Inventing Adulthoods: A Biographical Approach to Youth Transitions (Published in association with The Open University) - Tapa blanda

'The series Youth: Perspectives and Practice provides a distinctive and rare combination of expert commentary, new research, original theorising and critical reflection on how we should understand youth and work with young people. These books deserve a wide readership ... the way they are written and organised will make them particularly appealing to students' - Professor Robert MacDonald, University of Teesside

Inventing Adulthoods offers a ground-breaking new perspective on young peoples' experiences of growing up at the turn of the 21st century, arguing that a biographical approach is vital to understanding the holistic and dynamic character of their lives. Based on a study of a diverse group of young people over a 10 year period, the book explores high profile policy issues: education, employment, drugs, cultures of violence and well-being. It also considers the significance of those things that mean most to young people themselves: mobility, home, belonging, intimacy and social life.

The book is written in a lively and engaging style and, through case studies and interviews, examines:

" the impact that social factors such as gender, class, sexuality, religion, disability and family have on life opportunities; and

" connections between young people's lives, social policy frameworks and practice applications.

Inventing Adulthoods is an invaluable resource to anyone interested in the lives of young people. Thought-provoking yet accessible, this book is ideal for students in youth studies and education, as it is for youth workers, social workers and other practitioners.

Inventing Adulthoods is the set book for the Open University course Youth: Perspectives and Practice (KE308).

Sheila Henderson is a Visiting Fellow at London South Bank University. Janet Holland is Professor of Social Research and Co-director of the Families and Social Capital ESRC Research Group at London South Bank University. Sheena McGrellis is a Senior Research Fellow in the Families Group, but is based at University of Ulster. Sue Sharpe is a Visiting Fellow at London South Bank University. Rachel Thomson is Professor of Social Research in the Faculty of Health and Social Care at The Open University.

I have research interests in youth, education, families, intimacy, feminist theory and methodology, and qualitative longitudinal methods, and publish in these areas. Currently Co-Director of Timescapes, an ESRC funded 5 year qualitative longitudinal study with seven projects covering the life course located in five UK universities (Leeds (lead, Director Bren Neale), LSBU, Cardiff, Edinburgh and The Open University). Also have an archiving project in this study with colleagues, Making the Long View, archiving data from a 10 year qualitative longitudinal study of youth transitions, Inventing Adulthoods. See too www.timescapes.leeds.ac.uk; www.lsbu.ac.uk/inventingadulthoods.

Rachel Thomson is Professor of Social Resaerch in the School of Health and Social Welfare. Rachel has been involved in a major longitudinal qualitative study of young people transitions to adulthood, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council since 1996 through the Children 5-16 and the Young People, Citizenship and Social Change programmes. The study is currently being archived with the support of a grant from the ESRC, and will be made available for secondary analysis (see www.lsbu.ac.uk/inventingadulthoods). Her research interests focus on gender identities, social change, sexuality, values, transitions and popular culture.