Intro -- Half-title Page -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Figures -- Acknowledgments -- Notes on the authors -- Preface -- 1 Introduction to the field of Gerontology -- Focus on adult aging, later life, and old age -- Is Gerontology "multidisciplinary" or "interdisciplinary" (and does it matter?) -- Gerontological research and theory -- Social Gerontology and the life-course perspective -- Aging: Every body's doing it! -- The body is only part of the story -- Building blocks of gerontological knowledge -- Functional age -- Age/period/cohort -- An "epic" story: Human longevity -- How aging processes are studied -- Ethical considerations -- Bibliography -- 2 The aging body -- Molecules -- Cells -- Tissues and systems -- Organs -- Organism -- Species -- Conclusion -- Recommended books -- Bibliography -- 3 The aging mind -- Losses -- Continuities -- Gains -- Recommended books -- Bibliography -- 4 Aging in society -- The historical moment -- Recommended books -- Bibliography -- 5 The political economy of aging -- Political economy -- Wealth and income -- Positive dimensions of aging -- Recommended books -- Bibliography -- 6 The meaning of old age -- Successful aging -- Productive aging -- Conscious aging -- Recommended books -- Bibliography -- 7 Epilogue -- Glossary -- Index