The 100-Year Life

The 100-Year Life
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Author	Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott
Language	English
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication Date	2016
ISBN	978-1472930156
Pages	432

The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity is a book by Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott, published in 2016. The book explores the implications of increased life expectancy on individuals, businesses, and societies. It provides insights into how people can prepare for a longer life, both financially and personally, and discusses the need for changes in work, education, and retirement planning.

Overview

The central premise of The 100-Year Life is that many people born today will live to be 100 years old or more. This increased longevity presents both opportunities and challenges. The authors argue that traditional life stages—education, work, and retirement—are becoming outdated. Instead, individuals will need to adopt a multi-stage life, characterized by more frequent transitions and changes in career paths.

Key Concepts

• Longevity Dividend: The potential benefits that arise from increased life expectancy, such as more time to pursue multiple careers, lifelong learning, and personal development.
• Multi-Stage Life: A new life model that replaces the traditional three-stage life (education, work, retirement) with a more flexible approach that includes various stages of learning, working, and leisure.
• Intangible Assets: Skills, relationships, and health that individuals must cultivate to thrive in a longer life. These assets are crucial for maintaining employability and well-being over an extended lifespan.

Implications

The book discusses several implications of a 100-year life:

• Work and Careers: People will need to work longer, but careers will be more varied and flexible. Continuous learning and skill development will be essential.
• Education: Education will not be confined to the early years of life. Lifelong learning will become a necessity to adapt to changing job markets and personal interests.
• Retirement: The concept of retirement will evolve. Instead of a single retirement phase, individuals may have multiple periods of leisure and work throughout their lives.

Reception

The 100-Year Life has been praised for its forward-thinking approach and practical advice. It has been used as a reference in discussions about aging populations and the future of work. Critics have noted that while the book provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges of longevity, it may not fully address the societal changes needed to support these individual transformations.

Also see

• Longevity
• Aging
• Retirement planning
• Lifelong learning
• Future of work