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Blog
October 18, 2011
Book Review: A Long Bright Future
As medical technology advances and sophisticated support systems are developed, the possibility of living to 100 years of age has become a reality for many of us. Sadly, the misconceptions associated with an extended lifespan often include universally poor health, loneliness, and poverty.
In her recent book, A Long Bright Future, Laura Carstensen, PhD, founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity, presents an alternative view of longevity. Longevity can be an opportunity for personal enrichment and enhanced contributions to our families and society. She begins by identifying and then debunking 5 myths associated with aging that exist because few of us see the full scope of older lives.
5 Myths
- Older people are sad and lonely
- Your fate is foretold in your genes
- We rush to exit the workforce
- Older people are a drain on the world’s resources
- How we fare in old age is entirely an individual matter, not a function of society
She presents a compelling argument for envisioning an extended personal life and offers novel suggestions to create a society that is prepared to take advantage of the skills and wisdom of our elders. She recommends starting now to design your physical and social environments so that you are preparing to live the life you envision even as you are living your dreams today. She encourages a diverse social network and a broad range of interests and activities that will support and enrich you today and during your later years. Finally she suggests investing in changes to the educational system, the workplace and government-sponsored programs that will sustain and encourage an aging population.
Her specific recommendations for individuals to prepare and plan for longevity, while not groundbreaking or new, are inspiring in their presentation: nourish your social relationships; work longer, save more; learn throughout your life; and take care of your body.
This book offers a welcome alternative to the misperceptions of extended lives and novel recommendations for how to make the most of our years.
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