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Golden Years: How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age
The surprising history of old age in modern America, showing how we created unprecedented security for some and painful uncertainty for others On farms and in factories, Americans once had little choice but to work until death. As the nation prospered, a new idea was the right to a dignified and secure old age. That project has benefited millions, but it remains incomplete—and today it’s under siege. In Golden Years, historian James Chappel shows how old age first emerged as a distinct stage of life and how it evolved over the last century, shaped by politicians’ choices, activists’ demands, medical advancements, and cultural models from utopian novels to The Golden Girls. Only after World War II did government subsidies and employer pensions allow people to retire en masse. Just one generation later, this model crumbled. Older people streamed back into the workforce, and free-market policymakers pushed the burdens of aging back onto older Americans and their families. We now confront an old age mired in ever longer lifespans and spiraling health-care costs, 401(k)s and economic precarity, unprecedented opportunity and often disastrous instability. As the population of older Americans grows, Golden Years urges us to look to the past to better understand old age today—and how it could be better tomorrow.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published November 19, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 9, 2024
This book is a very thorough historical examination of what it means to be "old" in America, from the early 1900s to present day. "Senior citizen" used to be a synonym for a death sentence, but that group's resilience has improved. thanks to committed politicians and activists, advances in health care and longevity resources, even silly TV shows such as "The Golden Girls." From the passage of the Social Security Act in 1935 to Medicare and Medicaid; to pensions, 401k plans and IRAs, turning 65 is no longer a stigma.
As someone who is about to turn 65, I obviously do not think of myself as old, a notable departure from my early years, when 65 meant "ancient." My husband and I live in an active adult community, play pickleball every day, run with our rescue pointer mix, enjoy clubs and activities with our friends, neighbors and families. I ran my first half-marathon at age 59, and I definitely am in better shape now than I was in my 20s. Life is what you make it.
The author has done meticulous research -- he is an associate professor of history at Duke University and a senior fellow at the Duke Aging Center -- so he was well-qualified to write this book. I took off one star, because parts do read like a history textbook, but I love history, and I learned a lot.
I do believe that the author has a more optimistic outlook for the aging population's future. He notes that sometime in the next decade, the number of Americans who are over 65 will be greater than those under 18. So addressing the needs of this group must be taken seriously. Pandemics, climate change, foreign conflicts, the abysmal state of nursing home care and employee compensation for those workers, the outrageous cost of health care and prescription drugs, worries about the solvency of Social Security, etc., are not going to be easily fixed, especially in the toxic political environment we currently live in. I certainly hope I am wrong in this viewpoint.
Thanks to NetGalley and Basic Books/Hachette for the ARC and the opportunity to review this book.
As someone who is about to turn 65, I obviously do not think of myself as old, a notable departure from my early years, when 65 meant "ancient." My husband and I live in an active adult community, play pickleball every day, run with our rescue pointer mix, enjoy clubs and activities with our friends, neighbors and families. I ran my first half-marathon at age 59, and I definitely am in better shape now than I was in my 20s. Life is what you make it.
The author has done meticulous research -- he is an associate professor of history at Duke University and a senior fellow at the Duke Aging Center -- so he was well-qualified to write this book. I took off one star, because parts do read like a history textbook, but I love history, and I learned a lot.
I do believe that the author has a more optimistic outlook for the aging population's future. He notes that sometime in the next decade, the number of Americans who are over 65 will be greater than those under 18. So addressing the needs of this group must be taken seriously. Pandemics, climate change, foreign conflicts, the abysmal state of nursing home care and employee compensation for those workers, the outrageous cost of health care and prescription drugs, worries about the solvency of Social Security, etc., are not going to be easily fixed, especially in the toxic political environment we currently live in. I certainly hope I am wrong in this viewpoint.
Thanks to NetGalley and Basic Books/Hachette for the ARC and the opportunity to review this book.
December 1, 2024
When we get old, we retire, live on Social Security and whatever other retirement funds we have saved up, live in some kind of assisted facility at some point, and eventually die.Oh, and you shouldn’t be too mean to your children, because they choose your nursing home. These things just seem to be the way it goes. Yet, as James Chappel well documents in Golden Years: How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age (galley received as part of early review program), the way Americans have experienced aging over the past century was deliberately chosen as part of government policy regarding the goal of the “nuclear family.” Its limitations and challenges were also deliberate choices at different times for different reasons.
Before the 1930s, people who were able to experience aging did so as they always had: at best, incorporated within the living situation of their children and providing valued support in that context, and at worst, destitute and impoverished with unstable living conditions.
As the author tells the story, the crises of the 1930s presented an opportunity. There had been many groups agitating for government programs to assist those of older age. Some of them involved an early concept of a universal basic income for older people. Some wanted to make sure everyone was provided for in older age. But that’s not how it went down. Instead, Social Security was put into place…as a way to benefit younger people. The idea was to provide benefits to workers so they would have something to live on in their older age and therefore not be a financial burden to younger and middle aged Americans who could thus continue to focus on building and developing their own families.And so plenty of people were originally excluded from Social Security. Nevertheless, for most of the middle of the 20th century, there was a lot of effort put into exalting the idea of the senior citizen: older Americans who could maintain their independence and who could enjoy their lives. Over time more would get access to Social Security. Pensions were all the rage. Medicare was passed, providing even greater benefit for older Americans, and for everyone, not just a few.
The “revolution” had worked: older Americans were maintaining their independence, truly facilitating the development of the “nuclear family” as we have now normalized it. The future seemed bright.
And then, as in all things, came the 1970s. And for this story, in particular, Reagan and the 1980s and a complete mood and vibe shift.
Where once there had been optimism about providing for older Americans, the economic challenges of the 1970s put an end to all that. The author well exemplified the transition in terms of AARP and the hit television show The Golden Girls: the goal now was facilitating independence and self-determination, and that would involve less government commitment. As a result, while older people still enjoyed far better living standards and security than those who lived before the 1930s enjoyed, they now lived in a world of more comparable scarcity than abundance. “Retirement” became more of a mirage for many, and many returned or stayed in the workforce.
And, above all, the problems of long-term care and provision for the 75+ crowd were left entirely unaddressed. Without a lot of government resource and benefit, the burden of providing for such older people in more dependent conditions fell upon family members, particularly women. The situation in 2024, in this regard, sounds pretty much the same as it did in 1984. No one wants to go into the nursing home; those who do end up there generally are there because the family caregiver(s) have been exhausted. Family caregiver(s) end up sacrificing a lot of time, energy, and their own quality of life to thus provide for people in advanced age in a way which has no historical parallel, since never before have so many people lived into the period of advanced age and have thus required so much more additional help. Home healthcare has not been financially prioritized sufficiently by anyone, and so there is a large mismatch between the kind of people who can provide that kind of care and the financial reward which is given for that care. And the government continues to claim it cannot provide assistance in these matters, yet all too often, the oldest Americans end up on Medicaid after exhausting their life savings (and often whatever benefits they would provide for their children). In this way the government still spends a lot of money, and younger people are exhausted physically and financially as well.
This book has much more to say about the culture and experience of aging. It’s highly recommended to understand much more about the experience of aging in America, and can help us understand how all which is experienced has been engineered that way. The goal has been to encourage and facilitate older people to age well and enjoy life in health. The goal was not to provide benefits to everyone, nor were the frail or medically compromised older people ever really primarily in view.
And so aging in America now involves the best and worst of all worlds. Yes, you would much rather be older in America over the past 60 years or so than at any other point in human history. But it has been engineered to create gaps between generations, to prop up an ahistorical “nuclear family” framework which has proven completely unsustainable, and now cannot well deliver on its primary promises. Aging in America is great if you have some wealth at the start and you have good health and then a rapid end. If you don’t have that much wealth, your health isn’t the greatest, and/or you experience a protracted period requiring intensive long-term care, it’s not that great at all.
And it’s all really on all of us. Societies should always be judged by how they view and treat the least among them. And we could be doing a lot better for many among our older population.
Before the 1930s, people who were able to experience aging did so as they always had: at best, incorporated within the living situation of their children and providing valued support in that context, and at worst, destitute and impoverished with unstable living conditions.
As the author tells the story, the crises of the 1930s presented an opportunity. There had been many groups agitating for government programs to assist those of older age. Some of them involved an early concept of a universal basic income for older people. Some wanted to make sure everyone was provided for in older age. But that’s not how it went down. Instead, Social Security was put into place…as a way to benefit younger people. The idea was to provide benefits to workers so they would have something to live on in their older age and therefore not be a financial burden to younger and middle aged Americans who could thus continue to focus on building and developing their own families.And so plenty of people were originally excluded from Social Security. Nevertheless, for most of the middle of the 20th century, there was a lot of effort put into exalting the idea of the senior citizen: older Americans who could maintain their independence and who could enjoy their lives. Over time more would get access to Social Security. Pensions were all the rage. Medicare was passed, providing even greater benefit for older Americans, and for everyone, not just a few.
The “revolution” had worked: older Americans were maintaining their independence, truly facilitating the development of the “nuclear family” as we have now normalized it. The future seemed bright.
And then, as in all things, came the 1970s. And for this story, in particular, Reagan and the 1980s and a complete mood and vibe shift.
Where once there had been optimism about providing for older Americans, the economic challenges of the 1970s put an end to all that. The author well exemplified the transition in terms of AARP and the hit television show The Golden Girls: the goal now was facilitating independence and self-determination, and that would involve less government commitment. As a result, while older people still enjoyed far better living standards and security than those who lived before the 1930s enjoyed, they now lived in a world of more comparable scarcity than abundance. “Retirement” became more of a mirage for many, and many returned or stayed in the workforce.
And, above all, the problems of long-term care and provision for the 75+ crowd were left entirely unaddressed. Without a lot of government resource and benefit, the burden of providing for such older people in more dependent conditions fell upon family members, particularly women. The situation in 2024, in this regard, sounds pretty much the same as it did in 1984. No one wants to go into the nursing home; those who do end up there generally are there because the family caregiver(s) have been exhausted. Family caregiver(s) end up sacrificing a lot of time, energy, and their own quality of life to thus provide for people in advanced age in a way which has no historical parallel, since never before have so many people lived into the period of advanced age and have thus required so much more additional help. Home healthcare has not been financially prioritized sufficiently by anyone, and so there is a large mismatch between the kind of people who can provide that kind of care and the financial reward which is given for that care. And the government continues to claim it cannot provide assistance in these matters, yet all too often, the oldest Americans end up on Medicaid after exhausting their life savings (and often whatever benefits they would provide for their children). In this way the government still spends a lot of money, and younger people are exhausted physically and financially as well.
This book has much more to say about the culture and experience of aging. It’s highly recommended to understand much more about the experience of aging in America, and can help us understand how all which is experienced has been engineered that way. The goal has been to encourage and facilitate older people to age well and enjoy life in health. The goal was not to provide benefits to everyone, nor were the frail or medically compromised older people ever really primarily in view.
And so aging in America now involves the best and worst of all worlds. Yes, you would much rather be older in America over the past 60 years or so than at any other point in human history. But it has been engineered to create gaps between generations, to prop up an ahistorical “nuclear family” framework which has proven completely unsustainable, and now cannot well deliver on its primary promises. Aging in America is great if you have some wealth at the start and you have good health and then a rapid end. If you don’t have that much wealth, your health isn’t the greatest, and/or you experience a protracted period requiring intensive long-term care, it’s not that great at all.
And it’s all really on all of us. Societies should always be judged by how they view and treat the least among them. And we could be doing a lot better for many among our older population.
August 1, 2024
James Chappel, Golden Years How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age, Basic Books, November 2024.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.
James Chappel’s Golden Years How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age is a detailed account of the way in which old age has been perceived in America, the varied approaches that have been taken by organisations and governments, and the ideology underpinning such approaches. He illuminates the way in which race, and class have impacted programs aimed at caring for elderly people, leading to the neglect of some, and divisions between groups of elderly people depending on their race and class. Chappel also points to the various ways in which aged people have been described, and the changes in the years of age that belong to such descriptions. Some groups have constantly been neglected, and Chapel gives such neglect important attention.
This is a book replete with detail, commentary and suggestions for improvement in the way that old age might be considered and dealt with through government programs. The attention he gives to the organisations that have grown up around old age is not only informative, but an important part of social commentary on the way in which Americans have formed their ideas and response to old age. With an aging population, and a smaller group of taxpayers as is the case in many developed countries, the way in which old age is considered has increasing importance for government expenditure. A history of programs, attitudes and responses is pertinent.
The book is in three parts: The Aged (1900-1940); Senior Citizens (1940-1975) and Older People (1975-2000). Each is the tile given to older people, as society, activists and governments modified their focus on exactly whom they wanted to support financially and defend through policy making. The second section includes recognition of Black aging; the impact of retirement and retirement age; and ends with a less optimistic approach to aging than had been apparent until the mid-1970s. Concerns with ageism are dealt with in the third section, bringing into the account the depiction of aged people in films, television programs and greeting cards. This move from seeing the aged as fragile and needy is one that raises complex ideas. Chapel addresses these in detail that draws upon the development of organisations to benefit those over fifty-five through support for anti-discrimination policies rather than social welfare. Self-care, successful aging, security measures and risk older workers and older retirement ages, the role of family, volunteering time, of which the aged have in abundance, are discussed in the last chapter.
Action to bolster anti-discriminatory practice to produce positive images of aging, while also recognising the damaging features of aging are encapsulated in popular culture, and Chapel uses this material in a way that supports his detailed analysis and information. With these familiar and accessible illustrations of aging, reference to the political fortunes of individuals and political parties with their impact on aging, and the historical account of responses to aging James Chapel has produced a book that is dense with information, but eminently readable.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.
James Chappel’s Golden Years How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age is a detailed account of the way in which old age has been perceived in America, the varied approaches that have been taken by organisations and governments, and the ideology underpinning such approaches. He illuminates the way in which race, and class have impacted programs aimed at caring for elderly people, leading to the neglect of some, and divisions between groups of elderly people depending on their race and class. Chappel also points to the various ways in which aged people have been described, and the changes in the years of age that belong to such descriptions. Some groups have constantly been neglected, and Chapel gives such neglect important attention.
This is a book replete with detail, commentary and suggestions for improvement in the way that old age might be considered and dealt with through government programs. The attention he gives to the organisations that have grown up around old age is not only informative, but an important part of social commentary on the way in which Americans have formed their ideas and response to old age. With an aging population, and a smaller group of taxpayers as is the case in many developed countries, the way in which old age is considered has increasing importance for government expenditure. A history of programs, attitudes and responses is pertinent.
The book is in three parts: The Aged (1900-1940); Senior Citizens (1940-1975) and Older People (1975-2000). Each is the tile given to older people, as society, activists and governments modified their focus on exactly whom they wanted to support financially and defend through policy making. The second section includes recognition of Black aging; the impact of retirement and retirement age; and ends with a less optimistic approach to aging than had been apparent until the mid-1970s. Concerns with ageism are dealt with in the third section, bringing into the account the depiction of aged people in films, television programs and greeting cards. This move from seeing the aged as fragile and needy is one that raises complex ideas. Chapel addresses these in detail that draws upon the development of organisations to benefit those over fifty-five through support for anti-discrimination policies rather than social welfare. Self-care, successful aging, security measures and risk older workers and older retirement ages, the role of family, volunteering time, of which the aged have in abundance, are discussed in the last chapter.
Action to bolster anti-discriminatory practice to produce positive images of aging, while also recognising the damaging features of aging are encapsulated in popular culture, and Chapel uses this material in a way that supports his detailed analysis and information. With these familiar and accessible illustrations of aging, reference to the political fortunes of individuals and political parties with their impact on aging, and the historical account of responses to aging James Chapel has produced a book that is dense with information, but eminently readable.
June 13, 2025
4.6 stars. I'm a professor too, so I say this with compassion, but there was a bit too much of the popular-with-academics sign-post writing ("in this chapter we will see that x, y, z.......let's summarize where we are so far in the development of active adult communities......") for my taste.
Stylistic quibble aside, very good accessible history of thinking about and planning for our stints as older adults as we're now usually known (funny [to me] google ngram research on p. 67 showing that "senior citizens" overtook "the aged and infirm" in 1945 and "oldster" or "old folks" in 1955, only to meet is own demise around the mid-1970's -- other than maybe as a lead-in to "discount", I can't remember the last time I heard "senior citizen").
I remember the heyday of the Grey Panthers and OWL, rise of masters athletics and Senior Olympics, transition of American Assn of Retired Persons to just AARP, rise of the Villages, problems associated with nursing homes, etc, and I'm very familiar with (albeit confused by) complexities of Social Security and Medicare, omission of long-term care insurance from Medicare and resulting economic burden on top of caregiving burden etc. etc etc. but really knew nothing about some of the arguments and alternatives people were pushing before major programs or legislation started.
Best example probably the fact that an estimated 2 million Americans in the 1930's belonged to "Townsend Clubs" organized around advocating for a scheme in which a 2% national sales tax (NOT payroll deduction as with that unfortunate FICA on your paystub) would have been used to fund very generous UBI for all seniors without reference to your earnings history ........with the zany twist that you'd be required to prop up the economy by spending all of it every month.
Not sure that would have worked or been enforceable, but apparently the Overton Window was pretty wide open before Social Security passed. I wish it could be pushed open a bit wider now -- author describes fairly long lull of late in making significant overhauls to federal programs relevant to aging, as vs. promotion of individualized solutions like hectoring people about pouring more money into 401k and IRA earlier in career.
In the extremely unlikely event that anyone reads my reviews for personal financial advice, I want to be clear -- given how this country works now, you SHOULD pour as much as you can stand into your own retirement accounts, and by all means take full advantage of any employer match at least. Just saying that it's not a law of nature that rich people need to get Social Security benefits, nor that we need to recapitulate all aspects of economic discrimination from people's time as employees by hooking benefits to what you earned working for pay, nor that the payroll tax has to be regressive and go to zero after a set max income and so on.
Anyway, I'm digressing to my own opinions rather than the book, so I'll bring it in for a landing, but just to say it's not a fun read exactly (though if you're a Golden Girls fan you might enjoy the several chapters in which he explains various developments by referencing their characters and plotlines) but very informative and thought-provoking on numerous aspects of aging.
Stylistic quibble aside, very good accessible history of thinking about and planning for our stints as older adults as we're now usually known (funny [to me] google ngram research on p. 67 showing that "senior citizens" overtook "the aged and infirm" in 1945 and "oldster" or "old folks" in 1955, only to meet is own demise around the mid-1970's -- other than maybe as a lead-in to "discount", I can't remember the last time I heard "senior citizen").
I remember the heyday of the Grey Panthers and OWL, rise of masters athletics and Senior Olympics, transition of American Assn of Retired Persons to just AARP, rise of the Villages, problems associated with nursing homes, etc, and I'm very familiar with (albeit confused by) complexities of Social Security and Medicare, omission of long-term care insurance from Medicare and resulting economic burden on top of caregiving burden etc. etc etc. but really knew nothing about some of the arguments and alternatives people were pushing before major programs or legislation started.
Best example probably the fact that an estimated 2 million Americans in the 1930's belonged to "Townsend Clubs" organized around advocating for a scheme in which a 2% national sales tax (NOT payroll deduction as with that unfortunate FICA on your paystub) would have been used to fund very generous UBI for all seniors without reference to your earnings history ........with the zany twist that you'd be required to prop up the economy by spending all of it every month.
Not sure that would have worked or been enforceable, but apparently the Overton Window was pretty wide open before Social Security passed. I wish it could be pushed open a bit wider now -- author describes fairly long lull of late in making significant overhauls to federal programs relevant to aging, as vs. promotion of individualized solutions like hectoring people about pouring more money into 401k and IRA earlier in career.
In the extremely unlikely event that anyone reads my reviews for personal financial advice, I want to be clear -- given how this country works now, you SHOULD pour as much as you can stand into your own retirement accounts, and by all means take full advantage of any employer match at least. Just saying that it's not a law of nature that rich people need to get Social Security benefits, nor that we need to recapitulate all aspects of economic discrimination from people's time as employees by hooking benefits to what you earned working for pay, nor that the payroll tax has to be regressive and go to zero after a set max income and so on.
Anyway, I'm digressing to my own opinions rather than the book, so I'll bring it in for a landing, but just to say it's not a fun read exactly (though if you're a Golden Girls fan you might enjoy the several chapters in which he explains various developments by referencing their characters and plotlines) but very informative and thought-provoking on numerous aspects of aging.
October 6, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
Golden Years: How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age by James Chappel is a compelling exploration of the evolution of old age in America. Chappel, a historian, delves into how old age has been perceived and managed over the past century, highlighting the socio-political and economic factors that have shaped these perceptions.
The book begins by tracing the early 20th century, when old age was not yet a distinct stage of life. People worked until they could no longer physically continue, often facing dire financial and social conditions. Chappel meticulously documents the transformation that began post-World War II, when government policies and employer pensions allowed many Americans to retire with dignity and security. This period marked the birth of the “Golden Years,” a time when old age was redefined as a period of rest and leisure.
Chappel’s narrative is rich with historical anecdotes and cultural references, from utopian novels to popular TV shows like The Golden Girls. He effectively illustrates how these cultural artifacts both reflected and influenced societal attitudes towards aging. The book also addresses the stark contrasts in the experiences of old age, noting how economic disparities have led to vastly different outcomes for different segments of the population.
Golden Years is its examines the present-day challenges facing older Americans. Chappel discusses the erosion of the post-war retirement model, with many older adults now returning to the workforce due to inadequate savings and rising healthcare costs. He paints a vivid picture of the precariousness that many face, juxtaposed with the unprecedented opportunities for those who have managed to secure financial stability.
Chappel’s writing is accessible and scholarly, making complex historical and economic concepts understandable for a broad audience. His analysis is thorough and thought-provoking, urging readers to consider how current policies and cultural attitudes might evolve to better support an aging population.
Golden Years is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of aging in America and the socio-economic forces that continue to shape it. Chappel’s work is a poignant reminder of the progress made and the challenges that lie ahead, offering valuable insights into how we might create a more equitable and secure future for all older adults.
Golden Years: How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age by James Chappel is a compelling exploration of the evolution of old age in America. Chappel, a historian, delves into how old age has been perceived and managed over the past century, highlighting the socio-political and economic factors that have shaped these perceptions.
The book begins by tracing the early 20th century, when old age was not yet a distinct stage of life. People worked until they could no longer physically continue, often facing dire financial and social conditions. Chappel meticulously documents the transformation that began post-World War II, when government policies and employer pensions allowed many Americans to retire with dignity and security. This period marked the birth of the “Golden Years,” a time when old age was redefined as a period of rest and leisure.
Chappel’s narrative is rich with historical anecdotes and cultural references, from utopian novels to popular TV shows like The Golden Girls. He effectively illustrates how these cultural artifacts both reflected and influenced societal attitudes towards aging. The book also addresses the stark contrasts in the experiences of old age, noting how economic disparities have led to vastly different outcomes for different segments of the population.
Golden Years is its examines the present-day challenges facing older Americans. Chappel discusses the erosion of the post-war retirement model, with many older adults now returning to the workforce due to inadequate savings and rising healthcare costs. He paints a vivid picture of the precariousness that many face, juxtaposed with the unprecedented opportunities for those who have managed to secure financial stability.
Chappel’s writing is accessible and scholarly, making complex historical and economic concepts understandable for a broad audience. His analysis is thorough and thought-provoking, urging readers to consider how current policies and cultural attitudes might evolve to better support an aging population.
Golden Years is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of aging in America and the socio-economic forces that continue to shape it. Chappel’s work is a poignant reminder of the progress made and the challenges that lie ahead, offering valuable insights into how we might create a more equitable and secure future for all older adults.
November 19, 2024
My thanks to NetGalley and Basic Books for an ARC of this title.
James Chappel has produced a very readable overview about the changes and continuities, the steps forward, and at times backward, of the history of aging in America. A Duke University historian and a fellow at the Duke Aging Centre, the author has put together an accessible scholarly study enriched by multiple sources of historical evidence. Its very accessibility to the non-expert is perhaps its best feature.
As the population ages, in North America and in Europe, what to do about the elderly is a question that needs serious consideration now. For much of history they were the concern of their families and kin; but life expectancy was short enough that few would be living with familial caregivers at an age when Alzheimer’s and other chronic, and degenerative, diseases could be a concern for long. The last tier of Baby Boomers is getting close to seventy. Just as they come into their own increasingly dependent life stage, they are facing the challenges of parents in their nineties. If longevity has always seemed to be a meaningful objective, we are coming to realize that, in and of itself—without good mental and physical health, state and community support, just living nearly a century may not be the best of all possible fates. Especially not for those who can’t access the higher tiers of medical and caregiving professionals, from home or in residential facilities.
The greatest achievement of Chapel’s work is to open readers’ eyes to the many ways in which the twentieth century has greatly improved the lives of aging Americans, especially since the Second World War. Affluence and state investment in social welfare are the better part of the reasons why. The twenty-first century, then, should be able to do much to build on these earlier foundations.
But has it? There is isn’t a readily apparent balance sheet, as Chappel acknowledges. Growing mistrust in state agencies, and less willingness to support their interventions, have tarnished public constructions of ‘the golden years’, both with reference to individual old age and to the larger functioning of citizen rights. This is an eye opening book that martials the historical evidence with a critical eye to how far society has distanced itself both past practices and future healthful possibilities for aging citizens.
James Chappel has produced a very readable overview about the changes and continuities, the steps forward, and at times backward, of the history of aging in America. A Duke University historian and a fellow at the Duke Aging Centre, the author has put together an accessible scholarly study enriched by multiple sources of historical evidence. Its very accessibility to the non-expert is perhaps its best feature.
As the population ages, in North America and in Europe, what to do about the elderly is a question that needs serious consideration now. For much of history they were the concern of their families and kin; but life expectancy was short enough that few would be living with familial caregivers at an age when Alzheimer’s and other chronic, and degenerative, diseases could be a concern for long. The last tier of Baby Boomers is getting close to seventy. Just as they come into their own increasingly dependent life stage, they are facing the challenges of parents in their nineties. If longevity has always seemed to be a meaningful objective, we are coming to realize that, in and of itself—without good mental and physical health, state and community support, just living nearly a century may not be the best of all possible fates. Especially not for those who can’t access the higher tiers of medical and caregiving professionals, from home or in residential facilities.
The greatest achievement of Chapel’s work is to open readers’ eyes to the many ways in which the twentieth century has greatly improved the lives of aging Americans, especially since the Second World War. Affluence and state investment in social welfare are the better part of the reasons why. The twenty-first century, then, should be able to do much to build on these earlier foundations.
But has it? There is isn’t a readily apparent balance sheet, as Chappel acknowledges. Growing mistrust in state agencies, and less willingness to support their interventions, have tarnished public constructions of ‘the golden years’, both with reference to individual old age and to the larger functioning of citizen rights. This is an eye opening book that martials the historical evidence with a critical eye to how far society has distanced itself both past practices and future healthful possibilities for aging citizens.
April 21, 2025
An interestinghistory of how we got here, both as a nation and individually. I also recommend, as did the author, Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life by Aronson.
A few good quotes:
"The aging of the American population, and especially the explosion of the population of those age eighty-plus, necessitates vast amounts of care labor. That labor has fallen throug the cracks and is mainly done by women who are either unpaid, as family members, or poorly paid, as home health aides or nursing home employees. 'Other countries have social safety nets,' the sociologist Jessica Calarco has pointed out. 'The U.S. has women.'" p 4
"Welfare programs administered by states are, in general, less efficient, less generous, and more stigmatized than universal programs administered by the federal government. This was certainly the case with Medicaid. Complaints about poor regulation were rife in the early years of the industry, but nursing home operators were reluctant to make the necessary repairs. And since they were dealing with county or state welfare offices rather than the mighty federal government, nursing home operators generally got their way." p 118
"Nutrition programs had similar issues. Food delivery is an intimate act." p 129
"... aging is not just a corporeal process, but a social and historical one. The medicalization of aging is itself a historical production... Sometime between the 1950s and the 1980s, physicians conquered the public sphere when it came to the public discussion of aging, and they haven't let go. It is still true today that the national conversation on aging is drven by physicians. Many of the books they write, like Atul Gawande's Being Mortal (2014) and Louise Aronson's Elderhood (2019), are excellent and I hope you read them. If we are going to really prepare ourselves for the gray future, we will need the perspectives of physicians, absolutely. But not only theirs. We will need engineers, architects, and computer scientists; we will also need novelists, poets, theologians, and even historians. The dominance of medical voices has resulted in the widespread presumption that aging is an individual matter involving primarily individual lifestyles... it is not the only or best starting place for a serious national conversation about what it means to age in the twenty-first century." p 282
A few good quotes:
"The aging of the American population, and especially the explosion of the population of those age eighty-plus, necessitates vast amounts of care labor. That labor has fallen throug the cracks and is mainly done by women who are either unpaid, as family members, or poorly paid, as home health aides or nursing home employees. 'Other countries have social safety nets,' the sociologist Jessica Calarco has pointed out. 'The U.S. has women.'" p 4
"Welfare programs administered by states are, in general, less efficient, less generous, and more stigmatized than universal programs administered by the federal government. This was certainly the case with Medicaid. Complaints about poor regulation were rife in the early years of the industry, but nursing home operators were reluctant to make the necessary repairs. And since they were dealing with county or state welfare offices rather than the mighty federal government, nursing home operators generally got their way." p 118
"Nutrition programs had similar issues. Food delivery is an intimate act." p 129
"... aging is not just a corporeal process, but a social and historical one. The medicalization of aging is itself a historical production... Sometime between the 1950s and the 1980s, physicians conquered the public sphere when it came to the public discussion of aging, and they haven't let go. It is still true today that the national conversation on aging is drven by physicians. Many of the books they write, like Atul Gawande's Being Mortal (2014) and Louise Aronson's Elderhood (2019), are excellent and I hope you read them. If we are going to really prepare ourselves for the gray future, we will need the perspectives of physicians, absolutely. But not only theirs. We will need engineers, architects, and computer scientists; we will also need novelists, poets, theologians, and even historians. The dominance of medical voices has resulted in the widespread presumption that aging is an individual matter involving primarily individual lifestyles... it is not the only or best starting place for a serious national conversation about what it means to age in the twenty-first century." p 282
September 17, 2025
I picked this book as part of a reading challenge (celebrate an anniversary of an historic event) so this was a two-fer: Social Security (1935) and Medicare (1965). It was eye-opening, and interesting. As an historian, this helped frame some of what I think about (and teach) in a different way. As a person who will be an old person/senior citizen/older adult, this helped put some of what I'm seeing in context.
Chappel divides the 20th century in the US into three distinct sections: concern about old age and economic security (Social Security), concern about health and living longer (Medicare), and concern abut what to do that's meaningful when one has both economic resources and good health. Attention to the experiences of Black older Americans, and women, highlight the ways in which many systems were developed to, and assumed a framework of, paid employment with built-in benefits. But when one largely supported the family with unpaid labor (women), or worked in jobs that were excluded from Social Security and many pension plans (many people of color), old age looks different. The inherent assumptions about leisure, and access to health care, also have built-in biases that are invisible to those who set up some of these systems with the assumption that everyone who needs or will use them are, well, like them.
I'm now working on a music + movie/television list to accompany each chapter. Some are obvious --Chappel highlights certain television shows or music --and some might be more subtle, but equally telling.
We all hope to live long lives. Understanding how and why we have the default assumptions, and expectations, about how we'll spend our time, and have the resources to do it, makes this book matter to all of us.
Chappel divides the 20th century in the US into three distinct sections: concern about old age and economic security (Social Security), concern about health and living longer (Medicare), and concern abut what to do that's meaningful when one has both economic resources and good health. Attention to the experiences of Black older Americans, and women, highlight the ways in which many systems were developed to, and assumed a framework of, paid employment with built-in benefits. But when one largely supported the family with unpaid labor (women), or worked in jobs that were excluded from Social Security and many pension plans (many people of color), old age looks different. The inherent assumptions about leisure, and access to health care, also have built-in biases that are invisible to those who set up some of these systems with the assumption that everyone who needs or will use them are, well, like them.
I'm now working on a music + movie/television list to accompany each chapter. Some are obvious --Chappel highlights certain television shows or music --and some might be more subtle, but equally telling.
We all hope to live long lives. Understanding how and why we have the default assumptions, and expectations, about how we'll spend our time, and have the resources to do it, makes this book matter to all of us.
May 5, 2024
I really didn't know what to expect from this book. However, I was delighted to read about the history behind retirement. How Americans define old age.
I loved that the author spent the time to dive into how retirement and NOT relying on children happened. The clubs and organizations that led to the social security being passed.
The author brings up how the elderly has changed in the 100 years since the passing of the social security act. I loved the different words used for the aging.
Overall, I think that the author did a fabulous job describing why things came to be, how things are now, how the future might be different.
I especially loved the Golden Girls references and his way of incorporating storytelling into telling the tale of old age.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.
I loved that the author spent the time to dive into how retirement and NOT relying on children happened. The clubs and organizations that led to the social security being passed.
The author brings up how the elderly has changed in the 100 years since the passing of the social security act. I loved the different words used for the aging.
Overall, I think that the author did a fabulous job describing why things came to be, how things are now, how the future might be different.
I especially loved the Golden Girls references and his way of incorporating storytelling into telling the tale of old age.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.
June 7, 2025
I was curious more than anything but it's more focused on the creation of the aging population aka senior citizens as a social, medical, and economic group because Chappel focuses most of the book on the creation of social welfare systems and benefits in the United States as a safety net.
There's quite a lot to unpack from the idea that people didn't live that long so that there wasn't a need, but now it's a must, but what is working? What is sustainable? How are systems designed to care for an aging population? Retirement communities. Care facilities. Gerontology. It's all been within the last few decades that this has had to evolve.
It was deep in a way that I didn't necessarily need deep information, but was a worthy dive just to get perspective.
There's quite a lot to unpack from the idea that people didn't live that long so that there wasn't a need, but now it's a must, but what is working? What is sustainable? How are systems designed to care for an aging population? Retirement communities. Care facilities. Gerontology. It's all been within the last few decades that this has had to evolve.
It was deep in a way that I didn't necessarily need deep information, but was a worthy dive just to get perspective.
March 18, 2025
I loved this one a ton. So so interesting, ton I never knew at all, and well framed and structured to make you remember the overall concepts outside the names and policies throughout the century.
Sad to read as we are finally probably losing Social Security forever, but the core argument is that a) it’s way better and more solvent and logical than propagandists made us believe b) it also is a pretty minor half assed solution that was the very least on the table at the time, and the conversation should have always been about expanding it, not destroying it. So maybe knowing how the imagination for aging used to be grander can inform what will need to be rebuilt anew post-Musk.
Sad to read as we are finally probably losing Social Security forever, but the core argument is that a) it’s way better and more solvent and logical than propagandists made us believe b) it also is a pretty minor half assed solution that was the very least on the table at the time, and the conversation should have always been about expanding it, not destroying it. So maybe knowing how the imagination for aging used to be grander can inform what will need to be rebuilt anew post-Musk.
April 26, 2025
Comprehensive history of growing old in America. Highlights the changing views of old people, and the awkwardness of aging in our culture. America still hasn’t figured out what to do with us. Also illustrates the pervasiveness of systemic racism in the workplace and in the structure of our social safety net. The stereotype of the active seniors living lives of comfortable leisure is true only for a privileged minority. It’s about as accurate as Leave It to Beaver was in portraying family life in the fifties.
September 23, 2025
Subject matter is interesting, though I wish Golden Girls was discussed less, and the conclusion starts introducing/plumbing previously unexplored ideas (environmentalism?) when it should be wrapping up?? The ending image of elderly volunteers quietly watching over turtle eggs "hour after hour and day after day", to me, also feels maybe a little bleaker than intended.
"the labor of enterprising women is often required to initiate [the] shift [towards modernization of old-age policies]" <- this pmo, especially after the whole chapter was on unpaid care labor most often performed by women.
"the labor of enterprising women is often required to initiate [the] shift [towards modernization of old-age policies]" <- this pmo, especially after the whole chapter was on unpaid care labor most often performed by women.
January 13, 2025
I was disappointed by this book, primarily because the material ended with the year 2000, now 24 years ago. Much as changed for seniors in that time which was not discussed such as how the financial crisis of 2008 disproportionally effected retirees and those about to retire. I also felt like we ran in circles but never got to an end point. A few charts would have also been helpful with all the data discussed.
February 2, 2025
This is an excellent recount of the influences and political actions that have emerged as Americans have defined old age. I had not realized the influence of the Townsend Centers, the Grey Panthers, and other political organizations. Several times James Chappel mentions the need to revamp Social Security or funds will run out in the 2030's. What will this mean going forward in 2025?
March 4, 2025
The author presents an interesting and readable historical and sociological account of old age in America. Sadly, it's not a sterling record as compared to other countries. He documents how government funded plans historically discriminated against women, the disabled and other races. Given the current political climate, it can only get worse.
June 26, 2025
This was a very interesting read, especially from a historical perspective. I appreciate the nod towards multigenerational living that allowed older Americans to be valuable and cared for until they died- I don’t see modern perspectives on aging to be able to do this for seniors in this day. And that’s unfortunate. Good read, though I don’t really agree policy is going to help.
January 14, 2026
Interesting topic of how our social and political views of aging (and old age) have changed during the 20th century. The book gets a little into the weeds at times regarding political movements and speaks little of changes since the turn of the 21st century. Certainly improved my perspective of Social Security and Medicare. (Read this for class I will be taking.)
January 23, 2025
This book seems to fit in midway between a Ph.D dissertation and a think tank report. Informative but dull. An in depth article in the Atlantic magazine would have suited me better. Shorter, for sure. My mistake.
March 8, 2025
For anyone aging, with aging parents, thinking about social security or simply the curious - this is an essential read. An excellent overview of the history and the future of aging in America. Very well written.
September 1, 2025
More of a 3.5 than a 3. Very in depth history which I appreciated but a lot more than I bargained for. Definitely has a bias—not complaining, just noting. Worth the read, but some of it is a tough slog. Will give you lots to think about.
December 18, 2024
3.5 stars.
March 9, 2025
Interesting history of how American narrative regarding aging has changed over it’s history and how Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid evolved.
March 11, 2025
Interesting history about social security, Medicare, nursing homes, retirement communities.
May 14, 2025
good history of how we got here in terms of social safety nets specifically for older adults
May 21, 2025
Mind opening about our ancestral past of the fact of aging and today’s aging society!
February 5, 2025
Reads more like a research paper. No storyline here, but very informative.
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