Alive and Kicking at All Ages

... with Ulla Kriebernegg, Roberta Maierhofer and Barbara Ratzenböck

1. »Books that the world does not need to read.« Why is your book different?

The wide scope of the articles presented in the fifth volume of the publication series of the European Network in Aging Studies (ENAS) is product and mission at the same time. It is only a starting point for investigation into the deconstruction of our understanding of normative human behavior. Once we stop talking about universal concepts that seemingly shape our life courses, we will be able to overcome preconceived notions of what it means to be and grow old.

2. What new perspective does your book provide?

Age and aging have for too long been linked to illness and decline. The authors of this volume deconstruct negative images of age as physical decrepitude and disease by presenting interpretations of material realities and cultural representations that challenge both structures and narratives of what it means to grow and be old. Thus, appreciation all stages of life is reclaimed both by the authors of this volume as well as by us reading these texts.

3. How does your book influence contemporary research within this area of focus?

Although illness and death cannot be linked to a specific age, preconceived notions very often equate health with youth. In this collection of essays, presence and absence of physical and mental well-being are discussed as part of life course identities and with respect to how our notions of agency are influenced by our understanding of health and illness within a subversive deconstruction of normative age concepts.

4. Who would you want discuss your book with?

We would like to discuss this collection of essays with all aging studies scholars and practitioners in the field, but also with everyone who has a general interest in the topic.

5. Describe your book in one sentence:

This interdisciplinary collection contributes to a re-conceptualization of aging and life course identity.