The first edition of The Nature of Adolescence established itself as one of the leading textbooks in the field. In the second edition, John Coleman and Leo Hendry have thoroughly revised and updated all the material. They have added new emphasis to such areas as female adolescent development, and to the increasingly important lifespan developmental theory. New evidence now available on the effects of parental separation or divorce on teenagers has been taken into account. Finally, there is a wholly new chapter on the issues of work, unemployment, and leisure - and essential part of any text on adolescence today. This second edition will undoubtedly be welcomed by all those whose work or swtudy involves them in an understanding of young people.
"John Coleman weaves together a range of perspectives on adolescence in a highly readable text. This is a work of wisdom and scholarship cleverly combined with a great deal of useful and practical information. This is no mean feat ― making such complex ideas (merging anthropology, criminology, neuroscience, psychology, psychoanalysis and (a little bit of) sociology) accessible and understandable whilst not losing sight of the practice implications of the material is to be commended. All these make it essential reading for all those social workers working with adolescents." - Dr Ian Paylor, Senior Lecturer in Applied Social Science, Lancaster University, UK, in The British Journal of Social Work
"This book is unique in bringing together perspectives on adolescence from psychology, psychoanalysis, anthropology, neuroscience and criminology. John Coleman's particular talent is not only to make these complex ideas accessible to students and researchers, he also draws out their implications for those who work professionally with adolescents. As such, The Nature of Adolescence is essential reading for all those who wish to understand, and work more effectively with, young people." - John Pitts, Vauxhall Professor of Socio-legal Studies, University of Bedfordshire, UK
"In a society more troubled than ever by the problems of adolescence, this is a welcome and balanced overview, based entirely on scientific evidence. Enjoyable and authoritative reading for all who work with young people." - Lord Richard Layard, Well-being Programme, LSE Centre for Economic Performance, UK
"In this 4th edition of The Nature of Adolescence, John Coleman has woven together wisdom and scholarship to create a highly readable text. Topics such as the family and resilience are discussed with an informed intelligence which makes this book essential reading for anyone working with adolescents." - Professor Anne Edwards, Director, Department of Education, University of Oxford, UK
"Adolescence is indeed both a challenge and a delight, and John Coleman’s balanced, robust and fair approach to the topic is such a relief from negative media portrayals and thoughtless doom and gloom. This readable book provides a great deal of useful and practical information for anyone interested in the topic, and helps us to understand this important life stage." - Ann Hagell, Programme Head, Changing Adolescence Programme, The Nuffield Foundation London, UK and Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Adolescence
