"This presentation of the narratives of 11 elderly people questions stereotypes and encourages a reconfiguration of our current thinking. By reviewing and discussing myths of age and comparing them to the realities of the lives of these 11 people, Koch reconfirms the age-old adage: "respect your elders." Respect for our elders can be more than just a habit as this important book proves by allowing the elderly to literally speak for themselves.

This is a must read for anyone who has ever thought about the implications of growing old in American society."--BOOK JACKET.