Book review/Introducing

If the title appeals to you, the book might too. Written in an almost flippant style, it carries a serious message. When Jesus was born, people could expect to live to age 25. If you were born in a western country in the year 2000 you can expect to live for 80 years.

Combined with this fertility rates have dropped dramatically, creating rapid aging of western populations. China has a one-child policy, which will change the balance of ages in its population in the next 20 years. Other countries are beginning to also slow their growth rates. Wallace suggests that western countries might use immigration to try to keep their workforce numbers up.