Description
This is a collection of autobiographical essays written by sixteen old american psychiatrists most of whom are psychoanalysts and many continuing to practice in old age. The were invited to write about their own reactions to aging, the experience of illness and a perspective on career and life.
There are many common themes running through the essays. Many speak of their own fears of ill-health and disability though rarely fear of death itself. Most review their professional lives, often with a great sense of appreciation for the opportunities given, lessons learned from their patients and their achievements over the years. There are perspectives from women psychiatrists, an African-American and an Asian man.
One or two have used the essay as an opportunity to boast of their achievements. Most, however have given a searching and thoughtful account of the course of their lives have taken, their many influences and the importance of their relationships. Many describe their views on the extent of prejudice towards the aged in society and within the profession. Of particular interest was the contribution of Theodore Lid which include a description of the development of his personal philosophy on life and the essay by Martha Kirkpatrick, a well-written feminist perspective on aging and achievement.
It is striking how healthy is this group of elderly Americans some of whom are in their eighties. Only one, Samuel Atkin, aged eighty-eight and suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, gives an insight into the types of difficulties which face so many people of his age from day to day. His is a spirited and humorous account of adaptation to loss and pleasures of “survival. However as one author points out: “Few live as freely and luxuriously as those who write these chapters and those who read them.”
Nevertheless. recommend this book as an enjoyable an thought-provoking read. It will, of course, be of particular interest to those working in old age psychiatry.
