How to Grow Up Without Becoming a Grown-Up: Big Lessons from Little Kids by Shapiro-Barnum, Julian

Being a grown-up isn't all it's cracked up to be. What if we got back in touch with the joy, freedom, silliness, and creativity of being a kid?

When we were children, we were passionate, imaginative, and curious, and we loved without judgment. Now we are adults . . . neurotic, anxious, socially inept, and oh so very lonely. Why did we rush to become grown-ups? Why must we trade dream jobs for high-paying ones, tree climbing for social climbing, and juice boxes for juice cleanses? Is it possible to get back what we lost?

Julian Shapiro-Barnum, comedian, former child, and creator/host of the viral, beloved show Recess Therapy, has spent the past five years interviewing thousands of children. He's talked to them about everything from love, anger, and death to Spider-Man and farts. And he's gathered a wealth of information leading him to believe that there's a lot we can learn from kids on how to live a better life.

With tender humor and real wisdom, Julian gets to the heart of life's biggest issues, seen through the eyes of the littlest among us:

- How to fully feel your feelings (and then let them go)
- Why reclaiming your imagination can make your life richer
- How to bring a sense of wonder back to your work
- Why breaking the rules is sometimes the right thing to do

How to Grow Up Without Becoming a Grown-Up is a guide for adults on how to get back in touch with the silliness and pure joy you may have been missing lately.

Author: Julian Shapiro-Barnum
Publisher: Penguin Life
Published: 08/04/2026
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.82lbs
Size: 8.41h x 5.76w x 1.05d
ISBN: 9780593832974

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2026

About the Author
Julian Shapiro-Barnum is a comedian, writer, and interviewer known for his online shows Recess Therapy, Celebrity Substitute, and Outside Tonight. Julian has won seven Webby Awards, was a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and received a Family Entertainment Award from Variety. He's been profiled many times, including by The New York Times, Vanity Fair, the Today show, and ABC's Nightline. He resides in Brooklyn, New York.