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167 ratings, 4.13 average rating, 43 reviews
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published
January 21st 1986
by Addison Wesley Publishing Company
binding
Paperback, 172 pages
isbn
0201050714
(isbn13: 9780201050714)
description
Jean Liedloff, an American writer, spent two and a half years in the South American jungle living with Stone Age Indians. The experience demolished he...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 236)
Read in October, 2006
What is a more perfect picture in this world than a contented baby in loving parent arms? Leidloff claim that this is the place to be if you are an infant; that the modern traditions of swings, cribs, playpens, and other child-holding-devices go against our nature and evolution, and can do great damage to a person by denying an infant’s automatic expectations.
I agree with much of what she says. Obviously, babies are made to be held. We are the only primates that willing sets our yo...more
I agree with much of what she says. Obviously, babies are made to be held. We are the only primates that willing sets our yo...more
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Read in April, 2008
I first read this book seven years ago, as a new mom, and just reread it for book group. First of all, I am appalled at the state of mind I must have been in when I first read it, cause boy did I swallow it hook, line, and sinker. My brain must have been in a hormone-induced state of mush. I mean, "evidence" suggests that homosexuality may be caused by non-continuum care. I didn't even notice this before! Or how awesome it is that the girls' in the indigenous cultures greatest joy...more
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Read in May, 2008
Yowza. I started this book a few months ago, then picked it up again last weekend. What timing! I just read Weissbluth's HSHHC, and my husband and I are in the midst of transitioning our infant daughter to sleep in her crib.
So with that in mind ... this book made me cry. Liedloff's chapter on The Beginning of Life -- the first experiences and feelings that a baby has when she's not in her mother's arms -- my gawd, how excruciatingly painful was that? I understand that she wants to ma...more
So with that in mind ... this book made me cry. Liedloff's chapter on The Beginning of Life -- the first experiences and feelings that a baby has when she's not in her mother's arms -- my gawd, how excruciatingly painful was that? I understand that she wants to ma...more
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I recommend this though any insight into myself personally cannot be accurately gained without talking to me about it.
That said, Liedloff in her travels as a not anthropologist encountered and spent time with some tribal groups, noticed how the adults (and all) appeared to be smiling and calm and non-violent/appropriately aggressive etc.
She wonders why & proceeds to attend closely to the general/specific interactions between the older people with the younger or infant...more
That said, Liedloff in her travels as a not anthropologist encountered and spent time with some tribal groups, noticed how the adults (and all) appeared to be smiling and calm and non-violent/appropriately aggressive etc.
She wonders why & proceeds to attend closely to the general/specific interactions between the older people with the younger or infant...more
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If you have a baby or are going to have a baby, I consider this mandatory reading. Actually, whether or not you're having a baby, I think this is a very interesting read. The way we become parents and raise babies in our culture is historically quite strange and I think we would do ourselves all some good if we took some of the principles of this book to heart. Here's a quote:
"It is no secret that the 'experts' have not discovered how to live satisfactorily, but the more they fa...more
"It is no secret that the 'experts' have not discovered how to live satisfactorily, but the more they fa...more
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Read in October, 2008
recommended to Lisa by:
websiterecommends it for: everyone, esp parents
Every parent/parent to be should read this book. Very insightful and compelling. I learned so much about why I am the way I am, and why other people are the way they are. I feel it has set me on a path towards healing, and I am relieved to know that I can help prevent my child from being a victim of our culture. The basic idea of the continuum concept is that there is a natural way that we are all meant to develop, though civilized life has torn us away from it. When an infant doesn't get what h...more
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Read in July, 2004
recommends it for:
preganant women or anyone planning to have kids.
The writing style is a little arrogant, but the concepts in this book are so important for all new moms to read and consider.
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Read in July, 2008
This book is about the happy social lives of the Yequana, a Stone Age tribe in the Venezuelan jungle, and the importance of what the author calls "the in-arms" experience. "In-arms" means quite simply that a mother or care-giver carry a baby from the moment it is born until the baby learns to creep, crawl and otherwise seek independence from his mother. Liedloff's premise is that babies who are unconditionally and constantly held and who participate, albeit passively from t...more
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
Anyone who works with children & mothers/primary caregivers
Brings to light the age old nature versus nurture question once again. Liedloff discusses her experiences living among the Stone Age Indians in South America as a study of child rearing techniques. What she found was a culture of people where there were no conflicts at all, despite the anarchist nature of the society. There were no recognized leaders yet each member of the community put in his/her contribution with joy and cooperation. Even the children played/worked together in harmony with...more
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Read in December, 2008
Some odd remarks made about homosexuals (ex. boys turn queer after growing up with attention needy mothers). Mostly a fascinating read, though.
"A great part of our tragedy is that we have lost the sense of our 'rights' as members of the human species. Not only do we accept boredom with resignation, but innumerable other infringements upon what is left of our continuum after the ravages of infancy and childhood. We say, for example, "It is cruel to keep so large an animal in...more
"A great part of our tragedy is that we have lost the sense of our 'rights' as members of the human species. Not only do we accept boredom with resignation, but innumerable other infringements upon what is left of our continuum after the ravages of infancy and childhood. We say, for example, "It is cruel to keep so large an animal in...more
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My five stars only pertain to the first half of this book. Her theory is a very interesting one, but she makes the mistake of trying to use it as a blanket explanation for every bad thing that exists in society today.
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Read in April, 2008
so far I am really enjoying this book, it seems to be what attachment parenting is based on. i skipped chapter 2 because it was so boring, but the rest is easy and fun to read. We are working on trusting Emma's instincts and not stressing out so much, so far it has been going good. We also are really working on not bombarding her with negative expectations (you're gonna fall, you're going to hurt yourself, you need help) and are trying to have positive expectations though sometimes it gives us h...more
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Read in January, 1978
recommends it for:
expectand and new mothers- natural types
This book espouses the idea that we are born "expecting " certain experiences as a baby. Such as feeling the wind on ones face, being jostled as your mother bends to pick up food, and many other sensory experiences that modern life has limited through the use of play pens, baby swings, cribs, etc.
The author lived with tribal community for a while, and learned a great deal about how children live in a more "natural" environment. Some of her ideas sounded crazy,...more
The author lived with tribal community for a while, and learned a great deal about how children live in a more "natural" environment. Some of her ideas sounded crazy,...more
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Read in January, 1978
This book influenced my life negatively. As an impressionable expectant mother I lapped it up. Sure, it challenges accepted views of parenting in the Western world and that needs doing, but it turned into a kind of tyranny. We don't have grandmothers and aunties and a whole tribe of people to assist with the childrearing, and we have to go out to work. Trying to carry my child without putting him down quickly wore me out!
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in June, 2003
Liedloff offers a compelling (though anecdotal) comparison of parenting practices between tribal cultures,(with whom she studied and lived among), to modern world. She theorizes the loss of ancient parenting practices have caused modern families to suffer and that returning to the tribal society's practices help establish supportive environment for women; attachment between families; and happy, secure, babies and children.
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I'm really hoping not to F#*$) up my kids... this is the closest thing to a "guide" i have found, though i don't know if one really exists anyway...
it is a fundamentally human, totally natural reminder about why we make babies and to trust our ability to love them in a way that affirms their dignity, secures their independence, and ignores modern bullshit....
it is a fundamentally human, totally natural reminder about why we make babies and to trust our ability to love them in a way that affirms their dignity, secures their independence, and ignores modern bullshit....
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Read in January, 1997
recommended to Gineen by:
sarah egglestonrecommends it for: everyone breathing
the best book ever written to explain us to ourselves and what we need-
its very simple.
this book should be read by every new parent.
it will change your understanding of childrearing.
but my hope is that the wisdom contained be utilized...why isn't there a film of this movie?
its very simple.
this book should be read by every new parent.
it will change your understanding of childrearing.
but my hope is that the wisdom contained be utilized...why isn't there a film of this movie?
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I decided to read this book after a recommendation in a John Holt book and it really opened my eyes. Anyone who has kids or is planning to have them in the future should read this book. I didn't agree with everything in the book, but most of it made a lot of sense.
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Read in September, 2007
The concept of what is natural has been eroded by the culture of fear we now live in and this book helps us see that. I saw a woman with a harness on her child last week and I said as I passed her in the street: Your child is not an animal, take that leash off.
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recommended to Sarah by:
JM Leon
recommends it for: any parent wanting to raise an intelligent child
recommends it for: any parent wanting to raise an intelligent child
No wonder everyone in this current civilization/society is so screwed up. It all makes sense now, as well as how to get back to sanity. What a refreshing perspective on the human species and our interactions with each other.
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