Longevity Nation: The People, Ideas, and Trends Changing the Second Half of Our Lives

As the last of the baby boomers have entered their 60s, this activist generation has “now taken on longevity—living longer, healthier lives—as their new cause,” according to this buoyant outing from wellness advocate Clinton (Roar). At the same time, however, Clinton asserts that living longer is a new normal that human society hasn’t adjusted to yet, as many older adults are not making fulfilling use of their added years. As such, he urges readers to “reimage your relationships, identity, impact, and learning agenda” for a long post-60s future. To make his case, he profiles individuals and organizations who have created new products and services aimed at dealing with the realities of longevity, such as Mike Mansfield, CEO of ProAge.org, “a UK-based charity whose mission is to equip business leaders... to create an age-inclusive culture,” and David Sable, the vice-chairman of global marketing group Stagwell, who notes that social media is now dominated by older users, prompting a reorientation in the advertising industry. Other sections spotlight groups promoting or selling travel, education, and housing to older people, as well as new routes to longevity itself (smart glasses that track what one eats, etc.). The author’s boosterish approach can leave readers wanting a more critical eye cast on some of these ideas. Still, it makes for an interesting overview of an emerging, interlocking set of age-related industries. (May)