Review by Choice Review
The first installment of a three-part series on aging, this handbook provides a multidisciplinary, comprehensive view of aging from a social sciences perspective. Twenty-five articles cover diverse topics: social psychology, history, retirement, quantitative and qualitative research, economics, politics, and dying. Each piece attempts to be an inclusive overview of a particular dimension of aging, including theoretical perspectives, some research, history, and current trends. Little is omitted or left to the imagination, both a strength and a weakness. As with all collections, the articles vary in readability, clarity, and insight. The best provide a clear, coherent, and global view. For example, the stratification chapter focuses on cumulative dis/advantages over a lifetime. The chapter on politics compares voting behaviors, welfare systems, and equity issues internationally. The chapter on dying is equally effective--"... advances have made living easier and dying harder." Some segments, however, are jargony and unfocused. A housing chapter emphasizes "ideal" assisted living facilities but doesn't convey what actually exists. A few case studies or some humor would have helped. Nevertheless, this reference text is highly recommended for senior scholars, researchers, and practitioners. S. D. Borchert Lake Erie College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
