Editorial Review

Based on his father's bestselling Read more

Reviews (161)

busy, wordy and uninspiring
I got this book for my foster teens but tossed it in the recycling bin instead. The book is full of chatter; the authors never get to the point.Plus all the illustrations, boxes and fonts, which I guess are supposed to be hip, give you a headache. I did plog through this quagmire long enough to confirm the authors weren't saying anything that would inspire a kid, so it's just as well they slathered it with window dressing. The book dies have a catchy cover, which I assume is designed to attract parents, not kids.Heck, I bought it.

bit much for my 12 year old
My 12 year old got bored with it, she's probably too young for this book.I am hoping she will pick it up in a year or so. I thought it was interesting and usefull.

The 7 HABITS of Highly Effective TEENS
This book: The 7 HABITS of Highly Effective TEENS, included many wonderful/helpful ideas, wich i used and enjoyed on my own. This book is what i call a guidance book. That helps in my eyes young teens who have problems in highly effective areas. This book basically shows you how to develope good habbits, it makes you become a better person, working on your personality and bad habits. the author gave you his fathers seven habbits to success in all parts of life. The author Sean Covey, put it in a fun and easy way to understand the point of this wonderful book.This book was actually a slight help to both me and my mother. I learned to work things out with her, and agree on things easier.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    2. Conduct of life    3. Life skills guides    4. Motivational & Inspirational    5. Psychological aspects    6. Self-Help    7. Social Science - Psychology    8. Success    9. Teenagers    10. Adolescents    11. Personal, health & social education (PHSE)    12. Self-Help / Success   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (119)

If there is only one helpful suggestion, then this book was worth buying.
The first big new idea I learned appeared on page 35:
great book for anybody
Exactly! it does not just teach you how to talk to kids, but to everybody around you. Great book!

This book will be your bible
This is the best book I have ever read on parenting and will help you even if you are not a parent. It is amazing. I return to it over and over again and it has helped me communicate better with my husband as well as my kids. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Care/Parenting    2. Conflict Resolution    3. Family & Relationships    4. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    5. Interpersonal communication    6. Life Stages - Adolescence    7. Parenting    8. Parenting - General    9. United States    10. Child care & upbringing    11. Family & Relationships / Parenting   

Reviews (2)

One of two great books for stressed out parents
As parents who have seen many of our friends completely lose perspective as their kids apply to college, my wife and decided that we would not go down that road when our time came. Forget all the books that imply they will get your child into a "brand name" school. It's about discovering together a place where they can grow, and strenghtening your relationshipas you launch them toward their future. In the name of sanity, I recommend this book (and also a great one our own pediatrician recommended, "Getting In Without Freaking Out.") Stop hovering -- start helping your kids by not imposing your agenda.

An essential book for parents of high school students
As a pediatrician and the mother of a senior, I see the unhealthy stress that my patients and some classmates of my son go through during high school, particularly during their senior year. This essential book for every high school parent will give them new models for guiding their child to healthy success.Rather than defining success for your high school student as getting into a college ranked high by a magazine, parents will learn how to help their child define and reach their own goals. For those who choose college, they need a parent's help to find the right match --- a school that allows them to grow intellectually, emotionally, and socially.
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Subjects:  1. Child Development And Rearing    2. College Entrance    3. College Guides    4. Education    5. Family & Relationships    6. Family/Marriage    7. Parenting - General    8. Parents And Education    9. Reference    10. Adolescent children    11. Advice on education    12. Study Aids / College Guides   

Editorial Review

This is a survival guide for parents who find themselves marooned among volatile and incomprehensible aliens on Planet Teen. Area maps cover the obvious ground--there are chapters on school, sex, suicide, and so on--but it's the title of Chapter 2, "What They Do and Why," that best captures the book's spirit and technique. Anthony Wolf's modus operandi is not so much to make pronouncements about what parents should do, as to explain adolescent behavior in a way that's bound to leave parents with a changed view of the plausible options. Wolf is a clinical psychologist, and his writing is clear--even witty--and he doesn't resort to jargon. The expository text is punctuated with snatches of illustrative dialogue, which serve as concrete examples and help parents learn how to see, anticipate, and avoid "bad strategies." (One key mistake is getting dragged into no-win conflicts instead of having the wisdom to shut up at the moment when shutting up would be most effective--albeit the least satisfying--thing to do.) There are also some nicely tongue-in-cheek samples of "ideal" communication--the stuff we imagine might get said if only we were better parents. After one such rosily cooperative and considerate interchange between a father and his adolescent son, Wolf offers the following two-edged comfort: "The above conversation has never happened. Never. Not in the whole history of the world." Message: Parenting adolescents is inherently difficult. Don't judge your efforts by otherworldly standards. Read more

Reviews (69)

An absolute read
As a parent of a 15 year old son and an 11 year daughter, I HIGHLY recommend this book. It sat on my night stand for sometime, but once I opened the book, I couldn't put it down. It helped me to realize the differences and the similarities in remembering my teenage years and now being in the parental role, that life can be hard... some things have changed greatly while a lot of things are still the same. It is a very straight forward book.

Must read
Having two teenagers, one of each sex, I found this book extremely insightful.It explains why they act the way they do, and tells how to "handle" these turbulent times.A MUST READ for all who are rasing or about to raise a teenager.

Important Info
Any parent of a teenager should read this book.It is not your usual self-help manual.The author presents a truly different and effective way of perceiving erradic teenage behavior and in so doing offers a whole new world of possible and appropriate parental responses to that behavior that will reduce the stress and anxiety for both parents and their teenage children.If you want to survive adolescence with your sanity intact, read this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adolescence    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    4. Family/Marriage    5. Life Stages - Adolescence    6. Life Stages - Teenagers    7. Parent and teenager    8. Parenting - General    9. United States   

Reviews (2)

According to Kindlon, Alpha Girls are amazing.
Alpha Girls: Understanding the New American Girl and How She Is Changing the World, is author Dan Kindlon's analysis of the present and future life of "alpha" girls:those girls who are excellent academic achievers, leaders in high school, shine in sports, and have high levels of self-esteem, motivation, and confidence.
From the mother of an 'alpha girl' - Kindlon captures it perfectly
As the mother of a 14-year-old field-hockey-stick-wielding girl with far more assertiveness than I ever had, I just ate this book up. And, boy, did it make me think about the ways in which I have"projected my own psychology" onto her -- and have been repeatedly startled to realize that her level of confidence is utterly unlike mine at that age.Reading 'Alpha Girls' was eye-opening, thought-provoking, and very, very helpful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Care/Parenting    2. Emotions in adolescence    3. Emotions in children    4. Family & Relationships    5. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    6. Girls    7. Life Stages - Teenagers    8. Parenting - General    9. Psychology    10. United States    11. Family & Relationships / Parenting   

Editorial Review

There is little sugar but lots of spice in journalist Rachel Simmons's brave and brilliant book that skewers the stereotype of girls as the kinder, gentler gender.

Reviews (80)

Girls Need To Make Peace With Conflict
I found this book, "Odd Girl Out," not only helpful but also cathartic. It answered a lot of current questions I have about raising an adolescent daughter by enabling me to go back and visit my own youth and remind me of my own experiences. This book illustrates how easy it is for mothers raising daughters to live vicariously through them and see how it brings out old fears and insecurities. It was a re-education.
Part of the Puzzle, Read It, but Don't Stop Here
You know, this is actually a topic that is near and dear for my heart and it did have a lot of interesting examples and data...but like Fast Girls before it, this reads a lot like someone's research paper and doesn't really delve too far into the history of aggression (in boys or girls) beyond a barest basics that most people probably already know.Simmons also doesn't offer any statistics, she mentions repeatedly that there really isn't any research on this, but I felt like this was just a big book length article that focused on her own personal fascination with the topic and the scope of the book really doesn't go much beyond her own group of interviewees.I was also kind of annoyed by the great deal of repeated information, it's as if in the absence of statistical data to support her theory she just keeps saying the same thing over and over.
Dads and Educators ALSO Need to READ This Book!!!
The book opened my eyes into a girls' world I'd never realized existed. A father, I got the book to understand the social dynamics my daughter navigates. It's like a gardner suddenly discovering that flowers have aromas, weeds have deep roots, and roses have thorns.
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Subjects:  1. Aggressiveness (Psychology)    2. Aggressiveness in children    3. Applied Psychology    4. Developmental - Adolescent    5. Gender Psychology    6. Gender Studies    7. Girls    8. Life Stages - Adolescence    9. Psychology    10. Social Psychology    11. Advice on parenting    12. Child & developmental psychology    13. Organization & management of education    14. Psychology & Psychiatry / Social Psychology    15. Social, group or collective psychology    16. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (39)

The Sun Shone on Me
Get the "Expanded Edition" if possible. Alcoholic issues and mental health issues have been around for quite some time. Woititz Marries the two in a wonderful owner's manual for your (or someone close to yours soul) The person close to me was severely compromised by her (sober) parents ACoA issues and the other siblings' willingness to buy into the insanity. If you can find a book called "Grandchildren of Alcoholics" by Ann W. Smith, it is an excellent resourse for people who dont see alcoholism in their own families, but perhaps do see it in their grandparents. Would love to hear from others on the same journey.

Educational/Easy to Read
This book is excellant for ACOA's who wish to gain a better understanding of how their childhood has lasting effects on their life as an adult.It was my first book on the subject, and a great introduction.

Not a good first book on the subject
I've read a number of books on this subject. I wouldn't say this book was unhelpful but is too absolute in its information to be anything but alarming to anyone tentatively looking for answers. It's also not very well written. I would suggest reading either "Recovery, A Guide for Adult Children of Alcoholics" by Gravitz & Bowden (an excellent first book) along with "A Primer on Adult Children of Alcoholics" by Cermak for an added layer; and then, absolutely essential as a more in-depth book: "Children of Alcoholism - A Survivor's Manual" by Seixas & Youcha. Leave the Woititz book for more information. By all means, read it. It does have excellent information; just remember the adage "Take what you need and leave the rest". Something she unfortunately forgot to include. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult children of alcoholics    2. Alcoholics    3. Alcoholism    4. Codependency    5. Family relationships    6. General    7. Recovery    8. Self-Help    9. Substance Abuse & Addictions - Alcoholism    10. United States    11. Adolescent children    12. Coping with drug & alcohol abuse    13. Marriage, family & other relationships    14. Self-Help / Codependency   

Reviews (81)

Pretty accurate.
Having been (and perhaps am still) a combination of "queen bee"/"floater", I found this book to be amazingly accurate. Though the situations are a bit overdramatic (and generalized), the book is amazingly accurate when it comes to the social behavior of girls.
Pretty Good Book
I thought that this book is a great book for parents of teens to read.It includes realistic examples of different situations that his/her daughter might be in, but some of the stadegies suggested to solve problems are not always good.I an a teen myself, and I think that some of the ideas given were just another way to embarass the teen rather than help them.the general idea of the book, though, was good.

Overall: ok...
I felt that this book was just ok. It was well written, and I can see how it would benefit a parent of a teen. However, I am a teen, and I feel that some of the book was a little too dramatic and harsh on teens. There are some dramatizations of situations which were somewhat unrealistic. Besides this, I feel that it was an interesting read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family & Relationships    2. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    3. Family/Marriage    4. Life Stages - Adolescence    5. Parent and teenager    6. Parenting - General    7. Psychology    8. Teenage girls    9. Family & Relationships / Parenting    10. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (11)

Excellent Book for Parents of Teens & Pre-teens
Great hands-on advice for learning how to love your pre-teen and teenager.I wish now that I had this book when my first daughter was a teen.

Excellent Christian resource on parenting teens
The Five Love Languages for Teenagers by Gary Chapman is a book every parent needs to own.I'll admit, I went looking for a quick fix with this book.The other Love Languages books have a quiz in the back to help you identify your language, and that's right where I went with this book: to the back.I was disappointed to find no quiz in this book, but Chapman explains that teenagers would be quick to figure out how to manipulate the system if they knew that we were trying to figure them out.The book discusses the five love languages as broken down in Chapman's other books in this series, but directs them specifically at how teenagers are affected by them.I learned so much from this book about how to talk to my kids and that both of my teens are quality time people.During the course of reading this book, I've seen a change in my daughter already.She's spent more time talking to me, because I've spent more time listening to her.This is a book I will purchase for my own bookshelf and continue the practices in it for the next 17 years (until my three-year-old turns 20).

"Must reading for any parent or teacher of teenagers"

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Subjects:  1. Family & Relationships    2. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    3. Family/Marriage    4. Life Stages - Teenagers    5. Parenting - General    6. Emotions & feelings    7. Family & Relationships / Teenagers   

Reviews (17)

For Anyone Interested...
Google the words Foster Cline and Attachment Therapy, and be prepared to lose your lunch. Happy research!

Who is this child and what happened to my 5 year-old?
This book is very reassuring to the parents of a child who turns six and becomes someone very different from the sweet, compliant five-year-old of yesterday.Our boy's behavior was "textbook" so many times that our mantra has become "It's in the book".Even though he is still a delight 99% of the time, we will all be glad when he gets through this period of disequilibrium and is a little more loving and less defiant.

Memorable take-home messages
This book helped me put a lot of parenting into perspective. I found that the take-home messages of the book are easy to remember.The key one for me was, "Who owns the problem?"What a concept.The premise is that rescuing my kids from the consequences of their actions is a lousy way to teach kids responsibility. The section on grounding of kids was great too.This book is making me question practically every aspect of my knee-jerk parenting responses.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adolescent psychology    2. Child Care/Parenting    3. Christianity - Christian Life - Parenting    4. Family & Relationships    5. Family relationships    6. Life Stages - Adolescence    7. Parent and teenager    8. Parenting - General    9. Religion - Marriage & Family    10. Teenagers   

Editorial Review

At adolescence, says Mary Pipher, "girls become 'female impersonators' who fit their whole selves into small, crowded spaces." Many lose spark, interest, and even IQ points as a "girl-poisoning" society forces a choice between being shunned for staying true to oneself and struggling to stay within a narrow definition of female. Pipher's alarming tales of a generation swamped by pain may be partly informed by her role as a therapist who sees troubled children and teens, but her sketch of a tougher, more menacing world for girls often hits the mark. She offers some prescriptions for changing society and helping girls resist. ... Read more

Reviews (299)

Been there, done that
I was 13 when this book was published.Though it might have been helpful to read then, reading it now was rather pointless.I went through many of the experiences her clients went through, and I quickly grew bored with their stories.
Reviving Ophelia

Saving the minds of parents of adolescent girls
this book gives a great overview of what our children are facing. it was written in the 1990's and refers to that date, however i believe that the truths it holds are even more true today. i found it full of great information that explained alot of things. however, if you are looking for what to do to save them, this book does not really spend too much time on focusing on that though it does go over a couple suggestions briefly. i would highly recommend this book to anyone with children be they teens or not, be they girls or boys the information is invaluable. good luck to all of you out there. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adolescent Psychology    2. Case studies    3. Developmental - Adolescent    4. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    5. Family relationships    6. Life Stages - Adolescence    7. Personal Growth - Self-Esteem    8. Psychology    9. Psychology Of Women    10. Self-esteem in adolescence    11. Teenage girls    12. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Reviews (11)

Excellent ---A Must Have for ALL parents
Dr. Walsh must have known my son. I felt like he wrote this book formy family. His explanations were easily understood and very insightful, but, not an excuse for the teen's behavior. It was hard at times to put the book down. I really wish my parents had read this book.
A must for an parent of an adolescent
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.I read it in two sittings.There were so many good and funny examples of real life situations that as a parent of a teenager, one can relate to all too well.
Interesting, enlightening, and useful
I was a hard sell when given this book.I was concerned that it was going to offer One Big Excuse for sorry teen-age behavior.I was already seeing the headlines: Teen Not Guilty; It wasn't his fault; His PFC made him do it!
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Subjects:  1. Adolescence - General    2. Adolescent Psychology    3. Developmental - Adolescent    4. Developmental Neurobiology    5. Developmental psychobiology    6. Developmental psychology    7. Family & Relationships    8. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    9. Family/Marriage    10. Life Stages - Teenagers    11. Parenting - General    12. Family & Relationships / General   

Reviews (7)

A good resource
I really liked the What to Eat when You're Expecting (an older edition of this book). This new edition has more recipes than the old book (and few, if any, repeats). I prefer the format of the old book for the nitty-gritty nutrition info.

Excellent basic nutrition guide w/ GREAT recipes!
I took this book out of the library, but decided to buy it because I wanted to own the recipes.There is a great variety of recipes for all meals of the day and snacks.Most of the recipes are lower fat and sugar and higher fiber and protein versions of your favs.They don't elimate the bad things, but they do limit it and work in more whole grains and veggies then I normally do in my cooking.
Reccomended, with reservations
After tossing the predecessor to this book in the garbage, I was a bit hesitant to fork over the cash for this new edition.I'm a bit ambivalent about my investment.It is a kindler, gentler version, though not as friendly as the Dr. William Sears series of books, which I highly reccommend for all things baby and family.(I wish they had a book on pregnancy nutrition . . . sigh)
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Subjects:  1. Family & Relationships    2. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    3. Family/Marriage    4. Mothers    5. Nutrition    6. Nutritional aspects    7. Peer Pressure    8. Pregnancy    9. Pregnancy & Childbirth    10. Recipes    11. COOKING / Health & Healing / General    12. Family & Relationships / Parenting    13. HEALTH & FITNESS / Pregnancy & Childbirth   

Editorial Review

If parents, educators, and youth workers were to read only one book about helping adolescence—this would be the one. Chap Clark managed to get inside the world of US teenagers and reveal the depths of angst, pressure and loneliness they feel. Hurt is a illuminates the under layers of teen culture, the places where adolescents are most honest and vulnerable, only to discover that today’s youth are indeed a tribe apart—and it is the adults who have isolated them. Read more

Reviews (9)

Sociology, not theology
I bought this book expecting to get a healthy dose of sociology along with some seriouse theological reflection on the sociological data.I was wrong.In my opinion this book was too heavy on sociology and too lite on theology.If Clark would've spent more time connecting the sociological conclusions to theological implications, the book would've been a gem.

If you love youth, you'll read this book.
Below is the book review I submitted to Group Magazine regarding this book.
Every Adult Should Read!!
This is an outstanding presentation of quality research that has practical application! Youth NEED adults. They need a supportive, safe environment.
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Subjects:  1. Adolescence - General    2. Adolescent psychology    3. Attitudes    4. Christianity - Education - Children & Youth    5. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    6. Life Stages - Adolescence    7. Religion    8. Social conditions    9. Sociology - Marriage & Family    10. Teenagers    11. United States    12. Christian Education, Christianity and Culture: General Studies, Family    13. Religion / Youth Ministries   

Reviews (1)

Sean Covey has come a long way...now he certainly stands taller than the old man with this new book!
The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make: A Guide for Teens
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Psychology / Counseling    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    3. General    4. Life Stages - Teenagers    5. Psychology    6. Self-Help    7. Social Science - Psychology    8. Self-Help / General   

Reviews (2)

Outstanding book for both parent & child to read.
This book should be a requirement in every home.It is wriiten for a teen but shoul dbe read by both parent and child.The concept of the 40 assets is fundamentally simple.The book defines the assets and then gives adviceon how the adolescent, parent(s), community,school, and congregation canhelp to ensure that a child is brought up with all of the assets they needto be a successful person. It has examples of the successes thatcommunities across the country have had setting the concepts of the assetsinto into motion.The excellence of the book is reinforced by a lecture Iattended by Dr. Benson 2 months ago.The concept of the developmentalassets being the framework for a successful, well-rounded person makesperfect sense.It should be adopted as a National standard.

A wonderful book for teens and their parents!
We like the book so much that we are adopting the asset building concepts featured!Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Young Adult Social Situations    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Conduct of life    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Juvenile literature    6. Life skills    7. Life skills guides    8. Social Issues - General    9. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    10. Social Issues - Values & Virtues    11. Teenagers    12. United States    13. Adolescent children    14. Coping with personal problems    15. Self-Help & Practical Interests    16. Sociology & social issues   

Editorial Review

Reviews (10)

Excellent Book!
Every person interested in the ins and outs of parenting should take the time to read this stellar compilation of information on how certain parents are the true influencers of how your child will do in their social lives.

Are the Cliff's Notes available?
Who edits these books?Arrggh!There is plenty of good information here, but who has the time to extract the useful stuff?Maybe I'll look into the audio version.

A Must-Read For Moms, Dads, Teachers, Principals
Your child is the only one in class not invited to a birthday party. Should you call the parents to try to wrangle an invitation?
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Subjects:  1. Child Care/Parenting    2. Child Development And Rearing    3. Family & Relationships    4. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    5. Life Stages - Teenagers    6. Parent And Child    7. Parent and teenager    8. Parenting - General    9. Parents    10. Social networks    11. Sociology - General    12. Teenagers and adults    13. Family & Relationships / Parenting