Publisher's Synopsis
Containing both specified case studies and broader analytical articles, the volume focuses on the multitude of cultural solutions societies have available for dealing with growing old.;Sokolovsky has organized the text around six topical areas that link the major concerns of social gerontology with a wide range of anthropological materials. The coverage of societies includes African hunters and gatherers and urban dwellers; horticultural people of Polynesia; cross-national comparisons of Japan, Sweden, China, Yugoslavia and Israel; and US ethnic groups.;Each section contains a short summary of the general topic as well as a discussion of related readings, and deals directly with key practical issues relevant to those seeking a career in gerontology. The book also offers distinct anthropological perspectives on aging, including selections that compare our culture with those of other societies.