This is an excellent introductory text for helping educators and parents understand gifted and talented children and adults. Piirto's writing is clear and understandable. Her text provides a comprehensive examination of not only the development of gifted and talented individuals, but also strategies for meeting these individuals' needs. One of the strengths of the book is Piirto's examination of stages of development encompassing birth to grade 2, elementary and middle school years, high school and college years, and adulthood. Such an examination allows educators and parents alike a way to understand the complete developmental cycle of a gifted individual. In addition, Piirto provides information about appropriate curriculum practices, social-emotional counseling needs and identification of creativity. All in all this is a book well worth the price.

I had heard Dr. Piirto speak at conferences, and was delighted to get this second edition of her book. I was even more pleased to see that it had won the Parent's Guide Award. I often had wondered about tests for creativity, and whether our schools really nurtured it. This book is provocative in those areas, as well as regarding how creative adults in different occupational areas differ in personality and family background experiences. An excellent and fascinating book!

Dr. Piirto's book is fascinating. If you are an artist or a business person, this book is for you. Understand yourself and those you love. Find out why writers suffer from bipolar disorder and alcoholism. Discover the personality that propels Bill Gates and other business dynamos. Figure out where you fit in and why you do what you do.