Come of Age

The Case for Elderhood in a Time of Trouble

De: Stephen Jenkinson

Narrado por: Stephen Jenkinson

In his landmark provocative style, Stephen Jenkinson makes the case that we must birth a new generation of elders, one poised and willing to be true stewards of the planet and its species.

Come of Age does not offer tips on how to be a better senior citizen or how to be kinder to our elders. Rather, with lyrical prose and incisive insight, Stephen Jenkinson explores the great paradox of elderhood in North America: how we are awash in the aged and yet somehow lacking in wisdom; how we relegate senior citizens to the corner of the house while simultaneously heralding them as sage elders simply by virtue of their age. Our own unreconciled relationship with what it means to be an elder has yielded a culture nearly bereft of them. Meanwhile, the planet boils, and the younger generation boils with anger over being left an environment and sociopolitical landscape deeply scarred and broken.

Taking on the sacred cow of the family, Jenkinson argues that elderhood is a function rather than an identity—it is not a position earned simply by the number of years on the planet or the title “parent” or “grandparent.” As with his seminal book Die Wise, Jenkinson interweaves rich personal stories with iconoclastic observations that will leave readers radically rethinking their concept of what it takes to be an elder and the risks of doing otherwise. Part critique, part call to action, Come of Age is a love song inviting us—imploring us—to elderhood in this time of trouble. That time is now. We’re an hour before dawn, and first light will show the carnage, or the courage, we bequeath to the generations to come.

Medicine of the deepest potency.

Jenkinson is a master storyteller and offers deep poetic insight into many life mysteries heretofore unpondered. It's great to hear audio directly from the author.

A fine meander

Like accompanying your grandfather on a his favorite fishing river, this book winds its way through the topic of elders and their wisdom. If you’ve got the patience, you’ll find some wisdom and challenge for the journey. Jenkinson’s narration is rich.

An elder in my ear

If you are looking for a how to book, this ain't the one. If you are looking for the meditations of a man that is putting in the work of place and time and what that work entails, this is it. I love hearing what he has to say. It gives me the feeling of what I wanted of a father/grandfather to speak. Wisdom not dreams.

outstanding

not what you might be wanting but definitely what you are needing, time tested grounded and sane. a spiritual voice to guide the lost westerner if ever there was one. so much gratitude and love for this man. respect for this incredible work. thank you!

Listen... and be changed

To hear the words of Mr Jenkinson... in his own words... in his own voice... speaking these truths... is an amazing experience and a privilege.
He is a true storyteller in every sense... telling a story that desperately needs to be told... and listened to.
I could go on for days.
But really... you should just listen for yourself.

Undone

The adept storytelling wrapped itself around me slowly and steadily until I found myself at the very threshold that was on offer from the beginning.

Erudite observations about elder-hood

I found this book informing and intriguing. Jenkinson's words created fascinating new ways to think about growing old in North American cultures. He tied long-ago thinking together with information about the paths that brought us to where we are today.

It was a difficult read for me because the vocabulary he used mandated a dictionary be by my side. I have a hard copy, too.

I believe his ideas would find a broader audience should he decide to present them in an easy-to-read format. This is not meant to discourage anyone from tackling this version. It's well worth the effort for those with sufficient interest in the topic.

Superb

A challenge for our present and a promise for our future! Best audible listen of the last year

The Elder I’ve been seeking.

This audible book has rendered me flummoxed and fascinated by the depth of the prose and the plea of the author. This book cannot and should not be listened to one time only. It’s haunting in the best sense of the word and puts the listener/reader to work. I feel I am now a student of this book and it’s teachings are both directive and nuanced. This is not a “how to become and elder”. It seems to me that this book is a call to deepen your love of the mysteries of life and turn your wonderings into questions to live by.

From Older to Elder

Thank you Stephan Jenkinson for being a catastrophe of this age. Much of what is shared here should be required reading, or listening, got the aging and the aged, or any of us youngsters who hope to catch a glimpse of time's crooked road.