Principles in practice: A review of Peter Samuelson’s new book on PYD
By Jean Rhodes
Peter L. Samuelson’s Positive Youth Development Principles in Practice is an ambitious and deeply researched exploration of how youth service organizations can create environments that help young people thrive. Drawing on his tenure as Director of Research and Evaluation at the Thrive Foundation for Youth, Samuelson synthesizes years of fieldwork, interviews, and theoretical insights into a framework for fostering adolescent development. The result is a book that is both a practical guide for practitioners and a thoughtful contribution to the broader field of developmental psychology.
Samuelson’s work is grounded in the science of Positive Youth Development (PYD), a paradigm shift that emerged in the late 20th century to reframe adolescence not as a period fraught with risk but as one ripe with opportunity. His central thesis is that thriving occurs when youth find their “place in the world,” a concept he unpacks through nine core principles distilled from his study of eight exemplary youth organizations. These principles range from providing caring adult relationships to fostering identity development, teaching life skills, and empowering youth to engage in community betterment.
The book’s most striking metaphor likens these organizations to “crucibles,” where various elements—supportive adults, values-driven communities, and enriching opportunities—combine to catalyze transformative growth. This underscores the complexity and intentionality required to create spaces where young people can flourish. Samuelson’s use of this metaphor is evocative, capturing both the magic and the meticulous effort involved in effective youth development.
One of the book’s strengths lies in its integration of theory and practice. Samuelson deftly weaves together foundational psychological frameworks, such as Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and James Gibson’s theory of affordances, with real-world examples from the organizations he studied. This dual focus allows readers to see how abstract concepts like “identity formation” or “adaptive relations” play out in tangible ways within programs like Brotherhood Sister Sol or Becoming a Man.
The voices of youth themselves add depth and authenticity to the narrative. Through interviews with program participants, Samuelson captures the lived experiences of young people navigating under-resourced environments. Their reflections—on finding mentors, accessing new opportunities, or simply feeling seen—illustrate the transformative power of these organizations. For instance, one participant describes her after-school program as a place where she feels “uplifted” and connected to resources that were previously out of reach.While the book acknowledges systemic inequities such as racism and poverty, it stops short of fully grappling with how these structural barriers shape access to developmental opportunities. A deeper exploration of these issues would have strengthened its analysis. The book could have benefited from more discussion on how the principles are applied across diverse contexts and adapted for different cultural or institutional settings.
Overall, Positive Youth Development Principles in Practice is a valuable resource for educators, policymakers, and nonprofit leaders committed to supporting young people. Samuelson’s optimism about adolescence—grounded not in naive idealism but in rigorous research—is both refreshing and inspiring. His work challenges us to see youth not as “at-risk” but as “at-promise,” capable of extraordinary growth when given the right support.
Ultimately, this book is a testament to what is possible when we invest in young people with intention and care. It reminds us that thriving is not an individual endeavor but a collective one, shaped by relationships, communities, and systems that believe in the potential of every young person.
