The English writer E. M. Forster described old age as ""a seductive combination of increased wisdom and decaying powers to which too little intelligence is devoted."" This book is a response to that criticism. It explains how old age has been considered throughout the ages by philosophers, poets, and other literary figures, and explores how the extraordinary increase of life expectancy that began in the last century has be sustained by science and medicine. Unfortunately the general public still prefers to keep the elderly out of sight and, especially, out of mind. To overcome this...