This book investigates the psychological and social factors that contribute to a fulfilling and healthy experience of aging after the age of sixty. Barbara Gallatin Anderson, an anthropologist specializing in gerontology, utilizes her extensive research and field observations to challenge common stereotypes regarding late-life decline. She presents a framework that emphasizes personal agency, social connectivity, and the maintenance of sexual and mental health as primary drivers of successful aging.

Experts in the field of gerontology recognize this work as a thoughtful contribution to the study of aging from an anthropological lens. Readers frequently note the accessible prose style, which balances academic insight with practical advice for navigating the later stages of life.