St Heidenreich Elke (2026)

Everyone wants to live to an old age, but no one wants to be old. We age inevitably, both as individuals and as a society, and before long, seniors will make up a significant part of the population. Yet we continue to follow a culture of youth, leaving old age unfamiliar, unimaginable and perhaps frightening for many. Ageing is therefore a challenge facing everyone, something no one teaches us about and for which we have no role models. In her book-length essay, writer Elke Heidenreich draws inspiration from literature and philosophy and looks at old age with optimism and candour. She acknowledges the bodys problems and the consequences of everything a person has experienced in life. She addresses modern challenges, from discriminatory technologies to scammers targeting seniors, while observing what loses its former importance and urgency and how ageing can be liberating. A Der Spiegel bestseller.