Never Too Late: My Musical Life Story [Paperback]

John Holt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 12, 1991

“If I could learn to play the cello well, as I thought I could, I could show by my own example that we all have greater powers than we think; that whatever we want to learn or learn to do, we probably can learn; that our lives and our possibilities are not determined and fixed by what happened to us when we were little, or by what experts say we can or cannot do.”Best known for his brilliant insight into the way children learn, John Holt was also an intrepid explorer of adult learning. At the age of forty, with no particular musical background, he took up the cello. His touching and hilarious account of his passionate second career demolished the myth that one must start an instrument (or a sport, or a language) in early childhood, and will inspire any reader who dreams of taking up a new skill.

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

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (September 12, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201567636
• ISBN-13: 978-0201567632
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #506,941 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Even better than it seems ..., March 18, 2001

By 

Valjean (Orcas Island, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Never Too Late: My Musical Life Story (Paperback)

Mr. Holt has written a subversive book. While somewhat disorganized in its presentation, 'Never Too Late' nevertheless presents some very unconventional ideas. I applaud his methods: while the majority of material centers around his musical education and attempts to learn a very difficult instrument (cello) at middle age, he also sneaks in some brain-rattling notions about how we learn, especially as adults. His "day job" expertise--childhood education--is typically referenced here as a distraction to his music, but ends up complementing his theses.

So what did he discover about our learning processes? Try these on for size: we have to imagine ourselves doing something new, difficult, and demanding *before* we do it; if you insist on learning a difficult activity, take it up for its own sake, *not* to help solve some "problem"; testing tests only our ability to take tests, nothing more; while adults have the advantage of posing their own problems (and finding solutions), we're hindered by seeing our tasks--even our art--as a series of tests at which we can only pass or fail (we do *far* too much of the latter).

While coming across these gems, I could not help but notice the biggest conceit of all in this exercise: that John Holt--a brilliant and original thinker about children's education--had written a book about adult education, all under the guise of a personal memoir. This cleverness is not without faults; I found myself starting to skip some of the more complex details of music theory into which he lapses. But they hardly diminish the power of the interspersed ideas.

My favorite insights are those the author found through personal--rather than especially theoretical--experience. He found himself giving "alibis in advance"--appeals for sympathy before even beginning an activity ("I'm not very good, but ...")--and reminded himself: do the best you can! Either shut up and play, or go home! Far from a reproach, this felt like a refreshing blast at an all-too-common self-pity. But even better was an approach Holt admitted he "learned slowly": "I have to accept at each moment, as a fact of life, my present skill or lack of skill, and do the best I can, without blaming myself for not being able to do better." He goes on to note "this is very hard for most adults." True enough. But by pointing out these invaluable insights, he's done us all a great service. Read this splendid little book and see if you don't agree.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A life-changing book, February 9, 2000

By 

Mark Alexander (Central Vermont) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Never Too Late: My Musical Life Story (Paperback)

This book changed my life. It gave me the courage and inspiration to overcome a horrible childhood experience with piano lessons, and relearn to play as an adult. Playing the piano has become one of the great joys of my life, and John Holt gave me the kick to allow that to happen.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rebel Educator: Indefatigable Student, March 14, 2002

By 

"arnacello" (San Marcos, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Never Too Late: My Musical Life Story (Paperback)

John Caldwell Holt, like Ivan Illych, was a long-time rebel educator who felt that the general public education system could sometimes do more harm than good when it comes to instilling in children a life-long love for learning. But in this particular book, Holt is sending a message to those in their golden years who think they've passed the prime of learning. Taking up the cello at an advanced age, then putting it down due to work and travel pressures, then taking it up again into his 50s and beyond, Holt wants to show by example that getting older doesn't mean you can't pursue your dreams.

Like Wayne Booth's book on the love of amateur cello playing, Holt's book shows how the pursuit of amateur cello playing is available to almost anyone with the drive to put in the requisite practice hours and gather with likeminded people to practice their craft.

If you put down your childhood instrument decades ago, or never picked one up in the first place, Holt can inspire you through his example to consider taking it up.