Reviewer: Nicholas Greco IV, MS, BCETS, CATSM, FAAETS (C3 Education and Research, Inc.)
Description: This fourth edition of a book on human development has been substantially updated to reflect the growing changes in the field. Revisions include more than 1,500 updated and new citations, updates on ADHD and Alzheimer disease, and ongoing debates within the development field. The previous edition was published in 2014.
Purpose: All college and graduate level textbooks need to be updated every three to four years, depending on the advances within the field. This book is no exception. The purpose of this edition is to cover the essentials of life span development without sacrificing quality or knowledge. The book incorporates and covers the core content in a way that is meaningful to diverse students. This is accomplished by the writing style, applied examples, various applications such as "How Would You" questions and careers in life span development.
Audience: This book is most appropriate for undergraduates and, possibly, graduate-level students for whom this book would be the centerpiece of a course. Both students and instructors will once again find this book to exceed expectations. The author is an exceptionally well versed in the field of development.
Features: All 17 chapters have been substantially revised. In addition to needed research and literature updates, the book has in-depth discussions of updates in parenting, the changing adolescent brain, neurofeedback and mindfulness in ADHD, genetic, cellular, and lifestyle changes in Alzheimer disease, and data on life expectancy. The book covers all aspects of development very well and the chapters on early childhood and adulthood stand out. There are essential resources for instructors such as PowerPoints, an instructor's manual, and a computerized test bank. Students will find the digital resources, such as Smartbook and Connect Sight on the McGraw Hill website to be especially helpful. Every chapter has a detailed summary, key terms, and terrific examples to illustrate key points.
Assessment: Any human development book brings with it unique challenges for an author, as one must cover the physical, cognitive, social, and psychological aspects throughout the life span. A book that also provides for an essential, briefer version, while maintaining the same quality as a larger book, is quite an achievement. This book is a rare example of the pairing of a quality author with exceptional material.
