "caregiving crunch" alone, and Dr. Dychtwald's "financial wake-up call" includes invaluable tips on "age-proofing" your life. If you're looking for a thoughtful explanation of the greatest challenges we will face as individuals and as a society in the next century--as well as practical solutions--don't miss this book.