The Myth of the First Three Years

John Bruer does something rare: he takes a widely beloved piece of conventional wisdom, goes back to the actual neuroscience, and shows carefully where advocates oversimplified the evidence. Reviews in both Nature and Science are extraordinary validation for a popular book, and the policy implications — billions of dollars in early-intervention programs resting on shaky scientific claims — make this more than academic. Dense in places, but essential reading for anyone working in early childhood education or policy.