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America the Wise: Longevity, Revolution and the True Wealth of Nations
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America the Wise: Longevity, Revolution and the True Wealth of Nations
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by Theodore Roszak
Sales Rank : 1116035
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Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1 edition September 15, 1998
Language: English
ISBN-10: 039585699X
ISBN-13: 978-0395856994
Product Dimensions:
9.5 x 6.3 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
Product Review
The times they are a-changin'--again. By the year 2020, people over 60 will account for 25 percent of the American population. Using this statistic as a departure point, Theodore Roszak speculates on the effects of such a demographic shift both on the nation's pocketbook and, more importantly, on its psyche. A long-time evangelist for the "baby boomers," Roszak basically argues in America the Wise that those born between 1946 and 1964 compose a great collective asset to the country, and their social value will only increase as its members move into their twilight years. Crowning them the "New People," Roszak proclaims them to be "the first generation of the senior dominance possessed of more political influence, greater wealth, and more vitality than any older generation before us." If in their youth the boomers were energetic, idealistic, and outspoken, then they are now compassionate, wise, powerful, and--thanks to modern medicine and a longer average life span--soon to have plenty of free time on their hands. Time which will be spent performing good deeds, according to Roszak's silver ball. Predicting nothing less than the dawn of a new social ethic of altruism and hope, he proclaims that "the longevity revolution may one day be seen as an environmentally imperative stage in the history of our society." Looks like they didn't miss their chance to save the world, after all.
Refuting a spate of recent studies nervously claiming that young people will be burdened by their aging parents even as their own Social Security dries up, Roszak concludes that older boomers will actually support their underemployed children monetarily, as well as provide other valuable services, such as caring for grandchildren while the parents work. An adamant defender of senior entitlements, he insists that the current Social Security program is not in the throes of a crisis nor heading for an inevitable meltdown. Even if left alone, he points out, the system would remain solvent through 2032; with a few subtle tweaks and refinements, Social Security should suffice well into the next century.
America the Wise is more concerned with ethics and cultural values than concrete policy proposals and economics. As a result, portions of the book read like a sentimental self-help guide to living a full life after retirement. Though his moral high-ground stance and feel-good rhetoric can be tiresome, Roszak does offer many compelling ideas on a wide range of topics, including corporate culture, advertising, biotechnology, family life, and an observant take on American youth. In all, his vision is to be admired, even if he oversimplifies at times. If, as Roszak writes, "The future belongs to maturity," then the coming revolution should prove a gentle one indeed. --Shawn Carkonen
From Publishers Weekly
Cultural historian Roszak, who championed anti-establishment youth in his 1969 bestseller, The Making of a Counter Culture, now pins his hopes on the grown-up baby boomers. He argues that "The New People," as he awkwardly calls those entering their 50s, stand poised to become the most progressive, influential senior generation ever, blessed with unprecedented longevity, physical vitality, hungry minds and ambition. Roszak's prediction that large numbers of "New People," imbued with know-how and wisdom, will turn to political activism and volunteer services, triggering a "senior populism" committed to public programs and compassionate policies, is an appealing scenario, but he never provides convincing evidence that this is happening or likely to happen. He addresses subjects that are both important and arguably banal, like the simple-minded immaturity of advertising, which he proposes should be replaced by advertising based on enduring quality rather than on novelty. He does forcefully rebut fiscally conservative critics of Social Security and Medicare entitlements, and his wide-ranging meditation offers trenchant observations on the stunted competitive male psyche, pop culture, cyberpunk fiction, the hype surrounding computers, suicide among the elderly and the risks of anti-aging pills. While it may help aging boomers feel that they are still a special generation, those readers seeking an incisive guide to growing old creatively should try Betty Friedan's The Fountain of Age.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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