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  • How Children Fail (Classics in Child Development)

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John Caldwell Holt
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How Children Fail (Classics in Child Development) Paperback – September 4, 1995

by John Holt (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars (325)
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First published in the mid 1960s, How Children Fail began an education reform movement that continues today. In his 1982 edition, John Holt added new insights into how children investigate the world, into the perennial problems of classroom learning, grading, testing, and into the role of the trust and authority in every learning situation. His understanding of children, the clarity of his thought, and his deep affection for children have made both How Children Fail and its companion volume, How Children Learn, enduring classics.
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  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    September 4, 1995
  4. Dimensions
    8.58 x 5.45 x 0.8 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0201484021
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0201484021
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Holt (1927-1985), one of this country's leading educational and social critics, was the author of ten influential books which have been translated into fourteen languages. Known both as a passionate reformer and as ”the gentle voice of reason” (Life magazine), John Holt offers insights into the nature of learning that are more relevant today than ever before.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Balance
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 4, 1995
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Revised
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0201484021
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0201484021
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.58 x 5.45 x 0.8 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #133,412 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars (325)

About the author

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John Caldwell Holt

John Caldwell Holt

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
325 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

  • N1kk1
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
    Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Worth your money and time. Thought provoking. Great read.
    Helpful
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  • Crystal
    5.0 out of 5 stars I recommend getting this book over How Children Learn
    Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I recommend getting this book over How Children Learn, which is great but not as good. This book is phenomenal, life changing, one of the best books I've ever read (I'm an avid reader) and THE BEST anti school book out there. I worried this book would be irrelevant in today's era, but no it is spot on. The author provides plenty of examples to illustrate his thoughts. It all makes sense and everyone should read this before having kids. I wish I had. If you have any doubts or fears about homeschooling, unschooling, whatever you call it, then you especially need this book.

    Even if you don't have kids, this book is enlightening. I'd recommend everyone read it, but if you have kids or work with them, consider this book mandatory. It will help you understand children in ways you've never thought of.
    49 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • George Washington
    5.0 out of 5 stars I had already fallen in love with the idea of unschooling
    Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I don't know where to start. This book changed me on a fundamental level. It started kind of slow for me, but by the end my understanding of children, learning, and school were forever changed. I read this book eleven years ago when my oldest was an infant. I had already fallen in love with the idea of unschooling, although I didn't truly understand it back then. I didn't make significant progress in deschooling until my oldest was about 8 or 9. The longer I unschool and deschool, the more this book speaks to me. John Holt understood how children fail, and he did a brilliant job of slowly unpacking that knowledge in the form of this book so the rest of us could not help but see it, at least those of us who want to see it. Start with this book first. Then read all of Holt's other books. You're perspective on children and learning will be more rooted in reality.
    19 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • L W Storyteller
    4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful
    Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2007
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Having studied education and seen first hand the detrimental affect teacher-centered classes have on a child's potential, I have to say it's refreshing to read a THINKING person's view on pedagogy in the 20th century. Sadly, I'm not sure we've improved much in the close to 50 years since this book/journal was written. Though the journal thoughts in the first part of the book show the direction Holt's thinking is leaning, the section on "Real Learning" is where the real gems are to be found. In fact, it has spurred me on to purchase "How Children Learn" as my preference is to approach education positively and constructively. This is a definite classic and I think new educators as well as old should be encouraged to read it and use to rethink their approach to teaching.
    20 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • JFK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read for All Teachers
    Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This book is a must read for all teachers and parents. John Holt provides great insight into how kids respond to schooling which must be distinguished from genuine education. Schooling consists of pointless dull and often stressful rituals that children develop various strategies to cope with. Testing, grading, and judging students creates a fear of failure in children that becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy for far too many. For Holt, real learning is the work of the learner not the teacher.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Robert Brown
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must for parents
    Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    See my comments for Holt's other book, "How Children Learn". Kids in public schools are forced to learn (memorize) things that have no relevance to them. One might say to a child, "You better learn this, and get it right on a test." The child is pressured to give the correct answer, or even any answer out of fear of being punished or humiliated. Holt, "What is most surprising of all is how much fear there is in school".
    Look at my review of "How Children Learn", which is also a must have book for parents.
    9 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Mr Maslov
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great price
    Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Very cheap and good quality print
    Helpful
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  • Reading for 4
    3.0 out of 5 stars Or: How Schools Prevent Learning
    Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    What is it about?

    Mostly it’s about how children cope with the stress of school, and how these methods are not conducive to real learning.

    Was it good?

    It was relatable and felt true, but I did not care for the fact that it was a bunch of memos he had written before he ever thought to write a book. As such, it is not nearly as fluent and organized as some of his other books.
    8 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dont miss it parents and teachers and educators
    Reviewed in India on September 22, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Anyone serious about child education in real sesnse must read especially all teachers , how we destroy kids abilities to learn has been well explained. John passion amd love for kids comes out thorough like the way god loves us all
    Report
  • CC
    5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful stuff.
    Reviewed in Canada on January 4, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I wanted to learn more about the ideas underpinning the idea ofv 'unschooling'. John Holts observations and thoughts on how smart children are, and how we/the education system conditions them to feel/believe anything but rang true to me.

    Great, accessible read. As a relatively new father, I'm glad I read this book.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Vital reading if you send or plan to send your children to school.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 25, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    An eye opener.
    Everything in it makes sense and I didn't realise until my 4th child struggled with the school system. I now know why!
    Report
  • Riina Muljar
    5.0 out of 5 stars How Children Fail
    Reviewed in France on August 15, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    A very interesting book! I would recommend that to teachers and parents to read. Absolutely useful book! Especially for teachers.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on November 19, 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Thanks
    Report
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