B. F. Skinner and the Revolutionary Science of Behavior
A biography for young readers
After years of research, writing and editing, my new book is now available! The book chronicles the creative life of psychologist B. F. Skinner, introducing middle grade readers to his artistic interests and revolutionary discoveries. Though he discovered the science of behavior, was honored with the Award for Lifetime Contributions from the American Psychological Association and was recognized as the most eminent psychologist of the 20th century, his amazing work is not widely known.
Illustrations by 11-year-old artist Haydn David Schlinger
News
All the latest information about B. F. Skinner and the Revolutionary Science of Behavior
Reading and signing at Flintridge Bookstore
I will be at Flintridge Bookstore in La Canada on Thursday, May 11, at 7 p.m. My son (and book illustrator) Haydn will be there, along with my husband and fellow author Hank Schlinger, who will read and sign his parenting book based on the science of behavior discovered by B. F. Skinner. It's a family affair! If you can't make the event, the book will be on their shelves for a while. Visit https://www.flintridgebooks.com/.
Now available at Vroman's Bookstore
Shop indie! My book is for sale at Southern California's oldest independent bookstore. Find it on display in the children's department (2nd floor) on the local author spinner and in the biography section. You can also buy it from them online at: https://www.vromansbookstore.com/search/site/skinner%2520and%2520the%2520revolutionary%2520science%2520of%2520behavior
Michigan Autism Conference
If you are attending the Michigan Autism Conference Oct. 5-7 in Kalamazoo, Hank Schlinger will be a keynote speaker and will sign his book, "How to Build Good Behavior and Self-Esteem in Children." My book will be available at the conference bookstore as well.
Back to school
Morningside Academy in Seattle is using my book in their science class! Morningside is a unique school that offers personalized instruction for struggling students: "We tell parents and families that their children will gain at least 2 grade levels in their skill of greatest deficit in one school year, or their money back. In 34 years, Morningside Academy has returned less than 1% of tuition."
Support independent bookstores
I love independent bookstores and visit them everywhere I travel. Plus, I'm in one of my local bookstores at least once a week! If you prefer to buy the book at a local store or directly from me, please contact me at jriggott1@gmail.com.
Follow me
Follow me on Instagram @julieriggott
Success in Boston
The book signing was a lot of fun. We signed books for people from all over the U.S. and from countries such as Iceland, Venezuela and Norway!
Book signing
I will be signing copies of my book at 12 noon during the poster session on Saturday, May 28, at the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) Convention in Boston, Massachusetts! If you already have the book and want to bring it, I will be glad to sign it. You can also buy it at the ABAI bookstore at the convention.
Praise for B. F. Skinner and the Revolutionary Science of Behavior
“B. F. Skinner’s revolutionary discovery of a science of behavior has a story that is as fascinating as the life he lived. With the support of Haydn Schlinger’s beautiful illustrations, Julie Riggott has captured the richness and importance of Skinner’s story, as well as the technical precision of Skinnerian science, with a style that is both fun and accessible for all ages.”
David Roth, writer and editor for Operants magazine and
member of the Board of Directors of the B. F. Skinner Foundation
“Julie Riggott’s biography of Fred Skinner is simply marvelous! In telling the story of his life, she illustrates the dramatic role of environment in shaping problem-solving behavior—behavior that lasts a lifetime. The implications are profound. What an important gift to teachers, parents, students, and, posthumously, to Fred.”
Margaret Vaughan, Ph.D., co-author with B. F. Skinner of Enjoy Old Age
“B. F. Skinner and the Revolutionary Science of Behavior is written for children, but it does not talk down to them. The book can be appreciated at many levels, for it is full of many little-known biographical details as well as sophisticated discussions of Skinner’s science.”
David C. Palmer, Ph.D., adjunct faculty at Western New England University and senior lecturer emeritus, Smith College
Explore the creative life and revolutionary science of B. F. Skinner
Pigeon Ping Pong
Pigeons playing ping pong and other videos in the B. F. Skinner Foundation archives
A college basketball tournament -- with rats
A psychology class in behavior analysis teaches students to train rats at Wofford College.
Project Pigeon
An informative and entertaining History.com video on Project Pigeon
Virtual Behavioral Apparatus Museum
Aubrey Daniels International has created a visual museum related to Skinner's work. There are 5 rooms in this virtual museum plus a catalog archive. Each room displays instruments related to a specific aspect of the study of behavior. There are rooms that display different types of environments for the study of behavior. One of these environments is the air crib, made famous by B. F. Skinner in a 1945 Ladies Home Journal article.
Smithsonian
Start your exploration of the Smithsonian Institution's collection of equipment created by Skinner, including an early teaching machine and a problem box, here.
Harvard Brain Tour
https://braintour.harvard.edu/archives/portfolio-items/skinner-and-behaviorism
Skinner began his research at Harvard and spent most of his career there. Get a little background here, and then jump to the university's Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments.
"Science is a willingness to accept facts even when they are opposed to wishes."
B. F. Skinner
Articles for further reading
Rats detecting land mines and tuberculosis
Rats detecting tuberculosis
Rats detecting land mines
Pigeons detecting cancer
Books for further reading
How to Build Good Behavior and Self-Esteem in Children by Henry D. Schlinger, Ph.D.
A practical and interactive handbook for dealing with and avoiding behavior problems and encouraging good behavior and self-esteem using Skinner's science.
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Siegfried Engelmann
A revolutionary book that promises to teach anyone to read with 20-minute lessons -- and delivers!
What Shamu Taught Me About Life, Love, and Marriage by Amy Sutherland
A fun nonfiction book by a journalist who discovered the science of behavior when she researched exotic animal trainers for a story. Her article, “What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage,” on which this book is based, was the most viewed and most e-mailed article of The New York Times online in 2006.
About the Illustrator
Haydn David Schlinger won his first award for drawing in a Scholastic Books contest when he was in kindergarten. In third grade, he designed a bookmark for Vroman’s Bookstore, Southern California’s oldest independent bookstore, and won the contest in his age category; that bookmark was placed in a time capsule in the store in Pasadena. He loves drawing, but most of all writing. He started writing a novel when he finished reading The Lord of the Rings, and another one after he read Dune. He is 11 years old and has visited more than 10 countries so far.
About the Author
Julie A. Riggott discovered Behavior Analysis at Western New England University where she earned her B.A. in English literature with minors in psychology and business. She also completed coursework for an M.A. in English literature at the University of Connecticut. After a stint in Hollywood where she was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, she worked as a writer and editor in arts journalism. Since 2009, she has been a marketing and communications writer for various clients, including the University of Southern California and Claremont McKenna College. In 2020, she was invited to be a member of the inaugural Advisory Board of the B. F. Skinner Foundation.