Mellow Out, They Say. If I Only Could: Intensities and Sensitivities of the Young and Bright

by Michael M. Piechowski

The purpose of this book is to give voice to the emotional life of bright young people, to show how their intensities and sensitivities make them more alive, more creative, and more in love with the world and its wonders. The young people express their thoughts and feelings through some 500 excerpts quoted in the text. The book has 21 chapters in five parts: 1. A Matter of Heart. 2. Energy, Sensorium, and Intellect. 3. Imagination. 4. Emotional Life. 5. Emotional and Spiritual Growth

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Psychology

307 pages, Paperback

First published March 9, 2006

About the author

Michael M. Piechowski, Ph.D., received his M.Sc. from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland, his hometown. He earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He collaborated with Kazimierz Dabrowski for eight years after meeting him at the University of Alberta, Edmonton. Michael then returned to the University of Wisconsin to earn a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. Subsequently he taught at the University of Illinois, Northwestern University, and Northland College. He is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Educational Advancement and Professor Emeritus at Northland College. He is a contributor to the Handbook of Gifted Education and The Encyclopedia of Creativity and editor of Living with Intensity. His studies of self-actualizing people and moral exemplars led him to the study of emotional and spiritual giftedness. He has taught at the Honors Summer Institute at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio and has lectured in New Zealand and Australia. Since 2002 he has been involved with the Yunasa summer camp for highly gifted youth, organized by the Institute for Educational Advancement. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Piechowski by one of the oldest and most experienced leaders in giftedness at all lifespan stages. Approaching 80 years old, Dr. Piechowski is still active in the national and international gifted communities.

Professor Piechowski is one of only a handful remaining students of Dr. Kazimierz Dabrowski. Dr. Dabrowski Is credited for developing overexcitabilities, especially useful in identifying young gifted children, and the steps necessary to achieving advanced emotional development.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as compelling or helpful as hoped.