Episode notes: “The Science of Growing Up Naked”

Naked Age Ep. 12: Nudity and development

Every episode of Naked Age comes with a behind-the-episode post as a special gift just for our paid subscribers. If you’re interested in reading this and more episode notes, you can find them here.

For a limited time, Naked Age listeners can get 20% off a paid subscription to Planet Nude by clicking here:

Naked Age listener promo

---

You learn about Dennis Craig Smith’s book Growing Up Without Shame fairly early in nudist history school. Obviously, nudist history school isn’t really a thing; but for me, but when I first discovered this vast-yet-insular subculture of nudists and nudism, it felt a little like an intense study program the way I immersed myself in learning more about the books and other media that have been held onto, studied, preserved and celebrated within this community over many years.

Dennis’s book has become a cherished resource among nudists and naturists, particularly those who are parents. It appeals to people who have raised their children in nudist environments, as well as folks who are considering or already participating in family friendly nudism with young kids or grandchildren. The reason for the book’s forty-year currency is clear. It presents a cogent argument that naturism is safe for children. It provides vital information for naturist parents, equipping them with some defense should their lifestyle choices ever be questioned. With few studies available on the subject, Dennis's work stands out as one of the most accessible and relevant resources for parents seeking guidance and support in this area.

“Growing Up Without Shame” is out of print and difficult to find for purchase. If you’re diligent in searching, you might find one pop up online.

But outside of the book itself, not much is usually said of Dennis. His considerable contributions to the nudist community span several decades and have occasionally been written about over the years on the pages of Nude & Natural (now known as N magazine), but most who have only heard of him through his book would never know about his broader impact. I certainly didn’t before discovering him through Mark Storey’s great teleconference series for The Naturist Society Foundation last year. But I shared that story already, in the episode itself.