Books of Interest
THE MYTH OF LAZINESS
Book Reviews
Apr 23, 2003, 17:17

By Mel Levine, M.D.
2003:Simon & Schulster

Reviewed by Lon Woodbury

Dr. Mel Levine is a professor of pediatrics at the University of North Carolina Medical School, and a very popular writer whose ideas in previous books have influenced the programs of several quality emotional growth/therapeutic schools and programs.

He is convinced that laziness is a myth; everybody has a basic drive to be productive. He describes what some call “laziness", as: "output failure," caused by some obstacle the alleged “lazy” person is having trouble overcoming. In his view, the output failure is usually some type of "neurodevelopmental dysfunction,” which, if treated, causes the “laziness" to disappear. The book is full of examples showing that what is considered to be “laziness,” is really something with which a person is having so much difficulty that for whatever reason, without intervention, the person doesn't have the ability to accomplish the task. He identifies seven forms of dysfunction that obstruct output, emphasizing writing as a key barometer of productivity during the school years. He devotes an entire chapter in his book to writing problems, because writing involves so many neurodevelopmental functions, such as memory, motor control, organization, and verbalization of ideas. The type of problems a child has with writing can give vital clues for pinpointing the exact cause of "output failure."