0
Your cart

Your cart is empty

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

Buy Now

Growing Young, 2nd Edition (Hardcover, 2nd Revised edition) Loot Price: R2,852
Discovery Miles 28 520
Growing Young, 2nd Edition (Hardcover, 2nd Revised edition): Ashley Montagu

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

Ashley Montagu

 (sign in to rate)
Loot Price R2,852 Discovery Miles 28 520 | Repayment Terms: R267 pm x 12*

Bookmark and Share

Expected to ship within 10 - 15 working days

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
Promotions
LSN: 0-89789-167-8
Barcode: 9780897891677

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!

You might also like..

Encore Adulthood - Boomers on the Edge…
Phyllis Moen Hardcover R3,699 Discovery Miles 36 990
Developmental Influences on Adult…
K. Warner Schaie Hardcover R4,299 Discovery Miles 42 990
The Power of Discord - why the ups and…
Ed Tronick, Claudia M. Gold Paperback R507 R422 Discovery Miles 4 220
Beyond Beyond - A Chance Encounter, a…
Roz Lewy, Ralph Insinger Hardcover R709 R617 Discovery Miles 6 170
Retiring Women - Work and Post-work…
Philip Taylor, Catherine Earl, … Hardcover R2,950 Discovery Miles 29 500
The CBT Toolbox for Young Adults - 170…
Lisa Weed Phifer Paperback R787 R679 Discovery Miles 6 790
Becoming Myself - A Psychiatrist's…
Irvin D. Yalom Paperback R511 R438 Discovery Miles 4 380
The Little Book of Senior Moments
Freddie Green Hardcover R180 R159 Discovery Miles 1 590
The Wrinkly Ranch - Unbelievably funny…
Tristan Squire-Smith Hardcover R877 R740 Discovery Miles 7 400
From Strength to Strength - Finding…
Arthur C Brooks Paperback R278 Discovery Miles 2 780
Your Turn - How to Be an Adult
Julie Lythcott-Haims Paperback R594 R518 Discovery Miles 5 180
Ageing in Place - Design, Planning and…
Bruce Judd, Kenichi Tanoue, … Hardcover R3,075 Discovery Miles 30 750

See more

Partners