The book is dedicated to questions that arise today in social gerontology regarding the determination of its scientific status and the political relevance of its research. Its subject, aging, has become an unexpectedly public issue that is treated in multifaceted and contradictory ways. A mix of idealization and devaluation, of optimistic purposes and fears of deficits permeates the many discussions and publications about aging. The fractures and contradictions in societal assessments also affect social gerontology itself, especially when it addresses questions of benefits and costs, privileges and disadvantages, opportunities and threats. Compared to the first edition, there are extensions, additions, and new topics and methods that reflect this heterogeneity.