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Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social groups & communities > Age groups > Adults > Elderly

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Growing Young, 2nd Edition (Hardcover, 2nd Revised edition) Loot Price: R2,788
Discovery Miles 27 880
Growing Young, 2nd Edition (Hardcover, 2nd Revised edition): Ashley Montagu

Growing Young, 2nd Edition (Hardcover, 2nd Revised edition)

Ashley Montagu

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Loot Price R2,788 Discovery Miles 27 880 | Repayment Terms: R261 pm x 12*

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Social anthropologist Montagu's latest work is a celebration of neoteny as the guiding principle of human evolution. Neoteny, a term that Montagu uses interchangeably with paedomorphosis, is the theory that a species can undergo rapid evolutionary change as a result of the retention of fetal or juvenile traits in sexually mature adults. Good old fiat-faced, small-jawed, relatively hairless Homo sapiens looks a lot more like an infant or jufenile chimp than like the chimp's parents. Montagu (in common with Stephen Jay Gould) modifies the definition of neoteny by adding that human adults also look more like their own youthful counterparts - children and adolescents. In contrast, gorillas and chimpanzees tend toward gerontomorphism: as they age, the apes' jaws protrude more, their brow-ridges grow, their teeth get bigger. Montagu cares less about physical traits, however, than about behavior. The retardation of development that neoteny implies underlies the vast plasticity of human development - the years of nurturance, curiosity, exploration, educability. Here lies the clue to the human success story. And, Montagu warns, we are in danger of losing sight of those neotenist traits through rigid school systems and cultural mores that restrict horizons and demand that children grow up quickly. So a good part of the book is social prescription. Montagu preaches a fine idealistic line about the need for schools that would encourage interchange among successive grades in a cooperative, supportive setting. At the other end of the scale, he worries about "agism" - the rampant prejudices, fears, and myths that lead to discrimination against the elderly. Here, he cites current and good research on brain changes in aging which debunks the idea that you lose all those little gray cells and pass rapidly into senility. What you need is stimulation and exercise of mind to achieve that "best that's yet to come." Montagu's points are well taken - if only he didn't make them so often and so breathlessly. If only, too, he didn't devote so much space to the rightness or wrongness of pioneer neoteny thinkers like Louis Bolk. Still, even Montagu's excesses have their proven (and undeniable, charms.?? (Kirkus Reviews)

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 University"

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.

General

Imprint: Praeger Publishers Inc
Country of origin: United States
Release date: December 1988
First published: December 1988
Authors: Ashley Montagu
Dimensions: 161 x 236 x 26mm (L x W x T)
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 303
Edition: 2nd Revised edition
ISBN-13: 978-0-89789-167-7
Categories: Books > Social sciences > Psychology > Child & developmental psychology
Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Anthropology > General
Books > Medicine > Pre-clinical medicine: basic sciences > Human reproduction, growth & development > General
Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social groups & communities > Age groups > Adults > Elderly
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LSN: 0-89789-167-8
Barcode: 9780897891677

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