In a masterly commentary on the possibilities of education, the eminent psychologist Jerome Bruner reveals how education can usher children into their culture, though it often fails to do so. Applying the newly emerging “cultrual psychology” to education, Bruner proposes that the mind reaches it full potential only through participation in the culture–not just its formal arts and sciences, but its ways of perceiving, thinking, feeling, and carrying out discourse…. More >>
#1 by Mark Valentine on July 2, 2010 - 5:56 pm
What I enjoyed most about Bruner’s practical and insightful collection of essays collected in this book is his wisdom. Bruner’s contribution to education, after years researching and engineering much of the Cognitive Revolution in psychology, has to be acknowledged.
Specifically, I enjoyed his emphasis on “intersubjectivity,” a term used to described the process of learning using cultural, social stimuli in collusion with internal cognitive processes. Bruner repeatedly stresses the balance needed to sustain the view that individuals learn within their environment as well as through their biological background.
Keep this book in your library; it will be one that you underline and refer to frequently.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Dr Geraldo Fiamenghi on July 2, 2010 - 8:53 pm
This book is a gift for readers. Maybe not all readers, but those who are genuinely interested in human values and culture. Bruner’s ideas are bright and deep, making us understand that the future of education depends on human beings as agents of their destiny. The importance of every culture’s history and the transmission of experiences is only possible through human interactions. We cannot be naive and think that technology is not an instrument of culture. It is, and we must acknowledge it, otherwise we will be overridden by it. But, education is only possible by means of intersubjective exchanges: they are the key to the development of human beings.
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by Reginald Williams on July 2, 2010 - 11:05 pm
I read Bruner’s book in one of my doctoral seminars which added a unique perspective on curriculums in early childhood education; however, journeying into the book and determining the main points of argument will challenge due to Bruner’s overly dense prose.
He highlights the idea of culture defining curriculum through its langauge, customs, history, and society status, but he fails to offer examples accessible to the classroom teacher.
I would recognize this book as a added addition to to any Early Childhood Professional’s library, but please prepare yourself for many re-reads.
Rating: 2 / 5
#4 by Paulo Caeiro on July 3, 2010 - 1:04 am
I’m a client of amazon.com about 3 years and I never had a seller like that. They treat my purchase very carefully. I live in Portugal, at Europe and I never expected that the book arrive in a view days (4 days), like this one. I very happy with the package, because it wrap well the book. I hope work again whit this seller.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by Apple Scruff on July 3, 2010 - 1:47 am
This is, by far, the worst book I have EVER been forced to read. One star is too much. The title of this book, “The culture of education” leads the reader to believe that the author knows something about education. He toots his own horn several times in the book saying how good he is at what he does, but wouldn’t someone who knows something about education be able to relay information in a more effective way? This book is entirely unreadable. For example, here is a sentence from page 106. “Many of the tacit presuppositions guiding intersubjective transactions seem surprisingly incorrigible, even surprisingly inaccessible to conscious reflection.” What exactly does this mean? I’ll tell you what I think this book is. I think that Mr. Bruner is trying to impress people, while trying to make them feel stupid. If he has something to say, he should just say it! He buries whatever point he has in pretentious words such as “immutable,” Pontogenetically,” and “Hermeneutic.” If you are buying this book on Amazon, I suggest you also purchase the biggest dictionary they sell.
Rating: 1 / 5