New Books in Anthropology "Age, Creativity and Culture: Reconsideration of how the Phases of Life Influence Knowledge, Experience, and Creation"
Aug 5, 2025
Heidi Landecker, a former Deputy Managing Editor at the Chronicle of Higher Education, joins Samuel Jay Keyser, an MIT linguist, and Jenny Wilson, a Trustee of the London U3A. They discuss the vital role of intergenerational relationships in learning and cultural transmission. The conversation highlights how age impacts creativity and emotional well-being, alongside the importance of mentorship. Technology's generational divide is also explored, along with the challenges of language adaptation in journalism. Their insights illuminate the connections that foster community and respect across ages.
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Age As A Map Of Experience
- Jeffrey Herlihy-Mera defines age as a map of lived experiences rather than just chronology or biology.
- He argues older people offer a different solidity and reflective scale that enriches intergenerational exchanges.
Mentorship That Sees The Person
- Samuel Jay Keyser read an email where a former student called him an academic mentor and friend.
- The student valued being taken seriously and having his ideas engaged, not cloned.
How Tough Mentors Raised A Review
- Jay Keyser recounts being heavily mentored by Morris Halle and Noam Chomsky while writing a lasting book review.
- Repeated critique and revision from mentors transformed his work to a much higher level.
