Product Description
In this updated landmark book, the authors have gathered the seminal work and most current thinking on adult learning into one volume. Learning in Adulthood addresses a wide range of topics including: Who are adult learners? How do adults learn? Why are adults involved in learning activities? How does the social context shape the learning that adults are engaged in? How does aging affect learning ability?

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 3.5 based on 17 reviews)

An Excellent Resource! by Adel G. Thalos (Atlanta, GA)

5 Stars
September 04, 2009
For a comprehensive overview of adult education theory and pedagogy, buy this book! There is none better! It is an extremely valuable resource to guide you toward other major works in specific areas and gives excellent summaries of their work.

Disappointing Option by Open Your Eyes

2 Stars
June 13, 2009
Read this book for a doctorate-level educational (adult) theory class. The coverage of the topic is adequate and interesting with one major problem; the authors marginalize their hard work with anti-American propoganda, among other serious flaws. What a disappointment. The opening pages of the book describe the authors as academics with seemingly honorable careers, yet their aggressive political prose raises questions. Being in America, we are blessed to have our opinions and speak them when appropriate. This context is not the place for radical views. For example, the authors suggest that American math courses are teaching homophobia. This is one of many examples of an imbalanced approach to teaching adult education. While I agree it is difficult for authors not to show some "voice" even when writing academically, this book goes well beyond academic freedom and simply demonstrates poor judgement. Shame on the authors, and God Bless America.

Editional Dysfunction by Old Grad Student (New York, NY USA)

1 Stars
March 02, 2009
"The fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves," Shakespeare wrote. For whatever reason, I never checked (nor was it listed) what particular EDITION of this book was available for sale. Needing the 3rd edition, I wound up with the 2nd edition, which was, for me, totally useless. The posting on Amazon did NOT specify the edition. Because of a pending seminar deadline (I'm a 69 year-old graduate student), I was forced to buy a new 3rd edition of the book at retail. So, I now have two versions (one outdated) of the same tome, which, in my effort to save money, cost me considerably more than I had anticipated.

An overview of adult learning by John Zapata (Plant City, Florida)

5 Stars
November 25, 2008
This book does a very good job in describing the history of adult learning processess, the various methods of same, and philosophical perspectives of how and why adults seek education in later life. It sets one up to make their own judgements on what is important to the field of adult education and how those important issues should be addressed. The book also makes good points about the probable effects of the changing demographics on educating older adults. Excellent read for teachers, students, sociologists, and counselers. John Zapata Plant City, Fl.

Another grad student by Andrew Larson (Glendale, AZ USA)

1 Stars
September 23, 2008
Merriam's spirituality section reads right off of a new age sale rack. "Grace lurks among the vegetables in the supermarket. Grace sits on a bar stool and smokes a cigarette". It just doesn't get any more absurd than quoting research like that. It's stocked with disdain for traditional learning and loaded with bias and garbage like the above. Yuck. She spends more time tearing apart theories that don't jive with her agenda than going over new thought. Rotten book.

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