5 comments about 7 Myths of Working Mothers: Why Children and (Most) Careers Just Don't Mix.

1. I'm going to post my review before I read any others -- and say that I can only imagine how hopping mad this book will make mothers who choose to work. The author has decided to cut through the culture's politically correct rhetoric and simply tell it like it is: children want their moms around. Her basic premise, while covering myriad other issues in the debate that rages on versus moms who stay at home and moms who choose to work, is this: motherhood has become all about the mother's needs and not the children's needs. This can only be a decidedly unpopular argument in a culture that celebrates putting the almighty Self ahead of everything else.
   Venker nails so many juicy truths, unflinchingly, that she's got my admiration. She clearly doesn't give a hoot about being "popular" because she's presenting clear hard facts about shunning one's children in the name of seeking chosen "fulfillment" outside the home while children are left to pay the price of feeling shuttled and ignored. The negative fall out is many-layered. But the best message the author presents is actually a question: Why do women who have no desire to do the work of motherhood (and she rightly calls it work, noting that it is sometimes tedious, thankless, sacrificial and requires vast amounts of time) even have children to begin with? These women are enamored of the IDEA of having kids, not the steadfast reality. Yes! This is true! FINALLY, someone has asked why this sort of uncommitted woman even HAS kids.
   I "stayed home" (that is, made the commitment to be a full time mother, and whole-heartedly, I might add) in the 1980's. My husband and I lived in a 2-bedroom condominium and scrimped mightily so that I could be home; we had a second child while in the same condo (because we couldn't afford to move) and, 9 years after the second child, we were joyfully surprised with a third. We didn't always relish living in a condo while other families with two incomes (or even just other families) moved "onward and upward", and I never appreciated the pervasive opinion from society at large that we could do "better" for our family by bringing in more money if I would only go to work. Ha! What I appreciated, and still do, and will forever, is that I was raising my own children.
   More important are the memories my kids have voiced now that they're teenagers. They recall the comfort and ease of being reared in an unhurried environment, with me there, and they always remember other kids coming over to our place who had nobody home at their own. I remember that, too. Looking back, I am grateful to have had other kids in our apartment while their moms were gone, to feed them home-cooked meals, hug them when they felt sad, assure them that their moms really did love them. And while I may have been a brief comfort in their lives, I wasn't their mom.
   So that's the reality for mothers who choose to work: your kids will miss you. Dearly. You will feel a nebulous guilt. And when you blink and they're 18 going out the door, looking back at you saying, "Really, Mom, it's fine. It was all fine," know that you might feel a little better about your glaring absence, but you can never get those years back.
   Anything worthwhile takes time and sacrifice -- human lives being at the top of the list. Are you ready to commit? At the very least, read this book and THEN decide.



2. Work outside the home or stay at home mom? --there is no one right way -- It is sad that people can be so close minded to only see their side as the "right" side. There are many types of people and situations --there can't be one right way --and not everyone has choices. Stay at home mothers may want a voice --but believe me, most working mothers want a voice --many act as though we work for our own benefit --yes, we may benefit in some ways --but many went to work specifically to benefit our families --things such as medical benefits, a decent neighborhood, etc. In the end, some may have been fortunate enough to offer other advantages such as educational opportunities or memorable family vacations after providing the basics --- Or perhaps, the opportunity for them to know their father who is able to work near regular hours since there is another income. For some, having the father work extensive hours and have minimal time with the kids so that the mother is home works well to meet their goals. For other families, it does not. For mine, we originally had no choice --a bit over 16 years ago, I went to work leaving our one year old thinking I was doing a horrible thing. I did it because there was no other way --my husband was a Architectural Draftsman making $15k per year (no med benefits). Because we believed me being home was the right thing, we did everything we could to be able to have me at home. He bartended on the weekend and took his office's after work janitor job when the janitor quit --I did accounting work at home and tried coordinating waitressing eves. In the end, I had to go to work full time, we could not make it and we needed benefits. The world was very unsupportive of me and made me feel like a bad mother for doing this --I did not want to leave my daughter, I did not want to go to work, my husband listened to me cry at lunch each day --I did it for my family. --That one year old is now 17. I also have a 12 year old. I ended up continuing to work as by the time I may have had somewhat of a limited "choice", my kids were in school and my views had changed. My working has brought benefits to my kids, my home and my marraige. I have a very happy marriage of 20 years. My husband is an active parent. Have I missed previous moments because I worked? Yes --and that does make me sad --but I also know I have had other moments that are valuable--and my kids have had significant moments because I work --with me and others. No matter what, I am a happy person which I feel might be the most important ingredient to a good mother. But that is me --what works for me and my family certainly may not be the best answer for all because we are all different. I was fortunate to find a way of life that has worked for us. -- My kids? Very happy, well adjusted kids who I am very proud of. A couple days ago my daughter, senior in high school was discussing this issue and said I will definitely work --I was surprised and asked her why --she said that when she sees all her friends with stay at home mothers, the mothers seem very unhappy and do less for their kids than I do --(referring to college visit/app process, driving places, spending one on one time, working together, etc.) My response was that you have to wait and see --you don't know what choices you may have --and being able to stay at home, if only for awhile can be a very wonderful opportunity --and -certainly -not all stay at home mothers are unhappy.
   
   There is no right answer and it is a very small and close minded person who can't understand that. As women, as mothers, I hope some day we can support each other rather than knock each other down to make ourselves feel superior.



3. The title says it all! I will no longer listen to Dr. Laura nor the anti-working mommy ideals that the author professes! How is it that Dr. Laura works? What about the author, was she not taking away from her children when she wrote this book? I guess it is easy to preach to common folks when you are successful and do not need to work. Preach it somewhere else!



4. Before reading this book I had every intention on staying at home with my children. Now I have all the more reason to stay at home. Parents need to parent their own children.
   
   I applaud Suzanne Venker for her courage in writing this book. Finally the truth is told.



5. Women have become so polarized in the past 30-40 years that we are our own worst enemies. Some women have had to work in every generation to support their families and some women hire other people to raise their children so they can play golf and have their hair done. FINE! Perhaps if women stopped being so critical of choices made by others, we could find more constructive ways to help children to grow up in loving and attentive environments.
   
   On a personal note, I left my career to raise my two daughters and have never regretted a moment. They are wonderful, funny, competent women and they are looking forward to being parents. Parenting is the most difficult job in the world - no pay, no sleep, every penny goes to them and no vacations. (Holidays are working days for moms.) So much work, so little time. Best job in the world.

5 comments about Why Do You Love Me?.

1. My seven-year old son has picked this one out several times to read. The subject of "Why Do You Love Me?" is a subject that all kids think of when they get in trouble, big or small. It explains the love of a parent being there like the sun behind the clouds, always present. I like the illustrations and my son noticed how the book makes the kid in the book seem real. For example, Sammy cleaned his room and yet was toys tucked under the bed and behind the door. I'm looking forward buying her other children's books to share with my kids.



2. My 5 year old son absolutely loves this book! Whenever it's time to read books this is always in the pile he brings to me. It brought about a lot of questions he had and always makes him smile!!



3. I have never been a fan of Dr. Laura, and I was annoyed when my mom bought this book for me to share with future children of mine. Now, seven years after she gave it to me, it is one of my 2 1/2 year old son's favorite books. We pulled it off the bookshelf one night after a particularly rough day, and he really seemed to understand the premise of the book - that I will always love him no matter what...even when he throws two-year-old tantrums all day! Now whenever we've had a rough day together, he asks for the "Sammy" book. He cuddles right into my arms and we talk about how much we love each other, no matter what. Based on the reviews of Dr. Laura's other books, I have no intention of ever reading them to my son, but this one will always be a favorite.



4. I had a very ill little boy who sometimes would feel so sick and in pain, this would cause him to yell and hit. When he would feel better he would apologize and would ask me if I still loved him? I would tell him that "No matter what I will always love him". Everytime I would read him the book he would feel so much better! I read him this book everyday time and time again until he died. I know that he knew how much I loved him and this book made it easier for him a 7 year old little boy to understand the unconditional love mommy felt.



5. I received the book fast and it was in the condition I was expecting if not better.

5 comments about Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands CD.

1. The only negative with this audio book is: the audio book has omitted a lot of stuff that the book had in it.. I found myself referring to the book inorder to not miss anything from it, other than that it is awesome just like Dr Laura's book....



2. Thanks so much for the quick service and the product was in great condition. No problems at all.



3. Purely Dr. Laura. Very Up Front. I wish I had had this with my first marriage. Something every woman needs to listen to. Our attitudes get a little selfish every so often. Very good!



4. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to live a happy and healthy life with their partner. It is very enlighening and it changed my life. Please read it with an open mind and your world and your partner's life will open wide. Thank you, Dr. Laura!!



5. I LOVED this book! It literally saved my marriage. I would highly recommend this book (or book on CD; I bought both) to any woman who is having marital problems, or even anyone who just wants a better marriage. Dr. Laura has hit the nail on the proverbial head! The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands

5 comments about The New Thought Police: Inside the Left's Assault on Free Speech and Free Minds.

1. The level of the writing is rather low--perhaps seventh grade--the sentence structure is rather dull and the writing itself is lifeless. There is little depth of thought expressed and I have yet to come across a piece of information that is not common knowledge.
   
   That said, I respect anyone in America today who will quote that plagiarizing Communist known as Martin Luther King Jr., revealing his anti-America biases in all of their misspelled glory. But it doesn't make up for the frequent reminders that Ms. Bruce is gay, as if we could forget from when we read it in the previous paragraph.
   
   Additionally, Ms. Bruce performs a disservice, or is simply dishonest, in claiming that feminism, blackism and whateverelseism are only concerned with being equal to, and not better than, other groups. Rubbish! A Freudian perspective is not about psychology in general, its basis is in the belief that Freud is superior to other points of view. A Communist nation does not believe all forms of governance and economics are equal; it believes supremely in the good of Communism. Therefore, a Feminist believes females are better than everyone else, too. Although I am a female, I certainly don't believe I am better than my sons, my husband, or any other man. Ms. Bruce's comment about a "feminist utopia" certainly is revolting.



2. The New Thought Police is a well thought out book by Tammy Bruce, former chairwomen of the LA chapter of NOW who is pro-gun, pro-choice, and lesbian. I read her more recent book The Death of Right and Wrong on a recommendation from Amazon.com and was at first taken aback by the author's own description of herself. This was not someone I expected to have much to agree with. Both in that book and The Thought Police I was surprised again and again at her matter of fact discussions of how liberalism is changing how we think about ourselves, our children and our country. One of the things I value most about her writings is that she is rarely vitriolic in her anger. Reading Michael Savage is also educational, but his insults and rage makes my stomach turn. Bruce turns much of her anger toward the organization of NOW, but considering how she has been burned by them, her anger is righteous. I find myself respecting Bruce and nodding my head in agreement with her often. More great reads in this style are Spin Sisters by Myrna Blyth and Bias by Bernard Goldberg. These books will change how you view the news.



3. Tammy Bruce writes with an authenticity that comes from her work within the gay-feminist-liberal community. Her opinions forged from direct experience cannot be easily dismissed. She points out a clear distinction between the classical liberal and the liberal of today. The negative reviews you read here are written by those who do not want you to find out the truth about how the far left radicals have taken over the Democratic Party. They are enormously fearful that you will find out their agenda is to destroy individual liberty and impose their brand of group thought on us all.
   
   I previously read Tammy's later books, The Death of Right and Wrong and The New American Revolution. These impressive books made me want to read her first book and I found it to be excellent as well. Ms. Bruce is one of the best writers I've read. She writes in an easy style using powerful examples and fascinating experiences.
   
   This book will shake you with a dreaded sense of where this country is headed if we don't wake up and actively fight for the freedom that is our heritage. Slowly but steadily our freedoms are being eroded by liberals attaching labels to anyone with whom they disagree. Their tactics are oppressive, punitive, and discriminatory. These so called champions of tolerance have become anything but tolerant. They want to silence anyone who does not conform to what they deem "right thinking".
   
   Students on college campuses had better parrot the liberal professors or their grades will suffer. Universities and the mainstream media might as well hang out a sign saying "CONSERVATIVES NEED NOT APPLY!" You'd be ostracized by the feminists if you suggested that abortion should be restricted. You are a homophobe if you think marriage should be strictly between a man and a woman. You are a racist if you think college admission should be based on qualifications only and not on race. Attack people with labels and shut them up. If that doesn't work use other tactics-- lawsuits, threats of boycotts, even bomb threats.
   
   It's all about what kind of country we want. It is clear that the modern day liberal wants a different country. They don't want equal opportunity; they want preferential treatment for some groups. They certainly don't want capitalism; they want socialism. They don't want to protect American sovereignty; they want world government. We Americans who want to preserve individual freedom had better get involved and fight for it.



4. First, in reference to two earlier critics, Michelle Malkin was born in Philidelphia to parents on a work visa and would have little reason to "sneak in" from Mexico. Secondly, no, she doesn't head a chapter of the communist party. You are letting your dumb get in the way of objectivism. That's mighty liberal of you.
   
   Thirdly, I wish liberal types would pay more attention to the actual content of a message rather than how pretty it is. If Ms. Bruce's sentence structure is not as advanced as yours, does that detract from the truthfulness of the message? Fortunately, most people are not as the trout, only interested in the shiny things. The rest are liberals, I guess.
   
   I used to listen to Tammy. Loved it. Still would listen if my area got it. She is a hard working and passionate person. In a world of knee jerk conservative types, she offers something new, something the left uses and we desparately need: The ability to put down our colorful plume and egos and share with one another. Libs can get people together by the masses in hours. So they hire a few bums. As one who has been in charge of conservative political protests, getting cconservatives together is like herding cats. But Bruce is different. She is very open with her own and others intellectual happenings. She and Charles Johnson [...]. Brilliant!
   
   This book is a good read. Read it.
   
   
   Jake Freeman



5. Not having any real attachments to either the Right or Left, I really enjoyed Bruce's book. I think its main strength is its description of the subversion of groups by pathological individuals (ponerization) and their activity. The first clue that a group has undergone the initial stages of ponerization is a moral warping of its original ideology. Bruce shows that the rights groups she describes have ceased operating for their original principles, now using the banner of morality and civil rights in pursuit of power.
   
   A small group of leaders "work to propagate divisions and hopelessness" and "their positions rely on a series of myths that relegate those they lead to perpetual victimhood". This exploitation is maintained by what Bruce calls "rubbing salt into the wound", which has the effect of inspiring primitive feelings of vengeance and a strong moralizing interpretation of perceived threats. Machiavellians rely on their ability to manipulate these emotions (e.g. Goring's quote about telling people they are being attacked and then denouncing critics as unpatriotic).
   
   The problems with the book lie elsewhere: in Bruce's reliance on the "natural world view" and a lack of objective language and concepts. She does not factor psychopathology into her analysis, and thus, no matter how well she describes `symptoms', her efforts are futile, even harmful. Lacking an understanding of psychopathy, the general laws of ponerogenesis, and her own reality-deforming tendencies, she confuses concepts and has obvious blind spots.
   
   First, she confuses ideology with essence. All other failings stem from this one. While she correctly identifies the similarities between these groups and pathocracy, she doesn't clearly distinguish between normal people, pathological ideologues, and psychopaths who operate under a mask of ideology to exploit `true believers'. Because of this error, she both fails to apply her observations to other relevant groups, and exaggerates the importance of her case studies.
   
   Regarding the latter, she focuses on the perils of "socialism" instead ponerization of groups in general, which is inevitable in ALL groups without proper psychological knowledge. Thus, she views the "Right" ("capitalism and competition") as a healthy alternative, which, unfortunately, it is not. The "Right" is just as susceptible to the first criterion of ponerogenesis (i.e. ignorance of pathological signs), and thus ponerogenic activity, as we can see now: exploitation of victimhood, assaults on free speech, "us versus them" mentality, free speech zones, provocation of primitive emotions, paramoralistic epithets, etc.
   
   This is a common mistake of politicians and groups everywhere. They focus on symptoms and not causes. Thus we have "hate-crime laws" and "anti-terror laws" which are absurd and ineffective. Focusing on domestic violence would prove much more effective, and providing adequate psychological education would be even better. Instead we have "The War on Terror", "The War on Drugs", "The War on Communism"--all futile and hypocritical. In the Terror War, we have the same paralogicisms that Bruce identifies in civil rights groups: "in order to ensure civil rights and liberty, we must be silent and conform." In other words, in order to protect our rights, we must give them up.
   
   The only effective "war" will be against ponerogenesis, and thus by definition, it must not include ponerogenic factors, like vengeance, moralizing, false divisions, etc. There is only one "monolithic conspiracy", and it is psychopathic: not Communist, Anarchist, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, etc. Any other focus is either misguided or a diversion purposefully created by Machiavellians to divert attention from themselves. At the psychopathic level, there are no ideological divisions.
   
   "Divide and conquer" is simply a macrocosmic version of the two-party system. Paraphrasing Bruce, "If normal people can be divided, there will be no real threat to the Machiavellian-dominated status quo." If you can convince people they only have two options, most people will end up choosing one of them, believing it is a free choice. They will thus focus on partisan politics, ignoring real issues; or they will focus on an external threat, also ignoring real issues. For this reason--the blurring of ideological lines--we always see connections between, for example Mossad/CIA/MI5 and various Muslim terrorist groups; and between Western governments and third world dictators.
   
   This ties into the former result of Bruce's error: under-applying her observations. This is where her hypocrisy (i.e. conversive thinking) is evident, and it is fairly obvious after viewing her website/blog. She fails to see the obvious application of her observations to groups such as: a) official government agencies (e.g. the CIA's long history of every crime imaginable) b) "Right" news agencies (e.g. Fox news), and c) the most obvious corrupt minority rights group: the ADL and the Israel lobby.
   
   By attaching her criticism to an ideological, and not psychological, source (i.e. anti-"Islamofascism"), which is largely mythical, she rationalizes equally ponerogenic activity inherent in the anti-terror movement. In such a world, the CIA works for the good of America and its "excesses" are rationalized in typical conversive fashion.
   
   Regarding Fox, she criticizes "Leftist" groups of exposing youths to pornography in her books, and yet is a regular contributor and supporter of Fox (google "fox attacks decency"). I find it no surprise, though Bruce might, that the one News organization she quotes as challenging the status quo (during Clinton) has turned itself into the propaganda arm of the Bush administration. It has, in Bruce's words, "morphed into a movement obsessed with identity politics, victimhood, and an us-versus-them mentality."
   
   Regarding the Israeli lobby, it seems there are several myths that are inextricably intertwined with Bruce's natural world view, one of which is the legitimacy of Israeli occupation of Palestine and its ethnic cleansing of same. All other extrinsic belief systems follow from this myth. Contradictory information (e.g. the morally depraved treatment of Palestinians by the IDF) is rationalized, denied, or repressed. Because of such conversive phenomena, their analysis cannot be called "wrong"--it is "not even wrong". The initial assumptions are faulty on both factual and moral levels.
   
   I think this excerpt from Bruce is relevant: "[T]he vast majority of those who commit crimes have experienced abuse in their own lives (personal hate directed at them) and disfranchisement (society's later hate). It is possible that, by targeting those who act out in tangible hate against a protected group, the hate-crime theory actually revictimizes those who were initially the victims of hate."
   
   The material on her website is nowhere near the quality of her book: insults, crude humour, paramoralisms, paralogicisms, etc. She engages in the same attack mentality that she derided in 2001, even using the "favored Thought Police accusation" of racism: she frequently uses the label "Jew-hater" for anyone critical of Israel. She even has the movie 300, one of the most violent movies of the year, in her recommended reading/viewing list. This coming from the woman who championed the boycotting of American Psycho.
   
   Overall a good, but misguided book.

5 comments about The Ten Commandments: The Significance of God's Laws in Everyday Life.

1. [The following is from a funny email that's been circulating since May 2000, attributed to "Kent Ashcraft"]
   
   Dear Dr Laura:
   
   Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as a many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. ..... End of debate.
   
   I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them.
   
   1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
   
   2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
   
   3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15:19-24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
   
   4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
   
   5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
   
   6. Eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10. Is it a lesser abomination than homosexuality? I don't agree. Can you settle this?
   
   7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
   
   8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
   
   9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
   
   10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev.24:10-16). Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev 20:14)
   
   I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
   
   Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.



2. While the Ten Commandments may be hated by many and loved by few Dr. Laura gives some practical applications on how they can improve your life. [...]



3. First of all, I should state that I am a Christian, so certainly there were going to be some areas that I disagreed with the conclusions of two orthodox Jews, including a rabbi. (I am friends with a rabbi from the conservative branch, and we think alike in many different ways despite the fact that we disagree on many issues of theology.) But except for the additional analysis that could have been given from the Christian New Testament, there's not much more I could add to what the authors had to say here. Dr. Laura and the rabbi challenged me personally in several ways that were refreshing. They had good insight into thinking that would challenge anyone who wants to, as Dr. Laura states, "do the right thing." It's not always easy, but following the moral will of God is what He intends if we hope to have a complete and fulfilling life. I think it's pretty clear that, despite theological differences that people from different religions might have, we can pretty much see here how morals come from a source outside ourselves (conscience) or society. It could have only come from God Himself. Without these standards, anything goes. I believe the position advocated by Dr. Laura and the rabbi makes much more sense than anything the atheist or secular humanist has to offer. It's an easy-to-read book and is worth the time and effort to pick it up.



4. A terrific book to give anyone, at any time, preferably before they make a mess of their life!
   
   
   Blessings to Amazon!



5. This book not only explains the history and theology of each of the Commandments, but also describes their influence on law, morality, and society today, and provides helpfully detailed examples that really get you thinking in broader terms about a great many things.
   
   For example, it's one thing to understand that murder--the taking of an innocent life--is wrong. It's also not too hard to understand that lying about someone is wrong. But to make the leap that lying about someone (perhaps because you covet something they have and are envious!), leading to that person's inability to get a job and support their family, is essentially symbolic murder. Dr. Laura challenges her readers to really extrapolate the meanings behind God's laws, and I personally feel a greater respect for my fellow man having read this book. It's heavily highlighted and my family has spoken about it at length!

No comments about The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands.

5 comments about Woman Power : Transform Your Man, Your Marriage, Your Life.

1. I have the Proper Care and Feeding of husbands and I enjoyed that book. Woman Power is full of blank pages for you to write your thoughts and ideas. I think it is a waste of time unless you just LOVE to journal. If you took the useful information and took out the blank pages the book is about 2 chapters. My advice is to put your money to better use at Victorias Secret. Your husband will get a lot more out of it!!!



2. Great book to give women before they marry their love!
   
   
   Blessings to Amazon!



3. Respect your husband and treat him like a man instead of a boy and guess what...HE WILL ACT LIKE A MAN INSTEAD OF A BOY!!! If you want to have a better marriage, you've got nothing to lose :)



4. "Having emotional independence, money, possessions, and position at the expense of emotional interdependence and obligations to one's family do not make a woman more powerful." ~ pg. 153
   
   If you are looking for a book about marriage then you may want to skip this book and order "10 Stupid Things Couples Do To Mess Up Their Relationships." In "Woman Power" Dr. Laura relies heavily on letters from listeners in regards to her book: "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands." So unless you have read the first book, this one won't make as much sense. There are also many pages with lines so you can write down your own thoughts. So basically this is a very quick read unless you are using it as a workbook.
   
   There are a few good internet jokes and responses by listeners. You might also enjoy reading about the most wonderful things a wife can say or do for her husband. In one chapter she briefly talks about men's basic needs but she doesn't really include enough information to "transform you man, your marriage, your life." While I agreed with a lot of what she has to say in regards to what men need I did disagree with her advice to a woman who wanted to go on a vacation with her friends. While she discouraged the idea, I can say that my husband bought me a plane ticket so I could go to Paris with my best college girlfriend. It was an experience I never forgot and I'm always thankful to my husband for being supportive about the trip.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



5. The truth is we can influence others. The thing we need to realize is the difference between influencing and manipulation! Some men are just not worth our effort though! Ask yourself, is this worth fighting for and am I the only one fighting for it?

5 comments about How Could You Do That?!: The Abdication of Character, Courage, and Conscience.

1. There is really no such thing as unconditional self-acceptance. Those who say so are promulgating a pernicious falsehood. One must first live a decent, honorable and productive life. Only then do you get to feel good about yourself. Seeking to heedlessly gratify your desires or impulses of the moment to do things (or fail to do things) your conscience knows to be contrary to your standards of right, worthy and virtuous behavior is, in a mental, emotional and spiritual sense, akin to spending capital that you have not earned, and therefore will eventually cause you to feel very negatively not just about your behavior but also about who and what you are (except, perhaps, for sociopaths). You cannot have your cake and eat it too. The longer, for better or worse, you behave in certain ways, the more it comes to define you, not only to others but also to yourself. Thank you, Dr. Laura, for helping me to learn this lesson of life.



2. She's witty, entertaining, and so full of good advice. And this book is right there. Even though it's almost a decade old, it sounds like the same old Dr. Laura. Don't shack up. Have some character. Do the right thing. I guess these are the types of things that should never go out of vogue. I was entertained, though you can get the gist of what she says here from her radio show. But then you get to skip the commercials here. I think if more people would only listen to the good doctor, perhaps they wouldn't screw them up so much.



3. This book has changed my life. It made me relize how my choices affect my life and the lives of others. I recommend this book to anyone who is unclear on what life path to take. I have a very large collection of books in my home, I rank this book as one of the best in my collection. It has helped my world become a better place. If you are looking for a better tomorrow, read this book.



4. A 2007 Summer mini review
   
   I have been listening to Dr. Laura on and off for several years. I do not always agree with her stances or advice but more often than not I have. I listen to her on on and off, because I can not always stomach her crassness and bluntness. I decided to read her book and see if this would be a happier medium for us.
   
   What I found is that the majority of the book is based on transcripts of calls and correspondence from her radio program. While I expected this, I did not expect that those would be the best and most coherent parts of the book. I agree with the premise of her book stated clearly in the title. The overall impact of this message was greatly diminished by the disjointedness between the callers faxes and radio transcripts and her overall writing style. If this book is any indication, she has a better "voice" for radio.



5. Schlessinger uses many examples from her audiences through the years to give advice in her book. Although there are some good points to the book--determining consequences before taking action, doing the right thing and taking responsibility for one's actions--it is weakened dramatically by the books limited focus, the author's self-righteous attitude and a prescribed set of rigid behaviors.
   
   The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

4 comments about Bad Childhood---Good Life CD: How to Blossom and Thrive in Spite of an Unhappy Childhood.

1. While I like Dr. Laura & think a lot like her I'm afraid she missed the mark with this CD/Book. I've enjoyed most of her other books but didn't find this one particularly helpful or interesting. The CD version of the book basically spends hours telling you to get over your bad childhood & move on. It's rarely that easy. The only part of the book I found intersting was Dr. Laura's synopsis of her bad childhood. I think she should write an autobiography.



2. Dr. Laura gives insight and direction on how to move forward rather than stay stuck in the memories and pain of a bad childhood. This book has helped me beyond expression. I especially appreciate her candor at the end of the book, telling about her childhood which wasn't a bed of roses. I listened to this CD twice to carefully take it all in and will probably listen to it again a few months from now. As she indicates, getting over a bad childhood is always a work in progress.



3. The worst pain that disrupts our daily lives, destroys our relationships with loved ones, and keeps us victims is usually buried in a bad childhood. Disappointed, Traumatized, or Tortured when we were too little to fight, by parents or others who were not able to provide the kind of love needed for growth; can leave us with scars that last a lifetime.
   
   In her 4 CD set, Dr. Laura insightfully outlines problems that a Nightmare childhood can leave us with. A former victim of a painful childhood, she is both understanding and empathetic as she explains the ways we can reframe and go on to a good life.
   
   I especially enjoyed her ability to understand the ways that childhood pain that make a happy life difficult, without accepting those difficulties as an excuse for self defeating behavior. She also presents examples of people who consulted her as a therapist or on her broadcast that exemplify the ways that winning one's life back from an unhappy past can be heroic.
   
   I have my edition of the CD's and I keep a set in circulation among my patients.
   
   Dr. Laura is no longer the victim of an unhappy childhood; she is the victor of it.
   
   Don Michael, MD
   South Bend, IN



4. This is definitely the best self help book ever written! I've read many, many self help books. All of which were helpful, but this is the one that really hits you hard. Dr. Laura is known for her brass, blunt approach, but she wants you to get it. She provides plenty of examples. This is not a book for wimps. It's a book for people who are motivated to change and just need a little push in the right direction. Now go do the right thing!

5 comments about Stupid Things Parents Do To Mess Up Their Kids: Don't Have Them If You Won't Raise Them.

1. First of all, I wonder how this woman received the title of doctor because it's obvious she didn't do her homework! When she advocates the use of corporal punishment by saying "Children without discipline often become adults with tempertantrums, defiance, rage, depression, anxiety, poor school and work adjustment, drug and alcohol abuse." she is implying that this will happen to children who are not hit (or spanked whatever you would like to call this form of child abuse) by their parents. Had she done any research or even looked at the research of others she would have found that the majority of children that were spanked by their parents are the ones that end up like this! So it is very clear that she needs to take a good long look at her own values on parenting before she begins criticizing other parents for refusing to deliberately cause pain to their own offspring!



2. Dr. Laura was right on! She is correct in saying that children without guidance and boundries have lower self-esteem and experience depression more often. She is also correct in saying that children need to be corrected- spanked. The studies that some on here proport that damage children's self-esteem do not understand how skewed the data is. Many of the so called researchers have included spanking with those who slap, punch, kick, verbally abuse, and even whip their children with metal objects and wooden paddles. For those who have taken a statistics course or research methods course know how skewed this data is. Dr. Laura is going against the grain of society and saying there is a right and wrong and that we are not animals merely here on earth to follow our instincts and live to ourselves. She calls mothers, fathers, and parents to return to a society where people care and our selfless. This book gives great insight into the feminist movement and how socity is taking a turn for the worst!!



3. Right on again, Dr. Laura! She isn't afraid of just saying it like it is! We have kids, give them to someone else to rear, and then wonder what has happened to our society? She just levels with parents in the most ACCURATE and DIRECT way. Go Dr. Laura!



4. I LOVE Dr. Laura and although I don't have children, I bought this book for a friend of mine that does and is having some difficulty with them. She has read the book 3 times and there is definitely a noticable difference in both my friend and her children's behaviour now.
   
   I highly recommend this book!!!



5. Reading this book made me so glad I made the choice I did to stay home with my kids. I have no sympathy or respect for women who are flying down the money trail while dumping their poor babies in daycare with strangers; what a long, sad, miserable day for a toddler (no matter what Mom wants to tell herself). And as far as the ever-popular "I can't afford not to work" excuse, then why did you have children if you can't afford them? My husband is in the military; we don't make much money but we would NEVER use that as an excuse to abandon our children day after day all through their fleeting and precious childhoods. This also applies to the single, never married moms who maybe should have considered getting married before getting knocked up; daycare all day AND no dad! Yippee!! Bravo to Dr. Laura for telling it like it is. Once you have that baby, it's not about YOU anymore!