Growing Young

In this new revised edition of his landmark book Montagu compels us to reevaluate the way we think about growth and development in all its phases throughout life. Humans are designed to grow and develop their childlike qualities and not to become the ossified adults prescribed by society. Montagu demonstrates how our culture schools and families are in conspiracy against such childlike traits as the need to love to learn to wonder to know to explore to think to experiment to be imaginative creative and curious to sing dance or play. He also reveals the many links between physical and mental aging and tells how to prevent psychosclerosis the hardening of the mind so that we can die young--as late as possible. The best statement ever written on the most important neglected theme of human life and evolution. Stephen Jay Gould Harvard UniversityIn this new revised edition of his landmark book Montagu compels us to reevaluate the way we think about growth and development in all its phases throughout life. Humans are designed to grow and develop their childlike qualities and not to become the ossified adults prescribed by society. Montagu demonstrates how our culture schools and families are in conspiracy against such childlike traits as the need to love to learn to wonder to know to explore to think to experiment to be imaginative creative and curious to sing dance or play. He also reveals the many links between physical and mental aging and tells how to prevent psychosclerosis the hardening of the mind so that we can die young--as late as possible.