In this warm, sensitive, fact-filled book, Paul Tournier deals specifically with many aspects of aging: society's attitude toward the elderly, second careers, the quality of life, financial difficulties, boredom, health, loneliness, and facing death. He maintains the best way to learn to grow old is to prepare for it throughout life.

Paul Tournier (1898-1986) was a general practitioner in Geneva and also an active Christian. In 1940, he published his first book, La Medecine de la Personne, later translated into English as The Healing of Persons. He changed his medical practice by taking most of his time for listening and talking to his patients, not only considering the physical dimension of their being but also the psychological and spiritual dimensions. In 1947, he founded the International Group of Medicine of the Person. He wrote many books which were widely received throughout the world and were translated into more than thirty languages.