Children's Minds

By Margaret Donaldson ,

Book cover of Children's Minds

Book description

Margaret Donaldson's seminal work on child development, first published in 1978, has become a classic inquiry into the nature of human thought.

In this concise and brilliantly readable book, Margaret Donaldson shows that context is key when it comes to the development of language and thought, and how the right…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Children's Minds as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I was inspired to follow a career in psychology after reading this short, fascinating book about the way children think. I loved its accessibility and its learnedness.

When I talk to students who are just starting out in psychology, I urge them to find a passion. This book was the kickstarter for my passion, which has turned into over 35 years of teaching and research. It turned my general interest in the way children talk into research expertise in the domain of communication disabilities.

It is essential that we understand and overcome barriers to communication because language lies at the…

I read Children’s Minds during the school summer holidays in 1979 and vividly remember sitting in the sunshine in Edinburgh’s Meadows, in floods of tears over Margaret Donaldson’s call to arms in her closing pages. Children’s Minds is a wonderful introduction to the science of child development (indeed, it profoundly affected the course of that science, particularly in terms of the development of thought and language). It’s wise, perceptive and a great read.  

From Sue's list on child development and education.

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The vast mysterious terrain explored in this book encompasses the embodied human brain, the processes through which humans grow, develop, and learn, and the mystery of consciousness itself. We authors offer this guidebook to assist you in entering and exploring that terrain.

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