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For many years, Newman has presented
an annual lecture at Town Hall in Manhattan where he shares
a philosophical perspective on broad topics in popular
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 'Performance':
Do-it-yourself manual for a more joyful life
By Pete Smith
There are a few times in each of our lives which bring us up
short, and a light bulb flashes; other times a dim light starts
at the end of a seemingly endless tunnel and grows as we move
toward it. Either way – quick or slow and easy – we
tend to acknowledge these as what we might call "Ah-ha
moments."
That's the way it was when I picked up Dr. Fred Newman's earlier
book Let's Develop in 1994. I had met him earlier and seen
a play he had written performed in a community theatre. I was
impressed with this large, gentle man; his professional stature
and his humility almost seemed at odds – but they weren't.
The play was moving, disturbing and entertaining all at once.
Beyond these things, I had heard accolades about his pioneering
therapy techniques, and his social and political activism.
So, I'm not quite sure what I expected from his writing. Let's
Develop came out of his 20 years and more of clinical practice.
Newman gives his patients the benefit of empowerment to transform
their lives with a developmental-clinical approach he calls
social therapy. Let's Develop shares some of those people's
experience and growth, and details the approach. Newman contends
that the experts who tell us that a child's development and "character
stamp" is done by the end of early childhood are wrong.
We can reinitiate our development at any stage in our lives – no
matter how impossible it seems – and make ourselves and
our lives … , in a word: joyful.
In Newman's new book Performance of a Lifetime (written with
Phyllis Goldberg), he tells us up-front that both psychology
and philosophy are dead (or certainly dying.)
Rather than accept, by rote, that any science or system has
hard and fast "facts," Newman encourages us to begin
development in the same way young children do: by doing. Living,
not with a philosophy which gets us stuck in its pre-shaped
structure, we are to live philosophizing as we go!!
As educators and therapists are coming to recognize the truths
behind Newman's approach and to teach and practice it with
their own students/patients, we have the opportunity of do-it
yourself transformation of our own experience of life through
Fred Newman's writing. He writes simply, explaining in everyday
terms anything difficult, and he writes lovingly to each reader
on each page. There is no authoritarian behind the words; the
reader is given, again and again, the opportunity to say, "I
knew that, but look, I never thought it could fit so well."
Either book is great for solo, yet, perfect for groups whether
with a leader or peers determined to experience life at its
most joyous. Performance of a Lifetime is brand new, so if
it isn't on your bookstore's bookshelf yet, ask them to order.
Get two. One to keep and dog-ear and one to give to someone
for whom you want the very best.
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