People past a hundred have gone largely unstudied, especially in poorer countries where even basic statistics are missing. Dasilma works to close that gap for Haiti, drawing on archival transcripts to give centenarians and supercentenarians on the island a hearing.

Three findings organize the account: these very old people have outlived family, friends and loved ones; their bodies have changed markedly with age; and all mention memory loss, though they speak lucidly about their youth, older customs and what a century has taught them. Six themes emerge from the analysis — loss of financial independence, mixed feelings about living so long, longevity understood as God's will and the fruit of a good heart, criticism of the young, resilience, and wisdom passed on. Faith and prayer sustain them against scarcity, loneliness and neglect.

Dasilma argues the material has uses beyond the academy, for physicians weighing prevention over after-the-fact care and for teachers, students and leaders alike.