Emerging adulthood : the winding road from the late teens through the twenties /

The third edition of Emerging Adulthood is a great example of how a new field can be supported not just by individual journal articles, but by an ongoing synthesis of that research. Three editions within 20 years confirm that the field is well established and continues to grow rapidly, and this update is a thorough and interesting summary of that growth, while still including the initial research that stimulated the birth of the field. Emerging adulthood, as defined by Arnett (Clark Univ.), is not a new stage in biological terms, but rather the result of complex social factors such as education, morality, and economics. Arnett ties emerging adulthood back to psychologist Erik Erikson's theory and demonstrates quite clearly that it is not a simple extension of adolescence, nor a failure or delay in achieving adulthood. The text is organized thematically, covering topics important to emerging adults, and includes a new chapter devoted to the impact of cultural variation as well as updates on rapidly changing areas such as digital media and its influence. Arnett's narrative style is engaging. He includes individual stories and ample references to research, inviting readers to explore further. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; professionals. --Julia F. Heberle, Albright College