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Book Review: Raising Resilient Children
By Robert Brooks, Ph.D., and Sam Goldstein, Ph.D.
Published by Contemporary Books
April 2001; $22.95US/$33.95CAN; 0-8092-9764-7
Fostering Strength, Hope, and Optimism in Your Child
| If Beaver of "Leave It to Beaver" were alive today, he might not be doing so well. The increased stress, pressure, and demands on the children of today have caused an alarming increase in childhood depression, health disorders, and antisocial behavior. However, numerous scientific studies of children facing great adversity have shown just how important resilience is for successful growth.
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In this much-anticipated work, two renowned child psychologists synthesize a large body of scientific literature on the concept of resilience, making it palatable, understandable, and, most important, practical. Dr. Robert Brooks and Dr. Sam Goldstein not only explore why some kids are able to overcome overwhelming obstacles while others become victims of early experiences and environments but also demonstrate how resilience must be applied to every parenting practice to prepare our children for the challenges of today's complicated, ever-changing world. They also explain how many parents, despite the best intentions, unwittingly undermine their children's capacity for resilience, and they offer effective strategies for identifying and eliminating these "negative scripts." Raising Resilient Children is an engaging and wise work filled with vivid anecdotes from the authors' own practices that will inspire parents and all others concerned about our youth.
Author
Robert Brooks, Ph.D., on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and on the staff of McLean Hospital, is one of today's leading speakers and authors on the themes of resilience, self-esteem, motivation, and family relationships. During the past twenty years, he has spoken nationally and internationally to thousands of parents, educators, and mental health professionals about encouragement, hope, and resilience. The subject of a PBS video on at-risk youth, he is renowned for the warmth and humor he uses to bring his insights and anecdotes to life.
Sam Goldstein, Ph.D., on the faculty of the University of Utah, is one of today's leading speakers and authorities on child development and neuropsychology. An internationally recognized speaker and author of ten previous books on child development, he is known for his ability to summarize and present current research in practical ways. He has also been featured in and produced a number of award-winning videos for parents, teachers, and children.
Drs. Brooks and Goldstein have completed the documentary Tough Times/Resilient Kids and the video Raising Resilient Children: A Video Guide About Fostering Strength, Hope, and Optimism in Your Child.
Their website is www.raisingresilientkids.com
Reviews
"The very act of reading this book will enable parents themselves to be resilient and to transplant this attribute into the minds and spirits of their offspring."
--Melvin D. Levine, M.D., professor of pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
"This is a must-read for any parent who wants their children to take control of their lives and not let life take control of them."
--Myrna Shure, Ph.D., author of Raising a Thinking Child
"Raising Resilient Children is both inspiring and practical. The authors -- both of whom have warm hearts and brilliant minds -- have culled through a vast amount of research in order to present to the reader what matters most. This book is a great blessing upon parents and teachers. It tells us what we need to know and informs us about what concerns us most -- our children. As both a parent and a child psychiatrist, I highly recommend this book. It is superb."
--Edward Hallowell, M.D., author of Driven to Distraction
"When two such talented and experienced psychologists collaborate, the result is a book that thinking parents everywhere will want to read. No gimmicks, no pat solutions -- just a thought-provoking and informed approach to raising children who can cope, survive, and thrive in today's fast-paced, hard-driving society."
--Barbara D. Ingersoll, PH.D., author of Your Hyperactive Child
"Obviously written by talented therapists, Raising Resilient Children is such a well-written, easy to-read, and helpful book for parents. It is timely, for all parents are hungry for such advice and guidance in raising resilient children. All families live with stress, but children who learn resilience from their parents' handling of these stresses are fortunate indeed. This book should help parents guide their children toward this necessary resilience."
--T. Berry Brazelton, M.D., author of The Irreducible Needs of Children
"All parents want their child to be successful, happy, and able to handle life's stresses. Drs. Brooks and Goldstein offer these parents a clear and practical guide to build such resilience. Each chapter describes a different guidepost and illustrates what can be done to foster psychological strength, hope, and optimism. Thanks to the advice and guidance of these authors, parents truly can raise resilient children."
--Larry B. Silver, M.D., clinical professor of psychiatry, Georgetown University Medical Center
"A masterful synthesis of current research on resilience with thoughtful recommendations for parents who want to help their children overcome the odds."
--Emmy E. Werner, Ph.D., author of Vulnerable and Invincible
"Raising Resilient Children is a uniquely wise guide for parents. Robert Brooks and Sam Goldstein help mothers and fathers to focus on their child's strengths, not on his or her weaknesses. The result is a happier, more resilient child. This book could really make a difference in the life of a family." --Michael Thompson, PH.D., author of Raising Cain
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