While there is much to commend this book, especially for parents of children in Montessori programs (which is why I read it), there is also much about it that is a problem. First, there is a gushiness in Montessori's utopian descriptions of how her program will create a "new man"–it's almost Leninist in its cadence, and it made me wonder whether Mussolini liked her Children's Houses. The disrespect for what children learn at home is palpable. Second, the section on the diet for children is hopelessly out of date. I'm sure her views, circa 1900, were the best science could offer, but we've gone way beyond advocating a diet rich in fats and sugar and prohibiting all milk products except butter. Third, there is too much detail for the general reader (i.e. most parents) about linguistic theory–and I really like linguistics. Her strengths, of course, are her emphases on the liberty and independence of the child (tempered by concern for society), stimulation and development of the senses, and the importance of writing. This inexpensive edition is worth having, but expect to skim a lot.

115 people found this helpful

While there is much to commend this book, especially for parents of children in Montessori programs (which is why I read it), there is also much about it that is a problem. First, there is a gushiness in Montessori's utopian descriptions of how her program will create a "new man"–it's almost Leninist in its cadence, and it made me wonder whether Mussolini liked her Children's Houses. The disrespect for what children learn at home is palpable. Second, the section on the diet for children is hopelessly out of date. I'm sure her views, circa 1900, were the best science could offer, but we've gone way beyond advocating a diet rich in fats and sugar and prohibiting all milk products except butter. Third, there is too much detail for the general reader (i.e. most parents) about linguistic theory–and I really like linguistics. Her strengths, of course, are her emphases on the liberty and independence of the child (tempered by concern for society), stimulation and development of the senses, and the importance of writing. This inexpensive edition is worth having, but expect to skim a lot.

115 people found this helpful

While there is much to commend this book, especially for parents of children in Montessori programs (which is why I read it), there is also much about it that is a problem. First, there is a gushiness in Montessori's utopian descriptions of how her program will create a "new man"–it's almost Leninist in its cadence, and it made me wonder whether Mussolini liked her Children's Houses. The disrespect for what children learn at home is palpable. Second, the section on the diet for children is hopelessly out of date. I'm sure her views, circa 1900, were the best science could offer, but we've gone way beyond advocating a diet rich in fats and sugar and prohibiting all milk products except butter. Third, there is too much detail for the general reader (i.e. most parents) about linguistic theory–and I really like linguistics. Her strengths, of course, are her emphases on the liberty and independence of the child (tempered by concern for society), stimulation and development of the senses, and the importance of writing. This inexpensive edition is worth having, but expect to skim a lot.

115 people found this helpful

While there is much to commend this book, especially for parents of children in Montessori programs (which is why I read it), there is also much about it that is a problem. First, there is a gushiness in Montessori's utopian descriptions of how her program will create a "new man"–it's almost Leninist in its cadence, and it made me wonder whether Mussolini liked her Children's Houses. The disrespect for what children learn at home is palpable. Second, the section on the diet for children is hopelessly out of date. I'm sure her views, circa 1900, were the best science could offer, but we've gone way beyond advocating a diet rich in fats and sugar and prohibiting all milk products except butter. Third, there is too much detail for the general reader (i.e. most parents) about linguistic theory–and I really like linguistics. Her strengths, of course, are her emphases on the liberty and independence of the child (tempered by concern for society), stimulation and development of the senses, and the importance of writing. This inexpensive edition is worth having, but expect to skim a lot.

115 people found this helpful

While there is much to commend this book, especially for parents of children in Montessori programs (which is why I read it), there is also much about it that is a problem. First, there is a gushiness in Montessori's utopian descriptions of how her program will create a "new man"–it's almost Leninist in its cadence, and it made me wonder whether Mussolini liked her Children's Houses. The disrespect for what children learn at home is palpable. Second, the section on the diet for children is hopelessly out of date. I'm sure her views, circa 1900, were the best science could offer, but we've gone way beyond advocating a diet rich in fats and sugar and prohibiting all milk products except butter. Third, there is too much detail for the general reader (i.e. most parents) about linguistic theory–and I really like linguistics. Her strengths, of course, are her emphases on the liberty and independence of the child (tempered by concern for society), stimulation and development of the senses, and the importance of writing. This inexpensive edition is worth having, but expect to skim a lot.

115 people found this helpful

While there is much to commend this book, especially for parents of children in Montessori programs (which is why I read it), there is also much about it that is a problem. First, there is a gushiness in Montessori's utopian descriptions of how her program will create a "new man"–it's almost Leninist in its cadence, and it made me wonder whether Mussolini liked her Children's Houses. The disrespect for what children learn at home is palpable. Second, the section on the diet for children is hopelessly out of date. I'm sure her views, circa 1900, were the best science could offer, but we've gone way beyond advocating a diet rich in fats and sugar and prohibiting all milk products except butter. Third, there is too much detail for the general reader (i.e. most parents) about linguistic theory–and I really like linguistics. Her strengths, of course, are her emphases on the liberty and independence of the child (tempered by concern for society), stimulation and development of the senses, and the importance of writing. This inexpensive edition is worth having, but expect to skim a lot.

115 people found this helpful

While there is much to commend this book, especially for parents of children in Montessori programs (which is why I read it), there is also much about it that is a problem. First, there is a gushiness in Montessori's utopian descriptions of how her program will create a "new man"–it's almost Leninist in its cadence, and it made me wonder whether Mussolini liked her Children's Houses. The disrespect for what children learn at home is palpable. Second, the section on the diet for children is hopelessly out of date. I'm sure her views, circa 1900, were the best science could offer, but we've gone way beyond advocating a diet rich in fats and sugar and prohibiting all milk products except butter. Third, there is too much detail for the general reader (i.e. most parents) about linguistic theory–and I really like linguistics. Her strengths, of course, are her emphases on the liberty and independence of the child (tempered by concern for society), stimulation and development of the senses, and the importance of writing. This inexpensive edition is worth having, but expect to skim a lot.

115 people found this helpful

While there is much to commend this book, especially for parents of children in Montessori programs (which is why I read it), there is also much about it that is a problem. First, there is a gushiness in Montessori's utopian descriptions of how her program will create a "new man"–it's almost Leninist in its cadence, and it made me wonder whether Mussolini liked her Children's Houses. The disrespect for what children learn at home is palpable. Second, the section on the diet for children is hopelessly out of date. I'm sure her views, circa 1900, were the best science could offer, but we've gone way beyond advocating a diet rich in fats and sugar and prohibiting all milk products except butter. Third, there is too much detail for the general reader (i.e. most parents) about linguistic theory–and I really like linguistics. Her strengths, of course, are her emphases on the liberty and independence of the child (tempered by concern for society), stimulation and development of the senses, and the importance of writing. This inexpensive edition is worth having, but expect to skim a lot.

115 people found this helpful

While there is much to commend this book, especially for parents of children in Montessori programs (which is why I read it), there is also much about it that is a problem. First, there is a gushiness in Montessori's utopian descriptions of how her program will create a "new man"–it's almost Leninist in its cadence, and it made me wonder whether Mussolini liked her Children's Houses. The disrespect for what children learn at home is palpable. Second, the section on the diet for children is hopelessly out of date. I'm sure her views, circa 1900, were the best science could offer, but we've gone way beyond advocating a diet rich in fats and sugar and prohibiting all milk products except butter. Third, there is too much detail for the general reader (i.e. most parents) about linguistic theory–and I really like linguistics. Her strengths, of course, are her emphases on the liberty and independence of the child (tempered by concern for society), stimulation and development of the senses, and the importance of writing. This inexpensive edition is worth having, but expect to skim a lot.

115 people found this helpful

While there is much to commend this book, especially for parents of children in Montessori programs (which is why I read it), there is also much about it that is a problem. First, there is a gushiness in Montessori's utopian descriptions of how her program will create a "new man"–it's almost Leninist in its cadence, and it made me wonder whether Mussolini liked her Children's Houses. The disrespect for what children learn at home is palpable. Second, the section on the diet for children is hopelessly out of date. I'm sure her views, circa 1900, were the best science could offer, but we've gone way beyond advocating a diet rich in fats and sugar and prohibiting all milk products except butter. Third, there is too much detail for the general reader (i.e. most parents) about linguistic theory–and I really like linguistics. Her strengths, of course, are her emphases on the liberty and independence of the child (tempered by concern for society), stimulation and development of the senses, and the importance of writing. This inexpensive edition is worth having, but expect to skim a lot.

115 people found this helpful