El niño es el maestro. Vida de María Montessori

by Cristina De Stefano

Maria Montessori fue una de las mujeres más influyentes de su época. Su formación multidisciplinar -en medicina, biología, antropología y filosofía-, su pionera defensa de los derechos de las mujeres y su fe inquebrantable le permitieron concebir la educación desde una perspectiva inédita y revolucionaria que puso el foco en el niño, en dejarle espacio y tiempo, en observarlo y estimularlo de forma imperceptible según sus necesidades, confiando en su inteligencia y su capacidad de aprender por curiosidad y no por imposición. Comenzó su proyecto pedagógico con los niños del manicomio de Roma y luego dirigiendo un parvulario en San Lorenzo, uno de los barrios más pobres de la ciudad. Pronto el llamado «milagro de San Lorenzo» se extendió por el resto del país y el extranjero, donde el método de Montessori se hizo enormemente popular, con la propia Maria implicada en la instrucción de sus discípulas y en la creación de escuelas. Basándose en cartas inéditas y testimonios directos, Cristina De Stefano desvela la poco conocida personalidad de Maria Montessori, una mujer tan carismática como polémica, cuyo método de enseñanza sigue siendo hoy, ciento cincuenta años después de su nacimiento, uno de los más innovadores y prestigiosos. «Tras más de cincuenta años leyendo y escribiendo sobre Montessori, nunca había dado con un libro -excepto los escritos por ella misma- que pudiera leer de cabo a rabo. Esencial.»
Susan

Genres: Biography, Education, Nonfiction, Parenting, History

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Dopo aver intrapreso la carriera di giornalista a Elle, a cui ancora collabora, si è trasferita a Parigi dove svolge la professione di scout letterario. Si deve a lei, tra l'altro, la pubblicazione in Italia di La verità sul caso Harry Quebert, best seller da centinaia di migliaia di libri venduti. La sua attività di scrittrice inizia nel 2002, con la pubblicazione di "Belinda e il mostro. Vita segreta di Cristina Campo", biografia della poetessa Cristina Campo. Seguono altri volumi biografici, tra cui di particolare rilievo la prima biografia completa di Oriana Fallaci, pubblicata nel 2013.

Reviews

[Sita_belen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me ha sorprendido muchísimo.

Más allá de su pedagogía y de su método, María Montessori fue una revolucionaria, fue una luchadora.
Sin querer dedicarse a la enseñanza acabó revolucionando la educación en medio mundo.

Soy maestra, en una escuela tradicional.
Hablar de educación y de nuestro sistema educativo, incluso de mi práctica como docente sería empezar un debate interminable.

Que importante es conocer lo que hicieron algunos cuando no se tienen medios y solo hay barreras en el camino, para darse cuenta de lo poco que hacemos el resto para cambiar aquello con lo que no estamos de acuerdo.

No podré llegar al mundo, tal vez no salga de mi aula, lo que sé es que el cambio empieza en uno mismo.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a helpful account of how the Montessori method came to be. To lay my cards on the table, I'm not convinced of the entirety of the method but think there is certainly credibility in valuing the child as a person!

I was very surprised at Montessori's personal nature. The more I read, the more I disliked her attitude. She was abrasive, controlling, and demeaning to many people, often only because they couldn't help her profit financially from her method. There was an obvious tension all throughout her life that she was about the child learning independently, yet Maria wanted financial stability for her son in somewhat of a restitution for choosing her career over him in his childhood, and therefore did not want anyone else trying or adjusting her method without her. She was often contradictory in her own lifestyle and many relationships were severed because her attachment to what was "hers."

Literarily, I've never read a biography where 1) chapters were only 3-4 pages long. This was refreshing! and 2) where I didn't like the person at the end of it. I appreciated that De Stefano showed all sides of Maria, both her abrasive and frustrating side, as well as her brilliant and thought-provoking side. It was great to see her whole person!

[Karen Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a strange (due to translation?), full account of Montessori's life. Iterations of her pedagogical method as it became visionary, opportunism in order to further it, mysticism as it developed into the cosmic. At the end I'm not sure if I like or admire the woman, but her genius is undeniable. I still remember my first observation of a Montessori classroom. With a 2 year old at home, I sat in the corner of a primary classroom observing quiet, concentrated children, wholly possessed of themselves with no adult direction--only minimal guidance. Watching them felt like meditation. The allure was remarkable. This book assumes you understand the method and focuses on Montessori's ambition and struggles to establish it. It validated what I've always suspected: that Montessori's vision was inspired by her Catholic faith ("whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all"), Romanticism (Wordsworth's "The Child is the Father of the Man"), and the cosmic time cycles of Hinduism, grounded in decades of scientific observation by one of Italy's first female physicians. I'm so glad I read it.

[Unpocodecanela Bárbara Solórzano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha parecido muy interesante la vida de Maria Montessori, no sabía nada de ella y me ha sorprendido mucho. Sobre todo su caracter!! 😅

[Maria Azpiroz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decepcionante. Pensé me iba a encantar porque me interesa mucho María. Sin embargo, el libro a mi gusto carece de alma. No consigue transmitir emoción y por momentos la autora parece empeñarse en lograr que el lector la emoción que ella cree que este debería sentir: por ejemplo cuando narra el encuentro de María con su hijo abandonado y la correspondencia que comienzan a intercambiar entre ellos, "es el principio de un intercambio epistolar conmovedor" pero lo "conmovedor" no nace ni en ese capítulo ni más adelante. No conmueve ese reencuentro, ni la desilusión amorosa, no conmueve el capítulo en el que narra el fallecimiento de su madre. Es una descripción periodística muy bien ejecutada, organizada en sabios capítulos cortos para una lectura fluida pero al que le falta sabor. El personaje de María sufre también porque carece de profundidad, es un boceto.
La emoción surge muy pocas veces y ante documentos que son auténticos y sin interferencias de parte de la pluma de la escritora, como por ejemplo en la carta del padre de María cuando esta cumple los 30 años, algunas citas literales del cuaderno del padre, y la transcripción de los apuntes de la propia María.
Leo que es un libro con muy buena crítica, pero siento decir que no resonó en mí. Tenía pensado leer la biografía de Oriana Fallaci también escrito por De Stefano, pero lo cierto es que este libro me ha quitado las ganas.

[Ana Karenina O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una biografía espectacular de María Montessori. La ambivalencia de un personaje lejos de la perfección y cerca de la genialidad. Para ser sinceros, creo que no hemos concebido el proyecto de Montessori en su justa dimensión. La pasión con la que vive, la profundidad de su pensamiento, su inteligencia y pionera en ideas; que como dice Cristina de Stefano "ahora pertenecen al sentido común".

[Tom · Rating 1 out of 5]

Collaboration avec le régime fasciste de Mussolini, faux diplôme, refus de laisser d'autres scientifiques éprouver sa méthode, mépris systématique pour les classes inférieures et ego surdimensionné,... Un ouvrage édifiant permettant de découvrir ce qui se cache réellement derrière la méthode Montessori.

[Beverly Hollandbeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maria Montessori's life was long, productive, and interesting, but it was not exciting. Same for this biography.

[Hannah Bremer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Niet alles vond ik even interessant en sommige korte hoofdstukjes heb ik overgeslagen. Waar ik voornamelijk veel aan heb gehad is een boek waar het gedachtegoed van Montessori op een toegankelijke manier is omschreven om naast mijn eigen visie op onderwijs te leggen en die verder te kunnen ontwikkelen.

Respect hebben voor de wereld van kind, zonder het te willen doorgronden, vind ik een van de mooiste boodschappen uit haar visie. Dat Maria Montessori materiaal heeft ontwikkeld dat past binnen deze wereld van het kind vind ik een inspirerende kijk op leren, zeker in de tijd waarin Montessori leefde.

[Cara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't know that I would so strongly dislike a biography written in present tense, but I am 100% not a fan. This biography of Maria Montessori is interesting and has good content, but the present tense was so distracting to me that I almost didn't even finish it. And I subtracted two stars from my rating because of it. I guess now I know one of my book pet peeves.

[Eunicejacinta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I really liked this book! Presented such an objective but familiar look at the woman of Maria Montessori in all her genius and humanness. I loved this so much! It was hard to get into the writing style at first but after several chapters, I was enthralled by the person of Maria Montessori.

[Socraticist · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book does what it tries to do, I.e. reveal the true person of Maria Montessori, flaws and all. Plus, I certainly gained a greater appreciation of childhood and will now look at all children differently.

I liked the short chapters. It facilitated reading just a little more and then a little more and then still more. Each day I exceeded my reading goal and then some.

[Silvia Mosquera Lago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una biografía súper completa sobre un personaje tan visionario a la par que controvertido como fue María Montessori.

[Kate Shivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, but I didn't like Maria as a person by the end of it.

[Hunderttausend Bücher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ehrlich gesagt haben mich Biographien bisher nicht sonderlich interessiert und dieses Buch war meine allererste. Und ich habe es einfach geliebt! Ich kann nicht sagen, ob es an dem Genre prinzipiell liegt und mir bisher etwas entgangen ist, oder ob dieses Buch für sich einfach toll geschrieben wurde.

Ich interessiere mich schon länger für die Hintergründe der Montessori Methode weshalb ich Interesse hatte mehr über Maria Montessori zu erfahren. Das Buch umfasst ihr ganzes Leben und nach etwa 400 Seiten hat man wirklich das Gefühl sie zu kennen und die Hintergründe etwas besser zu verstehen.

Besonders gut hat mir gefallen, dass die Kapitel unheimlich kurz waren. Normalerweise mag ich das nicht besonders, aber hier hat es einfach super gepasst. Die nur wenige Seiten langen Kapitel haben geholfen jeden Abschnitt für sich besser zu verstehen und der Lesefluss über mehrere Kapitel hinaus wurde durch die Unterteilung nicht unterbrochen.
Der kurze und knappe, aber dennoch aussagekräftige Stil der Autorin hat den teilweise wirren Geschehnissen eine klare Linie gegeben und ich würde sofort wieder ein Werk der Autorin lesen.
Ich hätte nie gedacht, dass Maria Montessoris Leben so aufregend zu lesen wäre. Gerade den Kampf zwischen der wissenschaftlichen Methode die sie entwickelte und ihrem starken Glauben fand ich äußerst interessant und super geschildert. Man begleitet Maria durch alle Weltgeschehnisse hindurch, über zwei Weltkriege, dem faschistischen Regime und den Wiederaufbau. Ich fand es bewundernd zu sehen wie sie trotz aller Hindernisse bis zum Ende nicht aufgegeben hat. Besonders fasziniert hat mich auch wie viele Vorhersagen sie getroffen hat, die viele Jahre später von der Wissenschaft bestätigt wurden.

Maria Montessori war und ist eine der bedeutendsten Pädagoginnen die ein aufregenderes Leben geführt hat als man denken würde. Ohne zu zögern würde ich jedem dieses Buch empfehlen, es ist nicht nur aus pädagogischer sondern auch aus historischer Sicht wahnsinnig interessant.

[Margaret Whitley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is only the third complete biography of Maria Montessori and a super addition to the other two. Christina De Stefano, through many Italian sources and building on the previous biographies reveals a passionate, determined often difficult woman who sacrificed many relationships to make the world aware of the power of the child. There is an undercurrent in the book that raises the question, that although she had a challenging personality, both in an effort to hold onto the roots of the pedagogy and also to support her family, would she have been viewed the same way during her life if she was a man? She often portrayed herself with feminity but was this to persuade people to listen to this woman with a view to upend education, not just reform it. This book beautifully presents Maria Montessori as a paradox, somewhat similar to her discovery of the child, but the method is a paradox that worked and continues to work today, for all children and all ages, despite the many misconceptions that abound. Anyone curious about this fascinating woman and her unending dedication until she died to her work, will hopefully find this version of her story satisfying.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like an biography, the more you know a person's strengths and weaknesses the more you both adore and question them. I've always admired and aspired to be more like Maria Montessori to improve myself as a mother, create a functional home for my children, and to nurture the best learning environment for my family. So it takes me by surprise that Maria could understand children so well, yet she didn't seem to have a maternal bone in her body.
Having grown up in a Montessori classroom AND having lived in Italy, I find it really funny that a few things I consider synonymous with the montessori lifestyle would be totally culturally inappropriate in Italy-- rugs in the floor, walking around without shoes, to name a few. After reading the book and seeing a few italian Montessori schools, I think it's safe to say these things weren't done in Italian montessori schools (please comment if I'm wrong and have further insight) but we're added in American schools and may have been more influenced by Montessori's work in India.
Overall, a very intriguing book. She was a woman well beyond her time. I only wish this book had delved more into her methods and how they changed throughout the years.

[Chilidilibri Chilidilibri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nel 2020 è uscita per Rizzoli una biografia di Maria Montessori scritta dalla giornalista Cristina De Stefano. “Il bambino è il maestro. Vita di Maria Montessori” ha richiesto un lavoro di cinque anni, mirati a cogliere la personalità della grande pedagoga italiana nella sua interezza.

C’è chi l’ha considerata pazza, chi furba, chi un genio. Nata sotto il segno della Vergine, con le sue profonde intuizioni Maria Montessori ha anticipato di decenni le scoperte delle neuroscienze, ma allo stesso tempo ha difeso il suo metodo da qualsiasi contaminazione, pretendendone i pieni diritti. Ma non puoi controllare una cosa, se vuoi che si espanda. Così la sua vita è stata costellata di nemici, che hanno dovuto fare i conti con il suo carattere difficile, i suoi scatti di nervosismo, le sue scelte nette e improvvise.

Questo libro ci è piaciuto tantissimo e sul nostro sito spieghiamo perché:
https://chilidilibri.altervista.org/i...

[Mrs C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography is well-researched and engaging. The writing style is riveting - it pulls in readers with its narrative aspect, imagining a vibrant life of Montessori made more engrossing with the author's commentary and footnotes woven in.

I think all educators should read this to get a sense of how the child is treated in the classroom and parents should read it so they can know what the fuss is about the Montessori approach to teaching.

I went to a Montessori school and the experience was wonderful.

Review copy was provided by the publisher.

[Cristina Mosca · Rating 5 out of 5]

noooo l'ho finito! e adesso?


questa biografia mi ha appassionato tantissimo, l'ho trovata galvanizzante come mamma e come educatrice. mi ritrovo molto nelle intuizioni montessoriane e l'autrice è bravissima nel dare un ritratto a tutto tondo della grande pedagoga italiana, con tutte le sue contraddizioni e le sue intuizioni geniali.

l'ho preso in biblioteca ma secondo me me lo compro anche.

[Fritzi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eine objektive Biografie von Maria Montessori. Wer - wie ich - etwas über ihre Methode lesen will, sollte lieber zu einem anderen Buch greifen. Man lernt Maria kennen, als Frauenrechtlerin, Medizinerin, revultionäre Pädagogin und Businessfrau. Liebend und herrisch zugleich. Ihre Methode wird wunderbar geschildert, doch leider gibt es auch etliche Jahre, die vom zähen Kampf um einen internationalen Bekanntheitsgrad gezeichnet sind.

[deusconvosco · Rating 3 out of 5]

In her biography of Maria Montessori, De Stefano offers readers a comprehensive look into the life of this pioneering educator. Yet, for those who seek a deep dive into Montessori's educational philosophy, the book might feel somewhat lacking. While not a voluminous tome, just under 300 pages, it is a brisk read that traces Montessori's journey through Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United States, and India. Her life, filled with ambition and remarkable experiences, was marked by interactions with various governments, including the regime of Benito Mussolini. The biography suggests that her association with the fascist government might have played a role in her never receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, despite being nominated several times.

Montessori's method, initially dubbed the "scientific method," evolved over time, becoming more rigid and formalized. The book successfully delves into Montessori's financial strategies, revealing her reliance on the sale of educational materials due to the absence of a stable public office. Originally conceived as an experiment for underprivileged children in San Lorenzo, her method gradually gained a reputation for catering to affluent families or well-resourced classrooms. This empirical approach to pedagogy, rooted in observation and experimentation, was a cornerstone of her philosophy, though it struggled to scale due to a lack of support and encouragement from Montessori herself.

The biography explores Montessori's complex relationship with Catholicism. Her feminist and suffragist background often put her at odds with the Church, leading to a fraught relationship with Catholic authorities who were skeptical of her educational innovations. This tension reached a peak when Montessori moved to India, a chapter of her life that the book portrays as particularly captivating. In India, her work was deeply influenced by the Theosophical Society, drawing intriguing parallels with the spiritualist Madame Blavatsky. Under the society's auspices, Montessori's rhetoric took on a more mystical and universal tone, highlighting a unique blend of educational and spiritual ideologies.

This mystical turn in her philosophy intriguingly aligns Montessori with the Waldorf education approach, founded by Rudolf Steiner, who was also influenced by theosophy. Both educational philosophies emphasize holistic development, though Montessori's empirical and child-centered methods contrast with Steiner's more artistic and spiritually oriented approach.

A poignant aspect of Montessori's story is her relationship with her son, Mario. His abandonment and subsequent return by the British Raj, who had interned him in a concentration camp, adds a tragic dimension to her narrative. This moment marks the first official acknowledgment of Mario as her son, not merely her nephew, providing a deeply personal glimpse into Montessori's life.

In conclusion, this biography serves as a well-rounded introduction to Maria Montessori's life, offering valuable insights into her personal and professional journey. However, for those deeply invested in her educational philosophy, it may fall short of providing the detailed exploration they seek. Unlike previous biographies that often read like hagiographies penned by devoted followers, this work attempts a more balanced perspective, though it still leaves room for a more critical and comprehensive analysis of Montessori's enduring legacy in education.

[N.J. Danatangelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely well-researched biography that examines the woman responsible for the largest alternative school system in the world. Given that the author is Italian, I was especially impressed that Dr. Maria Montessori received no special treatment in her portrayal, be it in her personality or her achievements. It was a very level-headed biography that delved more into her personality, unlike most US-centered biographies which primarily celebrate the achievements of famous people while paying scant attention to the darker side of their personalities.

What really struck me was how difficult she was to work with and how alone she must have felt, given she constantly burned bridges with collaborators and close relationships never lasted long. It was interesting that her mentors were deceased (Itard, Seguin, Froebel, Pestalozzi) and she never really had a collaborator or peer who could challenge and push her and her findings. Instead, she pushed away those who wanted to debate and discuss her methods. I also found it interesting that the problems we have today with Montessori (certification of schools and teachers, fidelity in method, profiteering, etc.) were ever-present even when she was alive.

It was quite shocking how poorly she managed the business side of her work, basically living hand to mouth and never investing in or building her wealth, instead constantly relaying on rich patrons to fund the next chapter of her life. One wonders if this was not a result of her father coddling her throughout her early adult life, causing her to never find a way to become financially independent. Maybe this is what it took for her to develop such a spectacular pedagogical method and change the way children are perceived and educated.

She was absolutely ahead of her time, and only now, with advances in cognitive science and psychology, are we beginning to appreciate how “right” and revolutionary she was in her method.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This biography left me wanting more. I found the earlier chapters interesting, where the writer covers Montessori’s start in life, her early career and her fiery personality. But I felt the book was too surface-level, and focused more on the organizations set up to propagate the Montessori method than on the details of her pedagogy and philosophy, when to me those were the more interesting topics.

I had some issues with the editorial choices:
- Use of the present tense. This just about worked when the author was describing Montessori performing an action of some sort; it did not work when describing social or historical conditions because it sounded as if we were discussing the 2020s not the 1920s.
- No index. There were many players involved, both people and organizations, and an index would have made it easier to check quickly who was who.
- No pictures. This book would have been more enjoyable with photographs to bring the account to life, especially as observation is such a big theme here.
- Quality of translation. I haven't compared the Italian and English versions, but I felt there were many times when the translator seemed to have chosen an English word because it looked most like the Italian word, not because it was the best way to render the original meaning. Sometimes this made it hard to understand the point being communicated; at other times it was potentially misleading. (I think Montessori's own written or oratorical style can be quite florid though, so that may have put an additional burden on the translator when translating the excerpts from her work).

[_meetmybooks_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maria Montessori ist für mich als angehende Grundschullehrerin eine Frau, von der man unbedingt gehört haben sollte.
Cristina De Stefano hat in dieser aktuellen Biografie, bislang unveröffentliche Briefe und neue Quellen verarbeitet und wahnsinnig gute Recherchearbeit geleistet.
Ich lese eher selten Biografien, aber wenn ich mal eine lese, dann nehme ich mir richtig Zeit dafür. Ich wollte alle Fakten mitnehmen und verinnerlichen, da ich Montessoris Leben unglaublich interessant finde. Montessori ist eine inspirierende Frau, Pädagogin und Feministin. Sie hat zu einer Zeit studiert, wo Frauen eigentlich keinerlei Chancen hat Karriere zu machen, doch Maria gab nie auf. Sie hat schon immer um das gekämpft, was ihr wichtig war. Und ganz schnell wurden dies die Kinder. Kinder waren für sie das Wichtigste. Sie nannte sie liebevoll "Zukunftspotenzial" und "Welterlöser". Sie löste sich von traditioneller Erziehung und stellte die Persönlichkeitsentwicklung des Kindes vor alles andere. Sie ermöglichte den Kindern durch ihre Methode und ihr didaktisches Material, die ultimative freie Entfaltung, ohne dass irgendwelche Autoritäten in den Lernprozess eingriffen.
Ich finde, dass das Buch einen wirklich guten, großen Einblick in Marias pädagogische Gedanken gewährleistet.
Man erfährt auch so wahnsinnig viel über Montessoris Privatleben. Außerdem lebte sie zu einer historisch prägenden Zeit, man erfährt also nicht nur viel über Montessori, sondern auch allgemeines Weltwissen.
Besonders gut gefallen haben mir die vielen Zitate, die De Stefano eingebracht hat. Das letzte hat mich am meisten geprägt: "Ich bitte die lieben Kinder, die alles können, mit mir zusammen am Aufbau des Friedens zwischen den Menschen und in der Welt zu arbeiten." Ihre Wertschätzung gegenüber Kindern ist bewundernswert. Diese Biografie hat durchaus meinen Blick auf Kinder und deren Erziehung erweitert und verändert.

[Gail Jeidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have long been a fan of Maria Montessori. When our youngest began Montessori school, I read a couple of her books to better acquaint me with the program. This book reminded me of her scientific, watchful approach to understanding children. I am reminded to keep her techniques in mind when I spend time with my one-year old grandson. This story of her life is well-researched and dimensional, revealing heartaches and personality challenges I did not know previously. With great gifts come great flaws. Her respectful approach to educating young children has withstood the test of time. I love this quote: "What really makes a teacher is love for the child. Because it is love that transforms the social duty of the educator into the consciousness of a mission." I also appreciated the idea and I will paraphrase here -- children or perhaps adults need to learn that movement is not evil, that good is not about being still.

[Ava Rodriguez]

We look at today, some teachings of Maria aren’t the same and are a bit twisted she still had a great teaching and now that she has left us she can't do anything to correct what people are doing now. Even though it isn’t exactly hers it is still only beneficial to our beloved children all around the world. I loved seeing how her struggle only made her strong and it is an inspiring story to read. Seeing her succeed with the joy of the Lord shows a powerful message. Maria put so much hard work and determination into these children and it paid off. This is an amazing story showing how work pays off not only for you but for the people around you and in some cases all around the world.

[Shannon Jeter · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many strengths in this telling of Montessori's work and life.
I appreciated he author's treatment of Montessori's grief after her separation from Mario. De Stefano also does a great job with describing Montessori's drive to preserve the integrity of her method.

It would have been nice if the author had either cut or consolidated most of the book after Montessori's early years. Reading about the growth of the Montessori brand is tedious especially where the author repeats information found in Kramer and Standing's biographies.

[Yannick Vergara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comencé este libro sobre la vida de Maria Montessori con mucha ilusión por conocer el método educativo que tanta curiosidad despierta en mí.
Sin embargo, la autora se centra sobre todo en la vida personal de la doctora, en sus disputas sobre la forma de manejar y expandir el método y cómo fue manejando la popularidad.
Reconozco que grandes fragmentos de la biografía se me han hecho pesados y sólo he disfrutado de los ejemplos en el avance de su metodología.
Muy interesante para quien tenga curiosidad por el carácter de Maria y las vicisitudes que vivió a lo largo de su larga vida.

[Laura Valenziano · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book which is quick to read because of the short chapters and clear translation from Italian. Although the Montessori Method is accepted, now the book describes all of the difficulties Maria Montessori experienced in Italy, American and the other countries where she introduced her learning methods. Well worth the read, especially if you are interested in the education of children!