5 comments about The Happiest Toddler on the Block: The New Way to Stop the Daily Battle of Wills and Raise a Secure and Well-Behaved One- to Four-Year-Old.

1. It felt unusual to do what the author suggests, but every child in my family & day care responded/responds so well to the ideas presented. Children are not little adults, their brains work differently. The adult who assumes the concepts in the book won't work & who therefore practice with obvious cinicism are going to have trouble. Give yourself & the child a fair chance with the suggestions made in this book & the rewards will be awesome!



2. I admit I've not read the book, so take that as you will. However, after reading all the reviews positive and negative, all the information on this book provided by this site and the first page option, I have come to the conclusion that this book will help a small group of people, but on the whole is not useful. I am almost saddened to see so many positive reviews advocating that one lock their child in their room at night to make them sleep on their own. In the same breath this man insists that we speak "toddler-ese" because the child won't understand more? How will a being that doesn't understand more than primitive language (supposedly) understand the concept of being locked in their room, albeit "lovingly".
   
   I also find fault in the idea that one should "talk like a cave man" to a toddler because that's what they will understand. From day one we didn't do baby talk, we didn't shorten words or sentences for ease. We just spoke to her. Normally using proper grammar. At 15 months old her vocabulary was reaching over 150 words. Now, my daughter is almost 3 and is quite articulate. I've never once in her life hear her say, "Kiara need milk". It's always "Mommy, I need some milk." (Please is optional, but we're getting there.) I feel that the cave-man talk stunts their growth and understanding of the way people are to talk and interact with one another. It supports the laziness that we're finding in our children's studies as evidenced by flagging test scores and general apathy regarding education. Give your child the tools to express themselves rather than dumbing down the world. People underestimate the intelligence of babies/toddlers far too much. Quite sad, really, as children are amazing and incredible creatures.
   
   Tantrums happen. Kids want to cuddle before bed. The lack of these things doesn't necessarily make them "happy" nor does the inclusion of these "stumbling blocks" indicate an "unhappy child".
   
   This book is not for our family.



3. Gave this to my daughter who has a 2 year old. Seems to be working well. She read the happiest baby on the block which I love to give as a gift to new mothers.



4. I was so excited about the title of this book but I was terribly disappointed once I began reading. I really could not get past the repeated references to monkey-cave-whatever children. I know I am raising a human being! My child is not "evolving." She is growing and learning. I took this right back to the store.
   
   Better books to read: "Positive Discipline in the First Years", "The First Three Years of Life", and "Raising a Happy, Unspoiled Child."



5. I was pleasantly surprised when picking up Dr. Karp's book. The first section of the book is amusing and written in a humorous tone. Some points may be excessively repeated. If you look at the title of the book it says the book has a co-writer. In other words, these are not Dr. Karp's words verbatim. And perhaps that is where the problems arise.
   
   In the first part you learn about your cave man child, the second part, practical steps to dealing with them. The gem of the book is the simple message, LISTEN to your child, rather than try to thwart or punish them. The HOW to listen part of the book definitely needs improvement. When you can care for and honor your child, they will be happier. So, that's the good message.
   
   I don't agree with ideas like time outs, and I think just practicing these techniques as they are stated could be shallow or superficial. The point which I think Dr. Karp was trying to get through is to BE YOURSELF as a parent. So apparently Dr. Karp likes talking to his children like a cave man. Other parents have different styles. If you are able to step back from the advice and read it objectively, and not feel like you have to do it all, then that is a way to get more out of the book.
   
   What is missing from the book is BREASTFEEDING. Happy babies and toddlers are breastfed because the breastfeeding helps them surrender to life. There is also, as other reviewers pointed out, contradictions in the text, such as honoring and listening to your toddler, and then on the other hand trying to detour or steer your child's behavior.
   
   For those parents who truly want to honor their children with attachment parenting from the heart, a very eye opening text which encourages the parents natural wisdom (which I wrote) is Healing Our Children: Because Your New Baby Matters! Sacred Wisdom for Preconception, Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting (ages 0-6)
   
   Review is by Ramiel Nagel also author of Cure Tooth Decay: Heal and Prevent Cavities with Nutrition (First Edition)

5 comments about The Assertiveness Workbook: How to Express Your Ideas and Stand Up for Yourself at Work and in Relationships.

1. Excellent resource for how to deal with PA's and others-the book's no nonsense approach (yes, it's hard to change and yes your significants others will resist you), exercises, and examples give you inspiration without alot of nonsense and over the top 'you can do it' every paragraph.
   Accessible and easily readable, this practical guide will help you get what you need or establish your personal boundaries without all the new age style rhetoric.



2. If you're reading this review, you probably suspect that you have a problem with assertiveness, so take the first step towards improving your life by purchasing this book. If you have a problem saying no to unreasonable requests, if your legitimate and reasonable requests for what you need are repeatedly denied, ignored, or trivialized, if you feel surrounded by manipulative, controlling people, if you have been in a long-term verbally abusive relationship, if you are easily intimidated by aggressive people, or even if you're just mildly curious, this book will be invaluable to you. It's not just a quick read, though. It has thought-provoking exercises to help you determine why you have difficulty asserting yourself as well as practice exercises to prepare you to be assertive when the need arises. Even if you don't think you need improvement, this book is a great resource on communication.



3. This is an excellent book and very realistic and practical for use with day-to-day interactions with others.



4. Great resource. I tend to be overly aggressive, and read this to help me tone it down and just be assertive instead. I'd assume it would work equally as well for a passive or passive-agressive person looking to become more assertive as well. Contains lots of information on related behaviors, even gives some tips on controlling your breathing to calm you down in stressful situations that can lead to less than ideal responses on your behalf. Some chapters were irrelevant to my needs so I just skipped through them, but I'm sure they'd be useful to some.



5. This book is a great tool and really does help. You have to do the work as prescribed or you really will just waste your time. Realistically though simply reading a book couldn't possibly change a person without actually acting on the information. If you need help in this area get the book and use it, it is very helpful.

5 comments about Parenting a Child With Asperger Syndrome: 200 Tips and Strategies.

1. I'm sure this book is very useful for adults with Asperger Syndrome as well as kids with AS and parents with AS children! The main reason is that this work is quite easy to understand and practical. Although I'm still single, I can see that raising AS and/or autistic children has been very stressful for their parents. Ordinary parenting doesn't always work when it comes to dealing with people with AS and other developmental disabilities. I think it is because this is exactly what ordinary people have never experienced before, which makes them harder to cope with. Certainly, most developmentally challenged people seem or look almost the same as any other people around them. However, they have been feeling different and distant from ordinary people, which is likely to lead to social inferiority and low self-confidence. I'm not the exception because I was diagnosed as ADHD and PDD(=Pervasive Developmental Disorder) when I was 34.
   That's why I strongly feel that Parenting a Child With Asperger Syndrome: 200 Tips and Strategies will apply to my daily life. I know it is so difficult to carry out 100% of what is written in this book. But I'll try my best to cope with my difficulties in my life by comprehending gradually what she is driving at.



2. I loved this book. It reinforced what I already knew about AS, and added a wealth of knowledge that I have found invaluable. The strategies and tips are great. I've used them many times now...and they work!!! It was such a relief when I read this book and learned that other parents go through the exact same thing I have been going through with my son. This author really knows what she is writing about, and you can tell it is from her own personal experiences. I recommend this book to anyone who has a child they even suspect of having some type of developmental disorder.



3. This is excellent as it is written from the viewpoint of an Asperger's person, gives an explanation, and relates situations which we all find ourselves in when we are involved with this syndrome. I'm a grandparent and purchased this book for my granddaughters as their brother has Asperger's. I read it first, gave it to my son and his wife to read, before passing it on to the grandkids. We all learned from this book, even though we have been working with professionals and educators for years. This is a must read!!!



4. As a parent of a 7 year old with Asperger's, this was my first book purchase on the subject. This book has enlightened me so much and has made me more patient of his "quirks". They are such complex individuals who need to be treated with understanding and respect. This book taught me many ways to do that while still being firm with discipline. I highly recommend this book to any parent who has a child with Asperger's.



5. Great book to have for moms of high functioning ASD kids. Much easier to read and more straight forward than other books. Good useful tips. Highly recommend it.

5 comments about Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them.

1. My cousin thought it would be a book I liked. I am planning on reading it soon.



2. I have read many of Ortberg's books but overlooked this one until now. Wow, what a great book. I have been quoting this book on a daily basis. The advice, which seems aimed at Men due to the fact that we have trouble with "fellowship" and opening up, is very helpful. Once again Mr Ortberg has made me search my soul, strengthen my faith, and laugh out loud. Very insightful and highly recommended for anyone.



3. Well, most people are. THis book is great for those of us who have forgotten that EVERYBODY in high school thinks they are wierd.



4. This book really helps you delve into yourself and to appreciate the differences in others. We are all unique and have 'stuff' which this book helps us to identify.



5. I am reading this book as part of a community group at church. We have great discussions, as this book really hits home! Read it!

5 comments about Love as a Way of Life: Seven Keys to Transforming Every Aspect of Your Life.

1. If you use some of the ideas Gary Chapman shares in his "Love as a Way of Life", you will improve the quality of life for yourself and everyone around you. This is self-improvement with the focus on treating other people better, a refreshing switch from many self-help programs.
   Mr. Chapman uses short insightful stories about people he has helped as a marriage and family life counselor, to suggest to readers how they can easily apply techniques to improve themselves, and affect family, friends and strangers in an upbeat way.
   He discusses seven virtues: kindness, patience, forgiveness, courtesy, humility, generosity, and honesty and I imagine all of us can improve in some of these areas.
   He gives fun little questionaires including "How patient am I?".
   I turned to the chapter "Making love a way of life in the workplace", since I spend so many hours at work Monday through Friday, and I aim to make those hours pleasant, and even joyful at times. He has a lot of focus on marriages and family and tells some sweet stories about long successful marriages, which are great inspirations.
   In the chapter on courtesy he offers advice like "Make requests, not demands" and "Once a failure has been confessed and forgiven, never bring it up again." These are good suggestions to keep in mind and to follow.
   Everyone I know admits that they are impatient, for example. Forgiveness is another area that many of us can use help in achieving. Every reader will find helpful tips here, for some aspects of their life that can use rejuvenation.
   Terra Hangen, author of Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your HolidayA Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holidays



2. This book is reveals nothing more than basic commonsense and good principles in any relationship. Chapman uses recent news stories as examples, no research a first hit Google could not accomplish and insight is rudimentary at best. For example, devil incarnate, Charles Roberts, who blew the brains out of five Amish girls (ages 6-13)was used as an example of Amish principles of forgiveness and love that shocked more than the killings. Further, Chapman cites Roberts suicide note saying he had been regretful for the last 20 years after molesting 2 girls (girls who 20 years later say it never happened) as if Roberts had received the expression of love the Amish gave, maybe somehow he would have been a better person - give me a break. Interestingly, Richard Nixon is used as an example of someone who could not grow close and love and had lack of integrity, ultimately ended his presidency. Had Chapman actually researched Richard Nixon, and ignored simplistic revisionist historians, he could have used Nixon as an example of someone who had extraordinary love of family and of country. For examples: Nixon received scholarships to Yale and Harvard, but chose to take on a father role to help out his mom and ailing brothers during financial hard times rather than running off to the east where he could have easily earned room and board for himself; Nixon also drove around prospective wife Pat on dates with other guys when he was trying to gain her attention, a special love I could never imagine and exceeds much of Chapman's weak rhetoric; Nixon also publicly forbade the Republican party from pursuing recounts and investigations into voter fraud that more than likely would have given him 1960 election against Kennedy as to avert a constitutional crisis; moreover, Nixon resigned, not as lack of integrity, but because of it to avert disruption of impeachment as love of country more than love of self. Said to be shifty and heartless why would Nixon step down or resign rather than stand and fight - much better an example of lack of integrity would to have used Bill Clinton when he lied to our country, courts, and wife and put our country in turmoil over cheap sex in the Oval Office.
   
   I cannot imagine people in relationships so dysfunctional that paying for this advice in office or book form would be so valued or life changing, but more power to him if he can help.



3. This book has been a proven point that basic manners and morals are diminshing in the world todady. A lot of what Dr. Chapman talks about are things that parents used to teach their children. Many parents do not have time to put as much emphasis on the basics any more and some children do not take the time to listen enough to understand how valuable some things are. It even reminded of some of the things that I used to do as a second nature that I no longer do but will strive to make a better effort. He is an awesome writer. This is a book that would be beneficial to anyone that is struggling with relationships in general.



4. Gary Chapman does a great job of applying practical advice to areas of life that should be simple but, because of sin, aren't. I enjoyed his way of breaking love into 7 aspects that can be applied as we live, act, think about others and about how we treat them.



5. This book is full of practical, real information to help you love in a very authentic way those you encounter on a daily basis. Plenty of real-life examples provides both ideas and motivation to put real love into your life. Chapman does a fabulous job on this one!

5 comments about The Pregnancy Book: Month-by-Month, Everything You Need to Know From America's Baby Experts.

1. This book has been the most helpful, though I didn't get it until 1/2 way through my pregnancy so I don't know much about the early info. The month by month format can be helpful, but is also less organized that way. Don't try to read about your month in one sitting or you'll be on information overload! There is some bias, especially regarding labor and delivery, but still very helpful. Great resource for your first pregnancy.



2. This is the best pregnancy book I have. My coworkers have a baby bag that they pass around to the prego mothers. This bag had 5 different books on pregnancy but none were even close to The Pregnancy Book. When I was experiencing something new or had concerns I could turn to this book and find the answers. It cleared up a lot for me.



3. I read the rest of the reviews of this book and of one of the others by the same authors (The Birth Book). I am fairly disappointed in both books, and wish I had purchased other titles.
   
   Both books are written at about the 8th grade level, and are, frankly, rather cloying in their tone. The authors seem to have very little respect for the intelligence of their audience, which I find irritating. Some advice offered in the 4th/5th month chapters includes "If you're having trouble getting your husband to be interested in you or the baby while you're pregnant," one chapter chirpily suggests a range of options, such as "encouraging him to exercise with you, since he's investing in his future Little Leaguer" or "the fifth month is a great time to get maternity lingerie and set up a photoshoot!" (*gag*)
   
   Periodically, the authors drop the third-person, instructive tone, and incorporate first-person perspectives from unattributed women about this or that. I'm not sure if this is meant to seem real and unforced, but the lack of any names after these comments makes me wonder just how real these responses actually are. Then, again, the authors also occasionally diverge into chirpy little he said/she said segments. For example: She says "Oh, we had 'laying on hands' time every night starting the fifth month with all our kids. My husband would touch my stomach for twenty minutes and talk to my stomach, so he got to bond with the baby early!" He says: "at first I felt odd talking to someone I wouldn't meet for months, but now I wouldn't trade this SENSUAL experience for anything in the world."
   
   It's a sad thing when the authors feel they need to couch an *emotional* experience like that one as a "sensual" one. Sensual, while it can certainly mean simply 'of the senses,' tends to mean 'sexual' in American society. Dropping this word into such an unsual setting almost comes off like, well, using sensuality to sell any other idea, from beer to cars or anything else. Do they think so little of their audience, that *sensuality* is the only thing that will sell us on emotionally bonding with a child to be? Sheesh.
   
   To be fair, there *is* some good information in each chapter, if you have the patience to mine for it. The stretches and exercises offered, for example, in the 4th/5th month chapter are decently illustrated and explained.
   
   I will probably finish reading mine, and then donate it to the library.



4. I agree with the other reviews that say this is better than "What to Expect When You're Expecting"- this book is more concise, speaks directly to the mom-to- be, and is worded in a way that is concise and joyful. It has places for pictures, comments, feelings, tracking your information from your doctor visits for each month, and it breaks down the info for each week. It also has pictures of the baby's development, which I just Loved to study for each week, and suggestions to deal with pregnancy symptoms. Wonderful, and will definitely recommend to my friends as they concieve :)



5. This book helped me both enjoy and understand my pregnancy. Each time I hit the first day of each month of my pregnancy, I would sit down and read that month's chapter. There were times when I felt like I was reading an auto-biography! The authors really understand what pregnant mothers are going through. It gave me peace of mind about what was happening. I cannot say enough good things about this book. Informative, entertaining, honest without being scary. Perhaps the best thing of all was that it lead me to buy The Baby Book, which turned out to be the greatest resource once my baby was born.

5 comments about A Promise to Ourselves: A Journey Through Fatherhood and Divorce.

1. When I first heard that Alec Baldwin was writing a book about his divorce and the ruthless custody battle between him and his ex-wife Kim Basinger, I had to wonder in how many ways he would seek to slander her. I, like most of the ignorant public, considered Baldwin a volatile man, having seen his assault of a paparazzi on the news after the birth of his daughter Ireland and having heard the notorious and venomous voice mail he left for his daughter in 2006 (courtesy of the slimy celebrity news network TMZ). However, after reading an excerpt available online from the chapter entitled "Olives and Cheese", Baldwin's prose and outpouring of love for his daughter and the desperation to be a significant part of her life deeply swayed me to pick up a copy. I did so on November 1st, 2008 and once I began reading it, I could barely put it down.
   
   This memoir is not only a recollection of family, marriage and divorce but also an incredibly articulate and sensible argument on the severely biased conditions of the family law system. Baldwin's diatribe specifically involves the Los Angeles County system because of his heavy involvement with it, having been victimized by the shrewd manipulation of lawyers and judges, the scrutiny of court-appointed therapists and the feminist slant in which the system views custody issues. Baldwin and others believe that the system unfairly awards custody to the mother a vast majority of the time and due to judiciary loopholes allows them and/or their legal representation to unfairly paint a poor portrait of genuinely loving and responsible fathers. He heavily concentrates this argument on an undocumented psychological phenomenon known as Parental Alienation Syndrome, a term introduced in 1985 (a time when divorce rates were especially high) by Richard A. Gardner MD, a clinical professor of child psychiatry at Columbia University. PAS is defined by a psychological disturbance in which a child or children unjustly and exaggeratedly criticize the noncustodial parent (typically the father in most cases) and heroize the other. This is usually accomplished by the alienating parent (typically the mother) through either words or actions having their child/children believe that the other parent is an inadequate or damaging presence or altogether an unnecessary part of their lives. Baldwin dedicates an entire chapter on the discussion of this condition, listing and describing PAS's telltale symptoms, the weight of its involvement in custody litigation and the validity of its diagnosis.
   
   Of his legal battles, Alec talks about his compatibility as well as his scruples with the many lawyers he worked with and relays true stories of other divorced men and their own court battles (names changed for privacy reasons, of course). Baldwin also discusses his marriage briefly and his relationship with Ireland to a certain degree - he makes it a point in his introduction to say that "what follows will disappoint those who hoped to find a gossipy, salacious tale of a show business marriage gone bad". He also makes it a point to say that "as all divorce litigants should eventually realize, attacking the other party is not in anyone's interest, especially when children are involved". Although I am not going through a divorce (and I hope that I never have to, God willing), I felt Alec's pain, frustration and anger many times as he described his seven-year battle to be with his child, shelving career opportunities more than once, having his work schedule deferred and changing residences several times to appease the courts and his ex-wife. To be deprived of time with your child is to be slowly starved to death - the heart and soul painfully wither at the loss of a beautiful and significant relationship. Despite what the family law system thinks, a child needs both parents and Alec expresses this belief wholeheartedly, stating that most children of divorced couples who are deprived of a parent are more likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol as well as practice unsafe sex.
   
   In the end chapter of this illuminating memoir, Alec offers sound advice to couples who are either contemplating or currently undergoing a divorce. Throughout this entire memoir, he gives a respectful interpretation of the events that followed his separation and divorce beginning in 2000 and comes away from it with nary a blame on his ex-wife, stating in his Afterword that "she is a person, like many of us, doing the best she can with what she has. She is a litigant and, therefore, one who walks into a courtroom and is never offered anything than what is served there". He instead completely admonishes the lawyers, therapists, legislators and "most insidiously of all, the judges...they are the cogs in a closed system, one that they have allowed to evolve principally for their own enrichment, financial or otherwise".
   
   Bottom line: Articulate, informative and eye-opening, "A Promise To Ourselves" is not just another celebrity biography that seeks to tell a self-serving story. It is an education and a wake-up call on the unfair practices of our judicial system and a cry for change. Alec and literary partner Mark Tabb are to be commended for sharing their stories and shedding light on a duplicitous syndrome (PAS) that only aids in blurring the vision of justice.



2. Fantastic book. Thanks so much Alec Baldwin for your courage, your moxie, your openness, your sharing. I facilitate a dad's resource group in central IL, and while the courts here aren't the CA family courts (minor procedural and detail differences), the Illinois courts are as bad, as prejudiced against fathers, as painful a system. The system is broken beyond any semblance of working, and the presumption of shared parenting/joint custody needs to be the NORM never the exception.
   
   Prior to reading the book, I had only heard the snippets the media sensationalized and took way out of context regarding Mr. Baldwin. While I appreciated him as an actor on screen, I was not so appreciative because I bought what the media was selling. Having heard the stories of some of the dads I've come to know through the years, and then reading his book, I heard a lot of similarities in their experiences, and in the stories of the case studies Alec also includes. I appreciate Alec now as a dad and as a man, and I have empathy for what he's had to suffer through.



3. While I am sure Alec sufferred under the legal system and other emotional traumas of custody, the claim that Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAC) was at fault is clearly misleading. There is no medical or psychiatric or other credibility for this as a syndrome. Labeling it so makes it seem somehow legally vialbe as a diagnosis. It is sad that PAC has taken hold and some judges actually use this as a point of reason. In many cases it is used harmfully by those who are abusive of thier intimate partners and children.
   
   So....please beware!!



4. Mr. President, Please read this book. Please change the real weapon of mass destruction. (Anti)Family Court.
   I wonder if Barack has read this book yet. If Michelle divorces you(you have more than a fifty percent chance she will!) will she get the White House? Will the tax payers pay, alimony, insurance, unreasonable childsupport, White House maintenace, contents maintenance? Will the judge force you to miss your children growing up? Will you be left with the stigma of doing something wrong even though you worked hard to be the best ever and never thought it would happen to you?
   I could not have written my book any better Mr Baldwin. I want to help but I do not know how.
   Mr. President, Please read this book. Please change the real weapon of mass destruction. (Anti)Family Court.



5. I read it from 12 midnight until 4;00 A.M. I couldn't put it down!! My son recently went through a similar experience with child custody and it was a nightmare. He's reading it now and will probably write to Alec directly. I highly recommend it.

5 comments about Daddy Kisses.

1. My 11 month old loves this book. I bought it for her because her Daddy is currently deployed. She loves hearing the name "Daddy" and especially loves getting kisses from each page, just like the animals!



2. This book is adorable, I got it for the future dad and even he thought it was really cute, and is so not into that kind of thing!



3. Five-year-old Down Syndrome twins choose this book over and over on their nights with Daddy. Beautifully and simply reinforcing. It makes them laugh and it makes me cry.



4. With simple text and beautifully illustrated pages, Daddy Kisses is a great book for toddlers. It, along with Daddy Cuddles, another book in the series, makes a wonderful gift for any father.



5. This is a sweet book. It has not become one of my daughter's favorites yet but was a nice father's day gift from a little one to dad. It is their special book.

5 comments about What a Daughter Needs From Her Dad: How a Man Prepares His Daughter for Life.

1. I am an adoptive Father of a (now) 6 year old girl and in the two years since she and her brothers moved in I started to realize how completely lost I was. As I watched her grow and be shaped by the world around us I knew I needed some good, solid, real-world advice. Knowing that the author has raised/is raising 6 Daughters went a long way towards meeting that, "real-world" criteria!
   
   Addressing a vast number of areas - some you'd expect, (helping to create positive friendships, communication), and others you wouldn't, (being politically aware/active) - he serves up doses of both common sense and sometimes surprising advice.
   
   Although at 6 my Daughter is still a bit too young for some of what I read, I feel I will be a better Father for having read this book. I intend to keep it around and go back to it for gentle reminders as I need them.



2. I picked up this book because I was a soon to be father. I finished it because I was amazed with how fascist the author is. He homeschooled his children (which is fine), but he hand picked their friends. He chose his daughters' boyfriends from young men that worked for him, and if I remember correctly each daughter married their first boyfriend. I'm sure his daughters are happy, but he has raised submissive robots. Quiet scarry actually. This is called: "How a Man Prepares His Daughter for Life". I'm not sure how many people are wealthy lawyers turned politicians, but I'm assuming most do not share this man's wealth of resources and I'm hoping even fewer share his ideology of total control.



3. I bought this for my son who has 2 daughters. I have read it myself and was very impressed with the excellent practical advice that Michael Farris has for fathers. This book is not for the timid, he gives fathers lots of authority but much responsibility in raising godly daughters. Liz



4. I bought this book to help provide me tips on raising my daughter. I found the book to be very applicable to both my daughter and my son. In fact, I would even say that it's a good book for not only fathers but for both parents. It is very conservative which I personally like and carries a traditional approach towards raising daughters. I found it helpful, insightful and very encouraging. I would consider going through the book in a parent Bible Study since there are questions at the end of each chapter. I found the book very practical as well.



5. If you have a plan and your plan is working then you may not need this book, but if you are making it up as you go, this book can help.
   
   The author, a constitutional lawyer, has ten kids, six of which are girls. It is fair to say that he has earned the right to write on the topic. Any father of a soon to be teenage daughter could use Farris's experiences to help him be a better Dad. A few of the ideas I liked are as follows: I liked the ideas about relationships not being stagnant, kids are either influencing or being influenced by their peers. Another concept I thought was useful was the one on teaching out of a problem with the goal of influencing their behavior when you (as a parent) are not in the room. Another is avoiding the pairing up issue by facilitating groups of friends instead of a one on one relationship with just one boy. Finally I liked the way he defined the purpose of dating - for marriage only.
   
   The book is just 175 pages but seems like it is much shorter. The text can come across as somewhat stiff and "legalistic" in nature, especially chapter three, but believe it or not - in general the book is a very easy read overall. The chapters are short and contain a few questions for discussion at the end of each. One note of criticism is that I am a bit surprised that EVERYTHING that Mr. Farris tried with his daughters worked. It would be interesting to hear from his daughters more, specifically about some of what they thought was the most difficult challenges they faced growing up.
   
   In the end I would say the book provides a good jumping off point for a men's/father's bible study group discussion. It gives a good point of reference for dad's attempting to raise daughters with a strong Biblical foundation. You won't use all of the concepts presented, but you will use some of it. Rating: BUY
   
   PS I liked it enough to buy two additional copies for my brothers who have daughters. It is a good gift idea for any dad raising a daughter.

1 comments about Connect the Dots (Get Ready Books).

1. My children just love this book. They go back to it time and time again. Solving the puzzles and getting to see the pictures is a real treat.(and it encourages problem solving and persistance.) I highly recommend this book for children between 2-5.