Growing Old in America

Growing Old in America examines attitudes toward aging and the elderly in American society from colonial times through the twentieth century. Fischer traces how perceptions, treatment, and status of older Americans transformed across different historical periods. The book analyzes cultural shifts through multiple lenses including economic patterns, social structures, medical developments, and religious beliefs. Primary sources like diaries, letters, medical texts, and popular literature provide evidence for changing views of age and aging across generations. Fischer's research connects demographic changes and modernization to evolving roles for older people within American families and communities. The narrative follows both broad societal trends and individual experiences to show how aging has been understood and navigated. This social history reveals deep connections between attitudes toward aging and core American cultural values around independence, productivity, and generational relationships. The book raises questions about how societies define and value different life stages.

Readers appreciate Fischer's thorough research and documentation of changing attitudes toward aging in American history. Many note his effective use of primary sources and clear writing style that makes academic content accessible. Positive reviews highlight the book's examination of how American views on aging shifted from colonial respect for elders to more negative modern attitudes. Several readers found the analysis of advertising and media portrayals of older people particularly insightful. Common criticisms include: - Too much focus on New England/Northeast regions - Occasional repetitive passages - Some dated references (published 1978) - Dense academic tone in certain sections Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) JSTOR: Multiple positive academic reviews "A comprehensive look at how America's view of aging has evolved," wrote one Amazon reviewer. "The historical evidence is fascinating but the academic writing style can be dry," noted a Goodreads review.

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🔷 David Hackett Fischer conducted groundbreaking research showing how attitudes toward aging in America shifted dramatically between 1790 and 1970, moving from respect for the elderly to youth-centric values. 🔷 The book reveals that in colonial America, many elderly people retained significant political and economic power well into their later years, with some serving as governors and legislators past age 70. 🔷 Fischer discovered that the term "age discrimination" didn't appear in American writing until 1937, despite the practice existing long before then. 🔷 The author demonstrates how technological changes, particularly in printing and photography, influenced society's perception of aging by making visible signs of aging more apparent and documented. 🔷 The work examines how retirement communities, virtually non-existent before 1950, transformed from being viewed as shameful "old age homes" to desirable "leisure communities" within just two decades.