Within the brief compass of this masterful, inspiring book, Peter Selg conveys the heart of Waldorf education. He does so by focusing on a little recognized yet immensely significant "crisis" in children's lives, occurring around the age of nine. Often referred to by Rudolf Steiner, this crisis involves a profound transformation in children's relationship to their selves and the world.
The first part, "I Am Myself," deals with the subtle changes in soul life at this time, when children begin to separate themselves from the world around them This, however, is not a reflective process; what makes it subtle is that it is a question of feeling, as Selg beautifully shows with selected children's poems.
The second part, "Maturity in Breathing," explores the reality underlying this moment: the formative principle active during the first seven years comes to completion, and a new balance between the pulse and breath that is unique to each child comes into being. These processes are largely unconscious; at some point the child awakens to what is happening, thus precipitating the crisis.
The third part, "I and You," deals with the pedagogical and care-giving ways of being present through the crisis, and how to address the forces set free at this age. "We need to attend to each individual child at this moment because it will affect the whole of his or her life" (Rudolf Steiner).
Am Different from You explores the consequences of this critical time for later life and provides a wonderful and paradigmatic occasion to enter into the deeper meaning of education. This is a book not-to-be-missed.