isbn0205491251

Reader' Reviews

Overtly Biased / / 2010-04-03
I am reading this text for an online college class and I've been extremely frustrated by its overtly liberal slant. In addition to citing research actually relevant to psychology (but not necessarily valid), the author consistently takes her personal viewpoints and presents them as objective fact. They include the viewpoint that the US government should venture to solve all of society's problems through greater and greater funding and become more like those of Europe (this pervades the whole text and is inappropriate, whatever the author's intentions are), the viewpoint that we are pressured into conforming to gender stereotypes and that these are a bad thing (little boys need to be presented with little girl toys and vice versa), and that women need to acquire the same number of high-level career positions as men (no consideration that it is of women's own choice because motherhood takes priority, which is just as valuable an occupation as being a professional). I can't expect any textbook to be conservative on sexual issues, etc. but some of the things I've read in this text are just ridiculous! Liberals seem to pride themselves on being objective--and of course that should be the object of any textbook, perhaps more so than any other written work, but, in what I believe is an act of hypocrisy, it seems the author and much of academia have come to abuse their position as "authorities" by, in effect, indoctrinating (with good intentions perhaps) impressionable and uneducated students.

Development Throuh the Lifespan 4th Ed. / / 2010-02-14
Needed it for school. Everything was great. The cost of the book AND the shipping was very reasonable. Received it in just a few days. Thanks

The Good and the Bad / / 2009-12-09
I like how this book begins each chapter with a personal story, and how everything is related to life experiences that Mrs. Berk has had, but I found it very difficult to get through the chapters, because so much of it seemed like unnecessary or uninteresting elaboration, and her personal views on controversial political concerns (health care, for example) were quite clear, with little representation from opposing views. I often found myself pressed for time, and the sheer volume of each chapter was frustrating, such that I often skimmed for context, copied definitions, and then read through the summary for all the important things. Furthermore, I found that doing so was an effective way of studying for my class.

I know that the subject material is interesting. I just feel that this book did not bring out that aspect of Developmental Psychology.

Never got it / / 2009-11-11
I am unable to properly review this book as I never received it. Instead I got a book titled Anatomy and Physiology. I contacted the seller and to this day have received no repsonse. It has been over a month.

good stuff, lots of it. / / 2009-11-10
Great book, very in depth. I feel like every page contained enough information to make me go "wow". Organized and relevant.