Learning in Adulthood: A Comprehensive Guide (Jossey-Bass Higher and Adult Education) [Hardcover]

Sharan B. Merriam (Author), Rosemary S. Caffarella (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0787910430 | ISBN-13: 978-0787910433 | Publication Date: November 6, 1998 | Edition: 2nd

"An essential volume in adult education."
--Choice

"Merriam and Caffarella provide an excellent resource whose value will last until the appearance of the third edition."
--Continuing Higher Education Review

The second edition of Learning in Adulthood integrates the most important contributions to adult learning in the last decade. The result is an updated, comprehensive synthesis of what we now know about adult learning--including the context in which it takes place, who the participants are, what they learn and why, the nature of the learning process itself, major theoretical developments, and much more. Sharan Merriam and Rosemary Caffarella reveal how sociocultural influences can create specific developmental needs and interests, and how such social factors as race, class, and gender can shape learning. From this background, they construct a more inclusive perspective on adult learning, guiding readers toward new ways of thinking about teaching, learning, and the broader social implications of adult education.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Such an important and complete guide on the subject of adult learning that it is now in its second edition. Merriam and Caffarella have done a monument work of pulling together the current research and thinking on adult learning." (ForeThought)

"Merriam and Caffarella provide an excellent resource whose value will last until the appearance of the third edition." (Continuing Higher Education Review)

"An essential volume in adult education." (Choice, (praise from 1st edition))

"[Learning in Adulthood's] greatest strengths are its coverage of the learning context, theory-building within adult learning, and how social and ethical issues offer special challenges to adult learning. . . . [It] will be useful to both experienced and novice continuing educators, as well as laypersons." (Continuing Higher Education Review, (praise from 1st edition))

"This book is extremely useful in that it provides an informed overview of issues related to adult learning. It is very readable, yet packs considerable challenge for the more experienced adult educator." (Canadian Journal of University Continuing Education, (praise from 1st edition))

From the Inside Flap

An updated synthesis of what we know about adult learning—its context, participants, major theoretical developments, and more. The authors reveal how sociocultural influences can create specific developmental needs and interests, and how race, class, and gender can shape learning. From this background, they construct a more inclusive perspective on adult learning, guiding readers toward new ways of thinking about teaching, learning, and the social implications of adult education.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 2nd edition (November 6, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787910430
• ISBN-13: 978-0787910433
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #339,782 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensible!, October 15, 2002

By 

Donald Privett (Comox, BC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Learning in Adulthood: A Comprehensive Guide (Jossey-Bass Higher and Adult Education) (Hardcover)

An all-inclusive study of adult learning by two of the field's leading writers, this text covers substantial ground in exploring the theory and practice of its subject. All facets of learning are covered: psychological, social context, process, theories, models, and key concepts. The book provides up-to-date information on topics such as andragogy, self-directed learning, and transformational learning, and on important background theories like post-modernism, feminism, emotional intelligence, spirituality, and critical theory. The text is enriched with tables and diagrams, 69 pages of references, and author and subject indices. The authors' personal reflections on ethics and the integration of theory and practice help enliven the factual chapters. This rich text is arguably the most important single-source resource in the field of adult learning. Never far from reach (I refer to it as my "bible"), seldom a day goes by when I do not refer to it for clarification of a theory or concept, to discover background reading, or to compare or cross-reference resources. Easy to read and offering depth as well as breadth, adult educators of all stripes-students at all levels, novice and veteran practitioners-can benefit from this book. I am pressed to think of a single negative remark-only that it will grow dated quickly if it is not regularly revised (nearly a decade lapsed between the 1st and 2nd editions), as the adult learning field is in a growth spurt and changing rapidly.

19 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not comprehensive in any way, July 26, 2004

By 

JOE Houde "JOE in T&D" (Durham, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Learning in Adulthood: A Comprehensive Guide (Jossey-Bass Higher and Adult Education) (Hardcover)

This book was assigned for a class in Adult Education, and was painfully inappropriate as a text. Merriam does not bother to explain many of the fundamental and seminal theories in Adult Education, and when she does, she spends twice the time explaining the critiques of these theories than she does the theories themselves. Many of the critiques are either unjustified or based on a misunderstanding or misapplication of the theory, as well

Aside from teh lack of comprehensive, in depth coverage of the field, the author's personal baises shine through in the content and toneof this book. Fields in which they have done research are emphasised in severla chapters and the "comprehensive" discussion of other topics often read like journal articles where the authors are only mentioning contrary thoeries to debunk them in support of their own hypothesis.

This book is barely adequate at introducing a new student of Adult Ed into the realm of theory. I would advise those that are not already followers of Merriam and Caffarella's school of thought to take this book with a grain of salt. And I would advise their followers to look elsewhere for a a balance to the biased perspective they present.

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learning in Adulthood ook review, November 9, 2006

By 

Jo Kenny "Jo" (San Jose, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Learning in Adulthood: A Comprehensive Guide (Jossey-Bass Higher and Adult Education) (Hardcover)

I found this book to be informative and very helpful in learning the varoius theories of adult learning. Chapters are well organized and written. It might be a bit dense for the new student, but completely worth the investment of time to read and comprehend.