Men Still at Work

Elizabeth F. Fideler is research fellow at the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College. She is the author of Women Still at Work: Professionals Over Sixty and On the Job and has been interviewed in outlets including the Boston Globe and PBS. She is a frequent speaker on topics related to aging.

• AcknowledgmentsIntroductionPerspectives on Aging and WorkA Man’s WorldThe Employment Situation for Adult Workers in the United StatesOver Sixty and On the JobWhere Older Men WorkWhy Older Men WorkPersonal Challenges and ConcernsDoing Unto OthersMen Still at WorkNotes BibliographyDiscussion QuestionsIndexAbout the Author

In this follow-up to her Women Still at Work (2012), Fideler seeks to understand why many professional men age 60 or older choose to continue working at a time in life when many others have retired, and to describe their experiences as they navigate work life in an increasingly challenging economy. Drawing upon findings from the latest research on men, work, and aging, the results of her own survey, and candid profiles from in-depth interviews she conducted with such men, Fideler provides a glimpse into the complex inner world of this fast-growing segment of the US workforce. Older men's desire to find meaning in their work–and make a difference in others' lives via their work–is an oft-mentioned motive. The author also found that many of these men enjoyed a rich workplace social life through their relationships with colleagues and clientele alike. Surprisingly, more utilitarian and baser motives, such as the need for pay and benefits, or the allure of wielding power and authority, were not nearly as important to these men as one might think. Overall, an engaging, accessible overview of what the future holds for many younger men who will undoubtedly work into their 60s ... and beyond. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries.