Men still at work : professionals over sixty and on the job /

In this follow-up to her Women Still at Work (2012), Fideler (Boston College) seeks to understand why many professional men age 60 or older choose to continue working at a time in life when many others have retired, and to describe their experiences as they navigate work life in an increasingly challenging economy. Drawing upon findings from the latest research on men, work, and aging, the results of her own survey, and candid profiles from in-depth interviews she conducted with such men, Fideler provides a glimpse into the complex inner world of this fast-growing segment of the US workforce. Older men's desire to find meaning in their work--and make a difference in others' lives via their work--is an oft-mentioned motive. The author also found that many of these men enjoyed a rich workplace social life through their relationships with colleagues and clientele alike. Surprisingly, more utilitarian and baser motives, such as the need for pay and benefits, or the allure of wielding power and authority, were not nearly as important to these men as one might think. Overall, an engaging, accessible overview of what the future holds for many younger men who will undoubtedly work into their 60s ... and beyond. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. J. R. Mitrano Central Connecticut State University

In this companion to Women Still at Work, Fideler examines the factors which keep men in the workplace well past the commonly-accepted age of retirement. While theoretically a broad subject, she limits herself with the snowball method of sampling, which produced 156 respondents, "virtually all professionals.well-educated high achievers still working and still enjoying good health and abundant energy." As she admits, her subjects "tended to be white men with similar socioeconomic status." Absent are "poorly-educated men, employed in low-wage, low-skill, high-turnover jobs.obliged to continue working.out of economic necessity." As a result, Fideler's research offers up profiles of accomplished, successful men who remain active as a choice. It's an interesting look at the privileged and fortunate, but bears little relation to the common populace. While her examination of issues such as masculinity, father figures, the need to provide, and the need to remain active is valid, it still feels like a snapshot of the 1%, out of touch with the demands of the new economic climate. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.