Touching: The Human Significance of the Skin

This book may look like a novel from afar, but it's brimming with research and scientific studies. The author makes reference to studies that are probably some of the earliest research done on skin and touch, so I would think some of the animal experiments might be unethical in the 21st century, but insightful nonetheless.Despite that I'm not interested in pregnancy or having children, the author also spends a good deal of writing exploring the touch relationship and necessity of touch throughout pregnancy and infancy, across animal and human studies, which I found very interesting and useful for further understanding the importance of touch.I am a massage therapist, so I value touch. But this book has impacted my opinion in that I no longer see touch as simply valuable, but rather as the most significant need of living beings.Maybe an old book, but definitely still relevant and an excellent read!

I discovered this book after my son was born severely premature after 23.5 weeks gestation, weighing only 1 lbs 10 oz. The doctors told me he had 0% chance for survival. Someone suggested that I read this book. In the first 3 weeks of his little life, I was not able to touch him because his system was too sensitive for even the slightest stimulation. So I read this book. At first it scared me that not being able to touch, hold, or cradle him might effect his willingness to live. Even though I couldn't touch him, I was grateful that the nurses who were constantly touching him. As he grew more tolerant, I was able to touch him with a fingertip, then a couple of fingers, until I was able to gradually lay my hand on him. It is hard to explain what it was like to be a Mom and not able to touch or hold your baby. After the 3rd week, he needed to get a PDA surgery to close a valve in his heart to support his breathing. The doctors were certain he would not survive the surgery. So one nurse figured that since he would die, I might as well hold him one time while he was living. I, myself, grew up in a home where affection was not practiced and it was awkward for me. This moment I got to hold my son erased all of my past issues with touching and being affectionate. I was sure that once I got to hold my son and he could hear my heartbeat, he would survive anything just to return to that feeling again. He survived the surgery. Every chance I got, I would lay still for hours at a time with him on my bare chest. I remember needing to release my bladder, but holding it for hours so I wouldn't disturb these precious moments of constant touch. I watched as other moms in the NICU would hold their babies with their clothes on, I knew the importance of us being skin to skin because of this book. The doctors warned me that even if he did live, he would suffer undoubtedly with mental, emotional, and cognitive problems, physical/motor deficits, respiratory problems, and learning disabilities. I just kept holding him and praying. Even when he was able to come home, and he was on oxygen and hooked up to an apnea machine, I kept my son laying on me. Today, he is 9 years old with not 1 disability. Even though he is in the 4th grade, he reads and comprehends at a 10th grade level. This book taught me about the healing power of touch and my son is evidence of just how powerful it is. My son is very sensitive, caring, considerate, and intuitive. I owe it to the messages he picked up on from us being in constant touch. It gave him a will to live. I am grateful for this book. It healed my son, and surprisingly it healed me of my own struggles with being affectionate. Thank you.

Total like. Show how vital human touch is to both development and happiness in life. Great author - I went to one of his lectures many years ago. A question was asked him - anything you regret in your life. He said "the books I didn't buy". He had a personal library of 5000 books.

This is one of those books that simply informs deeply into the brain and memory. When I was a boy, my father taught at Rutgers University, and one of the professors there was Ashley Montagu. He was tall, lean, white haired, and very English. Behind him I remember a fetus in a jar, and he explained that this was the son of a student who wanted to give him her stillborn child "for science." Years later, he sent me an autographed copy of this book, and I remember the clarity of the writing and the humaneness of the content. Montagu tells us that of all things important to humans, the earliest sensations are from the skin and the exposure to touching. A mother's breast, a father's strong arms, a siblings playing with fingers, and the like. Nothing short of language itself has such a powerful impact on healthy and normal human development. Read this and be enlightened by a great mind and scientist. There are not many around like him anymore.

This book can be credited with saving our premature child. Our daughter was in ICU. I went to check on her. Unknown to me, in the hallway, I passed my wife's Dr. who was about to tell my wife the child was dying.Entering ICU, I sat at her table and remembered reading in Dr Montague's book that touching had a positive effect on newborns. I began stroking her back and talking to her about her sisters and a puppy that was waiting for her at home. The nurse came to me and asked what I was doing. Thinking she thought I was doing something wrong, I stopped. She said to continue whatever it was because the respirator showed our daughter's breathing was improving. I sat with her and continued for an hour or so.The next morning I went to see my wife and ask that she return with me. It wasn't until then that I heard the Dr. 's prognosis. I was credited with saving my daughter by the nurses. I bought a copy of the book for the hospital library and recommend it to all who are expecting.

I wish I could give this book 10 stars. It was a life saver for me, many years ago. I had been a battered child and was battering my two oldest children. Then I found this book, just before having child number 3. It taught me so many things that I had no idea about. My third and fourth child recieved a much better mom because of this book. I have given and lent this book many times to people as baby shower gifts and wedding gifts. I've even had one couple keep my copy of this book!!!I just bought this new copy for my third child who is expecting his first. Hopefully, this will be a help in being a great dad. I made the purchase on 3/27 and recieved it on 3/39, in my eyes I consider this very good customer service. Touching: The Human Significance of the Skin

A must for every therapist! I strongly recommend this book for every therapist as it is full of very important things big and small. It makes a difference if we know them. Quick delivery, very good quality, all as described, thank you

Almost a classic. It would be great to have an updated version with the very latest research on this topic. Some things, such as SIDS (cot death) causes etc. is dated and we causes have been researched in great depth over the last 15 years.Anyone interested in massage, childcare, maternity care, the senses or just interested in LOVE and how important positive touch is, may find it essential reading.

Hasn't lost anything since I first read it many years ago. Updated but not in any way debased by being so.

Took a while to get to me, but all good in the end. A great book for parents and massage enthusiasts/professionals alike...

very poor copy and a hard read