"Writing from a feminist perspective, Overall highlights the ways in which our biases about race, class, and gender have affected our views of elderly people and longevity, and her policy recommendations represent an effort to overcome these biases. She also covers the arguments surrounding the question of the "duty to die" and includes a provocative discussion of immortality.

After judiciously weighing the benefits and risks of prolonging human life, Overall persuasively concludes that the length of life does matter and that its duration can make a difference in the quality and value of our lives. Her book will be an essential guide as we consider our social responsibilities, the meaning of human life, and the prospects of living longer."--BOOK JACKET.