Less than a hundred years ago, the average Western life expectancy was 40; now it is 80. And there is no end in sight: the first person who will reach 135 has already been born. It’s the most radical change in our society since industrialization, and naturally, it raises many questions. What do longer life spans mean for the way we organize our societies? How can people live considerably longer? And what can we learn from old people who remain full of vitality, despite illness and infirmity? Growing Older without Feeling Old is the definitive book, directing on such key issues of the 21st century, written by one of the world's leading experts in geriatric medicine. Combining medical, biological, economic, and sociological insights, Rudi Westendorp explores the causes of the aging revolution and explains how we can greet it with confidence and enjoy leading longer, healthier, and more productive lives than ever before.