Steerforth

Ageism is rampant in today’s society, but how did we get here? Tracy Gendron, PhD, a developmental psychologist and gerontologist, tells a captivating story about the history of age bias with the hope of inspiring an anti-ageist future. She brings readers on a journey through history, spanning from ancient cultures to the Industrial Revolution to the retirement community boom of the 1960s. Gendron asks readers to consider aspects of our society that are deeply rooted in an ageist history, like the mere idea of 65+ living communities or the birthday card section at the stationery shop. Gendron describes “elderhood,” or the developmental stage of older adulthood, and the opportunities that can exist when we acknowledge all the complexities of aging, including losses and dreams alike. 

This revealing book is helpful for those who are new to reading about ageism, as it explains foundational concepts and explores the ways that age bias impacts everyone, but it is eye opening even for readers who are well-versed in ageism literature.