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The notion of \"loss\" often appears as a common theme in both popular and academic discussions of aging. This focus on loss, however, tends to simplify or ignore important aspects of the phenomenon, including how people view themselves and their life experiences. In this article, we address how an individual life narrative can serve as: (1) a counter-narrative to this notion of loss; and (2) a way of drawing attention to a variety of personal and structural factors that may complicate the experience of aging itself. La notion de « perte » est un thème recurrent dans les discussions aussi bien populaires qu'académiques sur le vieillissement. Cette insistance sur la perte, toutefois, tend à simplifier ou ignorer des aspects importants du phénomène, y compris comment les gens se perçoivent et perçoivent leurs expériences de vie. Dans cet article, nous nous penchons sur les façons dont le récit de vie peut être utilise : (1) comme contre-récit à cette notion de perte, et (2) comme une façon d'attirer l'attention sur une variété de facteurs personnels et structurels qui peuvent compliquer l'expérience même du vieillissement.

'Culture' is a key concept in the social sciences. It also figures prominently in health science discourses. Yet, it is an imprecise and politically charged term. Due to a variety of factors, health care professionals may tend to use notions of culture that can be easily applied. Dangers are posed when using simplified culture concepts, however, because they act as 'interpretive lenses' – lenses that may generate cultural stereotypes, lead health professionals to miss key interactions and processes in the provision of care, and simplify the cultural complexities surrounding the position(s) of both the health care providers and their clients. Two cases of eldercare are analysed to demonstrate the multi-layered intricacies of the concept of culture. The overall point is that 'culture' is a highly complex and dynamic term; the way in which it is conceptualized and used has enormous consequences for health care.

\"Biotechnology and Culture: Bodies, Anxieties, Ethics\" edited by Paul E. Brodwin is reviewed.