The Absorbent Mind: A Classic in Education and Child Development for Educators and Parents Paperback – October 15, 1995

This reads sort of like Einstein's Dreams as Montessori puzzles out why things are as they are and why we haven't notice the child is born to learn if we allow it to happen by providing the right environment and materials and teaching methods. This is an excerpt to show the kind of thinking in the book. Highly interesting! Deep! "Supposing we put a little levity into this weighty subject and tell a little story. A certain young man wished to marry and recounted all the praises of the lady of his choice. An elder guide responded in writing and this is what happened: The young man praises her beauty; the guide writes a zero. The young man finding beauty is not enough, states that she is rich; the guide writes zero. The young man says, she is learned, but the guide again writes zero. The young man says: “All this means nothing, well, she is athletic, she rides, swims, plays tennis.” Again the guide writes zero. The young man goes on describing all sorts of qualities which his lady-love possesses and the guide continues to write zero against them. Then the young man says: “She is of good character,” and the guide says: “That is something,” and writes a figure one in front of all the zeros. All the other merits acquire their value from this one quality and with that one in front of all the zeros her total value increases a thousandfold. So it is with civilization, all the achievements are naught and lead to destruction, but if love is there they all acquire a great value."

It is word for word from the original book I had 30 years ago. It was inexpensive to grab it on Kindle until I found my paper copy. Not sure I’m a Kendall person yet, but it worked out for me.

This book provides an excellent explanation of Maria Montessori's observations and resulting philosophy. While the translation is, at times, a bit awkward, is does not disrupt the reading. It seems to be translated word for word, with little interference or interpretation from the translator and editor. I have studied and implemented the Montessori philosophy for years, both in my classroom and with my own children. This book explains very clearly, with no frills, the natural development and needs of children, and what we must do as educators and parents to provide the best environment for success. There are a few typos, but not enough to remove a star in the rating.

Minus 1 star for poor editing.wow! this author is brilliant and her ideas well conceived. This is inspirational and will reset your mind with regard to how you see children.The actual book is poorly edited so there are many grammar and spelling errors. If you can get along with these, you will find an amazing read that you will not be able to process all at once. Give yourself plenty of time to get through this book, and stop and absorb the ideas along the way.

This book lays the foundation for Dr. Montessori's approach to educating the young child. She argues that the very capable infant absorbs its environment in a very natural process that results in the stupendous achievements of locomotion, language and acculturation into whatever social mileiu the child has been born into with no direct teaching required. The child's inner drive for mastery and independence propels its efforts to achievement. The adult's role is to expose the child to a wide variety l of experiences in the infant's first few years so that he or she can interact with his or her environment. Dr. Montessori's point is that the child learns critically important skills such as the mastery of language without direct adult instruction, that within the child is a mechanism that self-directs astonishing achievement through.contact with the environment. These observations laid the foundation for developing a system of education that harnesses the young child's inner drives to mastery and independence through interaction with a carefully prepared environment.

This book was written a long time ago and some things are out dated but how the child's mind works and their needs are very much the same today. As a mother with some back ground in education, I have found the concepts and ideas thought provoking. My 20month old loves to work by helping me as much as she can, this is a great sense of accomplishment and self esteem for her which helps me to know how to teach her in ways such as, work ethic.I'd recommend this book to anyone who is a child's care giver or thinking of placing the child in a Montessori school. I also found wonderful learning toys for my baby and toddelor.

I first read this book at age 17 just because it seemed like a different take on childhood. Reading it led me to read more of Montessori's books, and then to become a Montessori teacher, center director, and, much later in life, to author an eBook on doing Montessori at home. Maria Montessori was an inspiring genius who changed everything about how we view young children. I truly believe that the world has not fully caught up with her, and probably won't for another hundred years or so. You think one person can't make a difference? Montessori offered a totally new take on human development and how to support it in an optimal way. This book is one you must read to fully understand her vision. Every parent and teacher needs to read it, IMO.

This is an amazing book, that will absorb your interest from cover to cover. It deals with what most of us usually consider to be the most important part of our society, the education of children, and it shows us how many of our social preconceptions are just off the mark when it comes to children. While there are some clear holes in some of her premises (mainly those related to evolutionary theory, see Richard Dawkins The Selfish Gene) in general her conclusions are right on target when it comes to understanding the best way in which us, adults, can help the children develop properly by just simply letting them be free and independent, which is in their natural drive.

Good book, decent condition for a used book.

This book gave me a new concept of child, discipline and many other important concepts about childhood.This book should be required those who wants to became parents and teachers

Excellent quality and timely delivery!

Excelente libro para nosotros papas nuevos...

What a wonderful read. Everyone rearing a child should read it... Many Montessori places seem not to be run by Montessori's own principles. This is worth reading so you know what they are..Between the continuum concept and this, (oh and how to talk so little kids will listen) hopefully my daughter has some hope! ; )But seriously, without Montessori to back me up, most people think i'm mad that i don't want little one doing sny 'fantasy' till at least age 6 etc. Montessori explains why that is, after all, a good idea.Practical life skills all the way.I like that she backs up the 'no praise not reward' system with children....