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List Price: $19.95 | | Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Salesrank: 229473
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| Our Price: $12.00 |
| Used Price: $6.58 |
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| Media: Paperback |
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Editorial Review:
This biography of one of the world's most eminent psychologists describes Skinner's youth, family and education, his early and lingering desires to become famous as a writer or artist, his lifelong fascination with literary and "bohemian" figures, his difficult life and his devotion to his children. The author strips away many misconceptions about the great behaviourist pointing out that far from having a rigid, mechanistic view of humans, Skinner had an expansive, highly moral vision of the possibilities of human achievement. He shows Skinner's ideas as immensely practical with immediate "real world" applications through books geared to the general public, and through his interventions - machines and devices that could streamline everything from daily activities and teaching to missile guidance. The author has drawn on scholarly source material as well as personal correspondence, diary entries, interviews and other informal sources. The result is a narrative of Skinner's life, of the breakthroughs he made as a researcher and the lasting influences that his work still has on the science of psychology.
B.F. Skinner: A Life Reviews:
Skinner: The Humanist Behind The Behaviorist 
2007-08-24 - The how's, why's, when's, and where's of a forged life are depicted beautifully in the biography of a scholar and scientist that dared question our penchant to attribute our so-called "success" to our will and dignity. Skinner is portrayed as a human being who readily recognized that his success was indeed accidental. Skinner is real, geniune, and too much for the ordinary mind to handle.
The Biography Box 
2004-02-17 - This is the best biography I've read. I certainly find Skinner interesting, but what's impressive is how well this book flows, and I expect that's due to Bjork's writing skills and understanding of Skinner.
I came to this book because I don't know much about Skinner. I can't vouch for its accuracy or slant but it seems very professional, with plenty of references. I feel lucky to have started here. I've been reading other books on Skinner and Radical Behaviorism and appreciate the background Bjork has given me. There's a smooth mix of detail and overview.
Although there's plenty of material to help to understand Skinner the scientist and philosopher, there is also a good amount for feeling one has learned about Skinner the man, a dutiful husband, warm father, and, despite some isolation that his advanced thinking brought him, a decent friend. Seeing this side of Skinner provides good reason not to jump at labelling him a reductionist. I also learned to admire his faithfulness, despite popular opposition, to pushing forward to scientifically study how conditioning impacts us (and how we use and can better use conditioning to our own advantage).
While I'll be reading Skinner, I'd also like to read more of Bjork. If I were a famous thinker, Bjork is someone I'd like to have write my biography.
Insight to Skinner
2002-01-15 - This is a good primer of Skinner's life. It provides clarification regarding the origin of Skinner's ideas and charts the course of his personal and intellectual development through his career.
