Seasons of Life: Our Dramatic Journey from Birth to Death

by John N. Kotre and Elizabeth Hall

Book Overview

The saga of personal human development in its five major stages: infancy and early childhood, childhood and adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood and late adulthood, presenting the insights emerging from research in psychology, biology, anthropology and sociology.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316502529
• ISBN13: 9780316502528
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company
• Length: 421 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

If one had to describe humanity in a single book, this is it.

This book was referred to me by a favorite professor. Seasons of Life follows several families, progressing from birth to death. During each 'season' of life, the book does an amazing job of describing what life is like for the person experiencing it, and for those around them. The descriptions include examples from rural and urban lifestyles, making it easy to relate to. IMO, the most helpful part of the book is the historical perspective it adds. For example, the most radically changed social group in western culture is adolescents, because their role in society has changed the most in recent history (last 20, 50, 100 years), and is still evolving. Whereas life for an infant is very similar to how it has been for thousands of years. Well developed pictures of what it means to be an infant, child, adolescent, as well as early, middle, and late adult are painted, including the physical, emotional, and social changes that occur during each season. I found the descriptions of the cultural and sociological forces, as well has how those forces have changed in history, to be very helpful. The book is enjoyable to read, and one that I plan to read again, in a few more years. I highly recommend this book.