Growing Young

by Ashley Montagu

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Science, Philosophy

303 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Books, such as The Natural Superiority of Women (1953), of Ashley Montagu, originally Israel Ehrenberg, a British-American, helped to popularize anthropology.

As a young man, he changed his name to "Montague Francis Ashley-Montagu". After relocating to the United States, he used the name "Ashley Montagu."

This humanist of Jewish ancestry related topics, such as race and gender, to politics and development. He served as the rapporteur or appointed investigator in 1950 for the The Race Question , statement of educational, scientific, and cultural organization of United Nations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_...

Reviews

[R. Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book based on sound scientific research about how growing older is not the dead-end that prevails in our society. Growing old is a chance to continue living with the characteristics that children are born with and which makes them happy and fully involved in life. Everyone should read this book, because we're all faced with the prospect of growing old, and we don't have to hide away, or drop out of life, or wither away. There is much we can do and accomplish in our old age, much happiness to experience.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounding up to three stars since I like the author's message. His takes on childhood and old age are refreshing and he argues passionately and (most of the time) persuasively for a preservation of "child-like" qualities throughout our adult lives; in doing so he suggests radical reappraisals of our education system and social norms. The major downside of the book is its rather scattered approach to the subject of neoteny: the author begins with a survey of its increase during our evolutionary history and outlines the benefits we accrued, but then shifts largely to social commentary (with heavy doses of personal opinion) about what our youthful qualities are and how we should strive to maintain them. In the end, this transition from scientific survey to quasi-manifesto makes for an uneven book, despite its many worthwhile ideas.