{"product_id":"how-children-fail","title":"How Children Fail by John Holt [rare books]","description":"\u003cdiv id=\"bookDescription_feature_div\" class=\"celwidget\" data-feature-name=\"bookDescription\" data-csa-c-type=\"widget\" data-csa-c-content-id=\"bookDescription\" data-csa-c-slot-id=\"bookDescription_feature_div\" data-csa-c-asin=\"0140135561\" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row=\"false\" data-csa-c-id=\"v7d3wa-ss6e-q6o5lo-qkaryd\" data-cel-widget=\"bookDescription_feature_div\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-a-expander-name=\"book_description_expander\" data-a-expander-collapsed-height=\"140\" class=\"a-expander-collapsed-height a-row a-expander-container a-spacing-base a-expander-partial-collapse-container\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"lj3cc0\" data-start=\"44\" data-end=\"84\"\u003eBook Summary\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"86\" data-end=\"239\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003eFirst published in \u003cstrong data-start=\"19\" data-end=\"27\"\u003e1964\u003c\/strong\u003e (with a revised edition in 1982), \u003cem data-start=\"62\" data-end=\"81\"\u003eHow Children Fail\u003c\/em\u003e documents John Holt’s experiences as a fifth-grade teacher, offering a prescient critique of conventional schooling\u003c\/span\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003eHolt reveals how fear, boredom, and confusion undermine children’s natural ability to learn—transforming curious thinkers into grade‑chasing “producers of the right answer”\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"241\" data-end=\"278\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003eThe book is structured in four sections:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"279\" data-end=\"602\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"279\" data-end=\"357\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"281\" data-end=\"357\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"12\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eStrategy\u003c\/strong\u003e, showing how children use survival tactics—like guessing or fishing for teacher cues—to avoid embarrassment rather than engage concepts\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"ms-1 inline-flex max-w-full items-center relative top-[-0.094rem] animate-[show_150ms_ease-in]\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"358\" data-end=\"436\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"360\" data-end=\"436\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"20\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eFear and Failure\u003c\/strong\u003e, illustrating how anxiety drives poor thinking habits; children fear wrong answers and harsh judgment from adults\u003c\/span\u003e .\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"437\" data-end=\"519\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"439\" data-end=\"519\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"17\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eReal Learning\u003c\/strong\u003e, recounting moments where uncoerced exploratory learning (e.g., with Cuisenaire rods) leads to genuine joy and understanding\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"520\" data-end=\"602\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"522\" data-end=\"602\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"20\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eHow Schools Fail\u003c\/strong\u003e, analyzing schooling’s emphasis on grades, rote memorization, and conformity—often promoting short-term recall rather than deep comprehension\u003c\/span\u003e .\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"604\" data-end=\"765\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003eHolt calls on teachers to take responsibility, not blame—urging educators to break free from teaching habits that breed compliance over insight\u003c\/span\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003eUltimately, he argues that children fail not due to lack of ability, but due to a learning environment that suppresses curiosity and instills fear\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"767\" data-end=\"770\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"1gnw9m6\" data-start=\"772\" data-end=\"806\"\u003eAbout the Author — \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"808\" data-end=\"1314\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"808\" data-end=\"830\"\u003eJohn Caldwell Holt\u003c\/strong\u003e (1923–1985) was an influential American educator, author, and reformer known for pioneering ideas that challenged traditional schooling. After teaching elementary school in the 1950s, Holt authored \u003cem data-start=\"1029\" data-end=\"1048\"\u003eHow Children Fail\u003c\/em\u003e and its companion \u003cem data-start=\"1067\" data-end=\"1087\"\u003eHow Children Learn\u003c\/em\u003e, which launched a movement toward learner-centered pedagogy and ultimately homeschooling and unschooling. \u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003eKnown in \u003cem data-start=\"9\" data-end=\"15\"\u003eLife\u003c\/em\u003e magazine as “the gentle voice of reason,” Holt continued to critique institutional education, advocating instead that children learn best when curiosity—not coercion—is the driving force\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1316\" data-end=\"1396\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003eHe founded the newsletter \u003cem data-start=\"26\" data-end=\"53\"\u003eGrowing Without Schooling\u003c\/em\u003e in 1977—the first publication advocating home education in America—and authored a total of eleven books on schooling and youth rights, blending clear observation with a deep respect for children's intellectual autonomy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"edpIngress_feature_div\" class=\"celwidget\" data-feature-name=\"edpIngress\" data-csa-c-type=\"widget\" data-csa-c-content-id=\"edpIngress\" data-csa-c-slot-id=\"edpIngress_feature_div\" data-csa-c-asin=\"0140135561\" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row=\"false\" data-csa-c-id=\"im4zzc-bxrye3-zdkk42-vza5an\" data-cel-widget=\"edpIngress_feature_div\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"richProductInformation_feature_div\" class=\"celwidget\" data-feature-name=\"richProductInformation\" data-csa-c-type=\"widget\" data-csa-c-content-id=\"richProductInformation\" data-csa-c-slot-id=\"richProductInformation_feature_div\" data-csa-c-asin=\"0140135561\" data-csa-c-is-in-initial-active-row=\"false\" data-csa-c-id=\"lyvrzt-99d493-aulg2a-2gkl44\" data-cel-widget=\"richProductInformation_feature_div\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Best of used books","offers":[{"title":"Used","offer_id":44273275371777,"sku":"2SUNAVR41-Used","price":599.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0421\/4299\/0495\/products\/FAIL.jpg?v=1667808491","url":"https:\/\/bestofusedbooks.com\/products\/how-children-fail","provider":"Best Of Used Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}