The 100-Year Life and The New Long Life

In the East, they continue to rise for everyone. Already, someone born in Japan in 2014 can expect to live to 109! And everyone alive now has a decent chance of hitting treble figures. So we really do need to consider what this means for us, and do something about it.

To help us start, there's a new online diagnostic tool to show how well-prepared we are to overcome the obstacles and seize the opportunities. The Preface also nods to the authors' follow-up book, "The New Long Life," which is the title we're concentrating on today. It promises more-detailed advice about how to prepare for what the authors call the "extraordinary life journeys" we're all going to face.

In the Introduction, Scott and Gratton explain that this new collaboration was inspired by many of the conversations they had with readers of their earlier work. In particular, by questions about technology.

How will we cope with all the technological changes we'll encounter in our elongated careers? We'll need more jobs – but where will those come from, if companies keep using tech to reduce their workforce? And will some roles be lost altogether, when it's quicker and cheaper to use robotics and AI?

"The New Long Life" sets out to answer these questions and explore the interaction between technology and longevity.

With rapidly improving tech, and increasingly more time at our disposal, the authors see "a profound invitation to social ingenuity." And they're clearer than ever about the potential for positive change. But now they want to drill down further into the choices we'll need to make, and the creativity we'll have to employ, if we're to make the "longer life" a better life for everyone.

They come at this from two angles, based on their individual areas of expertise. Andrew Scott is Professor of Economics at the London Business School. Lynda Gratton works there too, but as Professor of Management Practice.

And, once again, these two academics weave their individual perspectives together seamlessly, conveying a clear and persuasive message. Building on all their predictions and insights in "The 100-Year Life," this is their practical guide to thriving in the "age of longevity" now at hand.

So stay listening to find out how we "ageproof" ourselves against advancing tech; what employers can do to empower workers of every age; and why we'll all need to become "social pioneers" if we're to embrace the opportunities offered by our new long lives.

"The 100-Year Life" was woven with hypothetical case studies. And, early in this book, we're introduced to a new set of "everybodies," representing common experiences the authors want to explore.

These include a young freelancer from Mumbai, enjoying working in the tech-heavy gig economy for now, but aware of some tough choices ahead. A mid-20s Japanese couple, struggling with parental and societal expectations that seem stuck in the past. And a 55-year-old accountant from Sydney, who's just lost her job to a piece of software. These characters are a really strong feature of the book, helping us explore what longevity means for people's wellbeing and relationships, as well as their working lives.

"The New Long Life" has a refreshingly simple three-part structure. Part One is titled, "Human Questions," and it describes us as being "unmoored" – somewhere between the certainties of the past and the ambiguity of the future. We see evidence of rapid technological advancement all around us. But we don't know yet what it's going to mean for us. And the prospect of a much longer life only makes that uncertainty worse.

Some people don't even have the luxury of worrying about their long-term future: their jobs are being taken by technology now. Graphic examples of this include a truck driver looking anxiously at automated vehicles, and a bookkeeper whose work can be done by an app for a fraction of her wage – and in the blink of an eye.

To counter these worries, Scott and Gratton remind us about some of the good news on longevity. Children born today in the developed world have a greater than 50 percent chance of living to 100. By 2050, the average age will have gone up in a century from 24 to 36. The 100-plus age bracket is already the fastest growing. And old age is getting healthier. We're not just getting more years of being frail. Most of us are getting more years of choosing what we do.

So our focus should be on using technology to keep people productive and happy well into their 70s and 80s. The authors believe that improvements in medicine, and a greater focus on preventative healthcare, will allow more people than ever to keep working. But they're somewhat vague about exactly how this will happen. And they admit that conditions linked with aging, such as cancer and dementia, will continue to affect older people for the foreseeable future.

Nevertheless, they're still confident that "health spans" will increase alongside lifespans. In the U.K., for example, between 2000 and 2014, life expectancy increased by 3.5 years – and 2.8 of those were healthy years. What's more, working longer has proven health benefits. And if we can stay financially secure, we'll prolong our lives even more. There are virtuous circles wherever you look!

Several times the authors flag up the need to be curious. Not scared of technology, not blasé about it either, but interested in what its impact will be, and how to make the most of it throughout our long lives.

And in Part Two, "Human Ingenuity," they reveal their strategies for doing just that.

Some of these are mindset shifts. Don't feel that getting older puts you into battle with new tech, for example. After all, age isn't just how many years you've been alive, but also how able you are, how good you feel – and how well you can thrive, wherever you live and work. We must all beware of age-based stereotyping, the authors warn. It's not just a form of prejudice against others, but also against our own future selves.

Another mindset tip we really like is to take a "bird's-eye" view of life. Visualize your past and future timeline from above, so you don't get too stuck in the present moment – but instead, have a strong sense of all the time and opportunity still ahead. This should help you believe that it's still worth getting to grips with technology, and finding ways to use it to your advantage.

There are some useful practical strategies here, too. Take every chance you get to learn new skills, for example. Put in the effort to master relevant technology. But also get better at the things that tech can't do. You'll get "compound interest" on all your learning during your extended working life.

Seize opportunities to try out self-employment, side hustles and flexible shift patterns whenever you can, as soon as you can – so that you're confident to find creative ways of working further down the career road. Technology is rapidly changing organizations in every sector, and you'll have a better chance of thriving if you're already confident to work in innovative ways.

There's also advice here that's not specifically about technology. Much of it builds on themes from "The 100-Year Life." Try to make your finances suit your life choices, rather than the other way round. Look carefully at how much you really need to save to have the most fulfilling career.

Build the strongest personal relationships you can, and find ways to connect with your community. And be creative about how you plan your future. Assume responsibility for crafting your career. Take the "long game" approach to life!

Part Three, finally, is titled "Human Society." Here, the authors of "The New Long Life" present their "change manifesto" for organizations and governments. This section will be particularly interesting to people in leadership roles, HR professionals, and those with the power to shape policy on a wider scale. But it also feels important that everyone knows the way things need to go – so we all influence change when we can, and recognize valuable new opportunities for ourselves.

The watchword here is "flexibility." In the new long life, people will no longer train for a job, do the job, and then retire. Instead, they'll take career breaks, seek different working arrangements at different times, want to change roles – even switch between sectors. Employers will need to accommodate all of this and find ways to get the best out of people at every life stage.

Ideally, this will come from jobs that are re-energizing and learning-oriented, within organizations that allow workers as much choice as possible. Companies will create multiple points of entry, to attract experienced older staff as much as new entrants into the jobs market. They'll train people to use relevant technology. Recruiters will recognize experience, life skills, and the willingness and ability to master new tech, as much as exam-based qualifications.

As more of us work longer, education systems will need to change, too. The information, skills and attitudes we learn must prepare us well for multifaceted careers. And the credentials we obtain should be portable and "stackable," so we can keep building on them whenever we want, and wherever we go.

As well as upgrading education, governments will have to keep a strong grasp on finance. They'll need to help us save more for our extended lives, and do all they can to stop inequalities getting worse – in a world where some people get to work for so much longer than others.

"The New Long Life" ends with a Postscript. It's more than just extra evidence or ideas. It's a set of actions to take if you're sold on the idea of preparing for longevity – as we think most readers will be.

In a nutshell, act now; align your present-day strategies with the things you want from your future; keep several possible future selves in mind; do things that make you flexible, and get confident at making new starts. It feels reassuring to end with things that we can all start doing right now.

So what did we think about "The New Long Life" as a whole?

Well, it's undeniable that Andrew Scott and Lynda Gratton know their stuff, write clearly and passionately, and draw on a wealth of evidence and insights. Occasionally, the facts and figures seem handpicked to prove a particular point.

And with both writers being British, it's perhaps inevitable that the research mentioned is often U.K.-based. But their "everybody" personas are much more diverse than those in their previous book. And, overall, the material they choose builds a rich and persuasive case.

This book was written before the pandemic, so it's left to readers to figure out what all of this means in a post-COVID world. We'd love to see a new edition that explores whether the rapid workplace changes caused by the pandemic – such as more flexible and hybrid working – really have opened up more options for innovative, personalized life plans. And whether COVID-19 has thrown up some new obstacles to overcome.

"The New Long Life" is a challenging book. It pushes readers to take a fresh look at their attitudes to learning, financial habits, career aspirations, family structures, and much more. Some of the choices it suggests won't be open to everyone – taking a sabbatical, for example, or going part-time.

And, for the time being, at least, health problems do increase with age, despite medical advances, and this can limit our ability to seize opportunities.

But there are plenty of small steps we can all take, such as shoring up our relationships, making community links, or simply questioning some of our ingrained assumptions about age.

It's not the easiest book to read. The authors' tone is somewhat academic, and they expect readers to stay focused through some long and complex sections of text. But people who do persist will likely tune in to the style – and may soon be engrossed by the content. Because "The New Long Life" is the sort of book that stays with you long after you've turned the last page.

It feels like an important wakeup call, full of revelations that you'll want to share. There are eye-opening glimpses of a radically changing world, along with intriguing ideas for how we can thrive in it.

There's a lot to get your head around, and plenty to do as a result. But we believe it's well worth the effort. After all, you may have much more time to play with than you think!

"The New Long Life" and its predecessor, "The 100-Year Life," by Andrew J. Scott and Lynda Gratton, are both published by Bloomsbury.

That's the end of this episode of Book Insights. Thanks for listening.