The 100-Year Life Book Summary - The 100-Year Life Book explained in key points
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The 100-Year Life summary

Lynda Gratton Andrew Scott

Living and Working in an Age of Longevity

4.2 (98 ratings)
18 mins

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'The 100-Year Life' by Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott explores how we can make the most of a longer life, offering practical guidance on skills and mindsets to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

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    The 100-Year Life
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    Medical breakthroughs, better hygiene, better sanitation and education have helped us all live longer.

    Modern society is replete with examples of happy, healthy children. Yet historically, this wasn’t always the case. The jump in the world’s birth rate is a result of a dramatic rise in human life expectancy, sparked by advances in the treatment of disease common to different stages of life.

    Infancy is the first stage, and here medicine has made huge strides. Not so long ago, it was common for children to die before they reached adolescence.

    Thanks to improvements in vaccinations, general hygiene and other breakthroughs in medicine like the discovery of antibiotics, many deadly childhood diseases such as smallpox have been mostly eradicated.

    Society at large knows more about good nutrition and proper health care, too. All these elements taken together mean children live healthier, longer lives. A child born in 1914, for example, had a one percent chance of living to 100; a child born in 2014 has a 50 percent chance of living that long.

    Middle age is the second life stage, and here, many common diseases are now better understood and treated. In the second half of the twentieth century, for example, medical science was able to develop more sophisticated ways to diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

    Around the same time, new research pointed to ways people could further improve health, while better education got the word out. Smoking was finally seen for the killer it is, which resulted in regulations over tobacco ads and aggressive public health campaigns addressing the risks of smoking.

    Today, science is examining the third life stage – old age. Breakthroughs here are certain to produce yet another increase in human life expectancy.

    Old-age diseases such as Alzheimer's affect both the quality and length of a patient’s life. Diligent research into diseases like this mean that we’re seeing results, and elderly people are indeed living longer, healthier lives as well.

    In 1950, for example, a 90-year-old man living in England had a 30 percent chance of dying within a year; today, that estimate is now 20 percent. Improved nutrition, advanced medical technology and better sanitation are all to thank for this extension of human life.

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    What is The 100-Year Life about?

    The 100-Year Life (2016) is your guide to thriving in a world in which people are living longer. These blinks explain how the working world has changed, what it means for your retirement and which adjustments you need to make to enjoy life into the triple digits.

    The 100-Year Life Review

    The 100-Year Life (2016) is a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges and opportunities presented by living longer. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • With its insightful analysis and extensive research, it reveals the shifting dynamics of work, relationships, and retirement in the face of increased lifespans.
    • The book offers practical strategies for adapting and thriving in a world where traditional life stages are being redefined, empowering readers to make the most of their extended lives.
    • Through compelling stories and compelling stories and relatable examples, it successfully examines the profound impact of longevity on personal and societal levels, ensuring that the topic never feels dull or mundane.

    Best quote from The 100-Year Life

    The value creation is the innovation, not the manufacture.

    —Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott
    example alt text

    Who should read The 100-Year Life?

    • Anyone born in the 1990s or early 2000s
    • Employees who feel stuck in a thankless job
    • Parents worried about the future in which their children will live

    About the Author

    Lynda Gratton is a professor of management practice at the London Business School. She founded the Future of Work Consortium, a networking event for business executives.

    Andrew Scott is a professor of economics at the London Business School. He has served as an adviser to the Bank of England, the HM Treasury and the House of Commons. He holds a PhD from Oxford University and an MSc from the London School of Economics.

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    The 100-Year Life FAQs 

    What is the main message of The 100-Year Life?

    Embrace longer lives and reimagine the meaning of work, retirement, and relationships.

    How long does it take to read The 100-Year Life?

    The reading time for The 100-Year Life varies depending on your reading speed. You can read the Blinkist summary of this book in just 15 minutes.

    Is The 100-Year Life a good book? Is it worth reading?

    The 100-Year Life is worth reading for its insightful perspective on the challenges and opportunities presented by longer lives.

    Who is the author of The 100-Year Life?

    Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott are the authors of The 100-Year Life.

    What to read after The 100-Year Life?

    If you're wondering what to read next after The 100-Year Life, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • The Blue Zones by Dan Buettner
    • The Longevity Project by Howard S. Friedman and Leslie R. Martin
    • SuperLife by Darin Olien
    • The Science of Living by Stuart Farrimond
    • The Longevity Paradox by Steven Gundry
    • Successful Aging by Daniel J. Levitin
    • Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
    • Simple Truths of Leadership Playbook by Ken Blanchard & Randy Conley
    • The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
    • Utopia by Thomas More