The Absorbent Mind (Unabridged Start Publishing LLC) Kindle Edition

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."

Unfortunately much of the text on the pages of the books are faded making it harder to read. The 2 stars is not about the content of f the book just the faded text

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 is a masterpiece - and there are several problems with _this_ edition. There are 2 main versions (in English) of this book. The first was published in India, in 1949, and that text is now in the public domain. You can find it online to download at no cost. That is the text used in most inexpensive editions, including this one. The publishers have reformatted the book, using the text that is in the public domain, and copyrighted their particular arrangement of the words and pages. In some of the printed copies of this version, the type can be hard to read and sometimes pages are even missing.The version favored by Montessori training organizations, translated by Claude Claremont in 1958, is different. You can tell you are getting the Claremont translation if it has a foreword by John Chattin-McNichols Ph.D. or a translator's note by Claremont. There is no Kindle format available for this edition.Unfortunately, as of February 2018, these two versions are mixed together in Amazon's system and need to be separated out. Even more disturbing is that this Kindle version is linked to the other translation as if they are the same book in different formats. They aren't. I actually like reading both and comparing, but the translations from Italian are different and need to be sorted as such. Some of the reviews linked to this book were written about the Claremont translation (and some negative reviews about the public domain versions are posted on the Claremont editions.)Choose carefully. They are _not_ all the same.

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 book does a really good job of explaining the mindset and heart of the Montsssori pedagogy. I also was able to get a better understanding of the mindset and thought process of the person who founded it, Maria Montessori and the author of this book. I would encourage everyone to read this book, especially educators on any level.

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.

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....

A great insight for anyone interested in Montessori. This book includes many examples of how her methods can be applied in the classroom.My favorite thing I liked about this book is about the way she is describing the teaching methods and how a teacher should be in the class.I recommend it for a parent, teacher and it is a must for a student.

Helpful book.

The audio-book was amazing first one I've listened to . Learnt so much and love listening to it when I'm drive

Terrible edition, anybody's eyes will get damaged if he manager to get through that book.Low quality print