Written and edited by social gerontologists, and focusing on everyday experiences, these essays draw from original case studies to look at the diverse ways of growing and being older. * Collects ten original essays on the aging experience, written by prominent social gerontologists. * Highlights diverse ways of growing and being older. * Offers detailed portraits of a broad range of experiences, including those of the homeless, the retirement community, sexual nonconformists, and the disabled. * Addresses stereotypes of the aging process and provides diverse examples of individual experiences.