The Adult Learner: the Definitive Classic in Adult Education and Human Resource Development (6th ed.)

The Adult Learner: the Definitive Classic in Adult Education and Human Resource Development (6th ed.)

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The Adult Learner: the Definitive Classic in Adult Education and Human Resource Development (6th ed.)

Malcolm S. Knowles, Elwood F. Holton III, Richard A. SwansonElsevier-Butterworth Heinemann2005

Keywords: Learning, Adult education, Human resource development

This book is the 6th edition of what it terms a definitive classic in the field of adult learning, education and human-resource development (HRD), the first edition having been published in 1973 and the 5th edition in 1998. Malcolm Knowles’s original thinking and concepts are built on by two respected American academics, Richard Holton and Elwood Swanson. The text is relevant to adult learning and human resource specialists, and students who are interested in developing their understanding and theoretical knowledge of adult learning. As such, it encompasses both teaching and workplace learning environments.

The book is divided into three parts. The first describes “The roots of andragogy”, the second “Advancements in adult learning”, and the third “Practice in adult learning”. People who purchased the 5th edition should note that, while some of the chapter headings are the same or similar, their order has been changed in the new edition. Besides a summary at the end of each chapter, reflective questions have been added at the end of each chapter.

New additions to the book (or, in some cases, additions of what appears to be previously published original material) are chapters entitled “An androgical process for learning”, “The future of andragogy” and “Personal adult-style learning inventory”. It is only in “The future of andragogy” that attribution of dates beyond the year 2000 becomes evident and even some of these differ from those identified in the references. On closer inspection, over the 39 pages of references there are only three beyond 2000. The reader of previous editions may therefore be unconvinced of the promised “fully updated and revised” nature of the new edition.

The format of the book is eminently readable. It contains a wealth of wisdom and experience, which is why it has become regarded as a core text on adult learning for more than 30 years. First-time readers can only benefit from this approach. For those who have read previous editions, perhaps the very longevity of the text and additions/revisions over a period of time have diluted some of the impact of the original message.

Reviewed by Alan Cattell, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK.

A version of this review originally appeared in Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 37 No. 7, ISSN 0019-7858.