The problems of old age and social attitudes towards old people in Colne, Lancashire; Esher, Surrey; Buk, New Guinea; Heri, India; and Khegudi, Botswana. It aims to identify the ideas of old age that are common to all cultures: the lamenting of past strenghts, reduction of activity and withdrawal from society. It also emphasises differences between Western and more traditional societies indicating that in societies with faster technological change, experince is valued less and the older generation are respected less.