How to Grow Up Without Becoming a Grown-Up
Big Lessons from Little Kids
$55.95
- Hardcover
288 pages
- Release Date
4 August 2026
Summary
Being a grown-up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. What if we got back in touch with the joy, freedom, silliness, and creativity of being a kid?
When we were children, we were passionate, imaginative, and curious, and we loved without judgment. Now we are adults … neurotic, anxious, socially inept, and oh so very lonely. Why did we rush to become grown-ups? Why must we trade dream jobs for high-paying ones, tree climbing for social climbing, and juice boxes for juice cleanses? Is it po…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780593832974 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 0593832973 |
| Author: | Julian Shapiro-Barnum |
| Publisher: | Penguin Books Ltd |
| Imprint: | Penguin Life |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 288 |
| Release Date: | 4 August 2026 |
| Weight: | 369g |
| Dimensions: | 25mm x 146mm x 217mm |
Critics Review
“A robust manual for taking onboard the wisdom of children and the wages of curiosity. Julian gives me great hope for the future of our free thinkers.”
—Nick Offerman, New York Times bestselling author of Little Woodchucks
“How to Grow Up Without Becoming a Grown-Up is sweet, tender, and authentic, and a lovely reminder about staying true to your inner child.”
—Jenny Lawson, author of How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Ok
“The advice is good, bears repeating, and is packaged more than palatably by a funny, self-deprecating, vulnerable young narrator … Shapiro-Barnum’s conversational, sometimes zingy writing entertains … but [is] motivated by heartfelt sincerity. The writer’s enthusiasm and whimsical imagination shine through this endorsement of childhood’s gifts.”
—Kirkus Reviews
Julian Shapiro-Barnum
Julian Shapiro-Barnum is a comedian, writer, and interviewer known for his online shows Recess Therapy, Celebrity Substitute, and Outside Tonight. Julian has won seven Webby Awards, was a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and received a Family Entertainment Award from Variety. He’s been profiled many times, including by The New York Times, Vanity Fair, the Today show, and ABC’s Nightline. He resides in Brooklyn, New York.
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