Family & Relationships

Winner of the 2024 Eileen Basker Memorial Prize from the Society for Medical Anthropology

How embryo adoption advances the Christian Right’s political goals for creating a Christian nation

In 1997, a group of white pro-life evangelical Christians in the United States created the nation’s first embryo adoption program to “save” the thousands of frozen human embryos remaining from assisted reproduction procedures, which they contend are unborn children. While a small part of US fertility services, embryo adoption has played an outsized role in conservative politics, from high-profile battles over public investment in human embryonic stem cell research to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Based on six years of ethnographic research with embryo adoption staff and participants, Risa Cromer uncovers how embryo adoption advances ambitious political goals for expanding the influence of conservative Christian values and power.

Conceiving Christian America is the first book on embryo adoption tracing how this powerful social movement draws on white saviorist tropes in their aims to reconceive personhood, with drastic consequences for reproductive rights and justice. Documenting the practices, narratives, and beliefs that move embryos from freezers to uteruses, this book wields anthropological wariness as a tool for confronting the multiple tactics of the Christian Right. Timely and provocative, Conceiving Christian America presents a bold and nuanced examination of a family-making process focused on conceiving a Christian nation.

How the power of peers and peer culture shapes individual behavior and future success

For decades, parents across America have asked their kids, “If your friends jumped off a bridge, would you?” The answer is, “Duh, yes.” Peers, as parents well know, have a tremendous impact on who their kids are and what they will become. And even while they insist otherwise, parents know that they’re largely powerless to change this. But the effect of peers is not just a story about kids; peers can also affect adult behavior—they affect what we do and who we are well into old age. Noted sociologists Syed Ali and Margaret M. Chin call this “the peer effect.” In their book, they take readers on a tour of how our peers, and the peer cultures they create, shape our behavior in schools and the workplace. Ali and Chin begin their look at the peer effect at the high school from which they both graduated: New York City’s prestigious Stuyvesant High School, arguably the best public high school in the nation. Through a fascinating and often humorous narrative, they show how peers can influence each other—in this case, how highly motivated students can create a culture of influence to achieve success in learning and in admission to elite colleges. They also show the many other ways that peers can influence one another beyond school performance, from hookup culture to school bullying and youth suicide.

Ali and Chin are also interested in the extent to which the peer effect can last. Through interviews with adult graduates of Stuyvesant, they investigate the long-lasting effects of high school peer culture. They also examine the peer effect in post–high school settings, notably around workplace misconduct, including the steroid culture in baseball and the use of excessive force by the police. The Peer Effect ultimately offers ways to understand the power of peer influence and apply this understanding to resolving issues regarding schools, college graduation rates, workplace culture, and police violence. In the tradition of big idea books like The Tipping Point, The Peer Effect will forever change the way we look at the world of human behavior.

Praising God in the storm?

Faced with carrying a child who was ‘not compatible with life’, that was just one of the many challenges Cami faced as she walked her precious child home to Heaven. In Walking Her Home, readers will hear first-hand about the pregnancy, life, and death of her daughter as well as how God sustained their marriage and family when it was challenged.

Answers the question: Why are women freezing their eggs?

Why are women freezing their eggs in record numbers? Motherhood on Ice explores this question by drawing on the stories of more than 150 women who pursued fertility preservation technology. Moving between narratives of pain and empowerment, these nuanced personal stories reveal the complexity of women’s lives as they struggle to preserve and extend their fertility.

Contrary to popular belief, egg freezing is rarely about women postponing fertility for the sake of their careers. Rather, the most-educated women are increasingly forced to delay childbearing because they face a mating gap—a lack of eligible, educated, equal partners ready for marriage and parenthood. For these women, egg freezing is a reproductive backstop, a technological attempt to bridge the gap while waiting for the right partner. But it is not an easy choice for most. Their stories reveal the extent to which it is logistically complicated, physically taxing, financially demanding, emotionally draining, and uncertain in its effects.

In this powerful book, women share their reflections on their clinical encounters, as well as the immense hopes and investments they place in this high-tech fertility preservation strategy. Race, religion, and the role of men in the lives of single women pursuing this technology are also explored. A distinctly human portrait of an understudied and rapidly growing population, Motherhood on Ice examines what is at stake for women who take comfort in their frozen eggs while embarking on their quests for partnership, pregnancy, and parenting.

A compelling examination of the social and legal experiences of lesbian, bisexual, and queer stepparent families

Lesbian, bisexual, and queer families formed after the dissolution of a marriage face a range of obstacles. In Queer Stepfamilies, Katie L. Acosta offers a wealth of insight into their complex experiences as they negotiate parenting among multiple parents and family-building in a world not designed to meet their needs. Drawing on in-depth interviews, Acosta follows the journeys of more than forty families as they navigate a legal and social landscape that fails to recognize their existence.

Acosta contextualizes the legal realities of LGBTQ stepparent families and considers the actions these parents take to protect their families in the absence of comprehensive policies or laws geared to meet their needs. Queer Stepfamilies reveals the obstacles these families face in family courts during divorce proceedings and custody cases, and highlights their distrust of courts when it comes to acting in their children’s best interests, especially in the event of an origin parent’s death.

As LGBTQ families continue to make social and legal strides in acceptance and recognition, this important book shows how queer stepparents find ways to make their unconventional families work, despite the many social and legal obstacles they encounter. Acosta provides a fresh perspective, broadening our understanding about families in the twenty-first century.

A gritty, down-to-earth guide for real-life couples 

Conflict is a natural part of any intimate relationship. Yet most couples either avoid it or try to smooth over their differences. This often results in at least one partner compromising their integrity—and stunting their own growth.

Monsters in Love challenges the idea that conflict between partners is unhealthy or something to avoid. Instead, it encourages both people to stand by what they need and who they are—but to do so with compassion rather than competitiveness or vengefulness. 

This book is about the reality of committed, intimate relationships, which are designed to inspire both people to grow up. It challenges some common misperceptions about what makes for a successful partnership. It also rocks the boat of psychotherapy, calling out therapists who don't bring their best to their clients. 

Instead of comforting fantasies or false promises, Monsters in Love offers you and your partner a chance to make your relationship—and your lives—much bigger and more emergent. 

An essential guide for navigating the challenges of fatherhood while building a foundation of faith, love, and values in your children.

Becoming a father is one of life's most profound joys and solemn duties. The path ahead will be filled with questions and self-doubt—am I ready for this? How do I nurture faith and values? Can I still pursue my dreams? What if I mess up? In The Spirit of Fatherhood, Larry Hagner provides fellow dads the wisdom and tools to navigate one of life's most epic and awe-inspiring adventures.

With insight forged from biblical study and over a decade of counseling experience, Hagner addresses nearly every aspect of engaged fatherhood. Discover guidance on building a warm, Godly home where children feel safe to grow. Learn how to correct with patience and grace. Find tips on instilling values that will serve your children for life. Hagner knows the struggles inherent to parenting and meets them with empathy, encouragement and practical solutions. While portraying this sacred calling, the founder of "The Dad Edge," the #1 podcast about fatherhood on Apple Podcasts, makes his lessons relatable through vulnerable stories, humorous anecdotes, and refreshing honesty. You'll come away feeling empowered, equipped and deeply connected.

Whether you're counting down to your first child or already have a full house, this book offers inspiration to deepen your faith and leadership. It's the perfect gift for dads aiming to ground their families in timeless wisdom and everlasting love.

Honorable Mention, 2020 Stirling Prize for Best Published Work in Psychological Anthropology, given by the Society for Psychological Anthropology

Honorable Mention, New Millennium Book Award, given by the Society for Medical Anthropology

How youth on the autism spectrum negotiate the contested meanings of neurodiversity

Autism is a deeply contested condition. To some, it is a devastating invader, harming children and isolating them. To others, it is an asset and a distinctive aspect of an individual’s identity. How do young people on the spectrum make sense of this conflict, in the context of their own developing identity?

While most of the research on Asperger’s and related autism conditions has been conducted with individuals or in settings in which people on the spectrum are in the minority, this book draws on two years of ethnographic work in communities that bring people with Asperger’s and related conditions together. It can thus begin to explore a form of autistic culture, through attending to how those on the spectrum make sense of their conditions through shared social practices.

Elizabeth Fein brings her many years of experience in both clinical psychology and psychological anthropology to analyze the connection between neuropsychological difference and culture. She argues that current medical models, which espouse a limited definition, are ill equipped to deal with the challenges of discussing autism-related conditions. Consequently, youths on the autism spectrum reach beyond medicine for their stories of difference and disorder, drawing instead on shared mythologies from popular culture and speculative fiction to conceptualize their experience of changing personhood.

In moving and persuasive prose, Living on the Spectrum illustrates that young people use these stories to pioneer more inclusive understandings of what makes us who we are.

Answers the question: Why are women freezing their eggs?

Why are women freezing their eggs in record numbers? Motherhood on Ice explores this question by drawing on the stories of more than 150 women who pursued fertility preservation technology. Moving between narratives of pain and empowerment, these nuanced personal stories reveal the complexity of women’s lives as they struggle to preserve and extend their fertility.

Contrary to popular belief, egg freezing is rarely about women postponing fertility for the sake of their careers. Rather, the most-educated women are increasingly forced to delay childbearing because they face a mating gap—a lack of eligible, educated, equal partners ready for marriage and parenthood. For these women, egg freezing is a reproductive backstop, a technological attempt to bridge the gap while waiting for the right partner. But it is not an easy choice for most. Their stories reveal the extent to which it is logistically complicated, physically taxing, financially demanding, emotionally draining, and uncertain in its effects.

In this powerful book, women share their reflections on their clinical encounters, as well as the immense hopes and investments they place in this high-tech fertility preservation strategy. Race, religion, and the role of men in the lives of single women pursuing this technology are also explored. A distinctly human portrait of an understudied and rapidly growing population, Motherhood on Ice examines what is at stake for women who take comfort in their frozen eggs while embarking on their quests for partnership, pregnancy, and parenting.

Don’t Pull Your Sister’s Hair is the story of Sam Flood Jr.—the boy who didn’t speak until he was five has become a man who wants to tell stories for a living.

Sam Flood was born on January 1, 1984, two weeks late. Walking and running at ten months, he didn’t speak until age five. “From the outset, Sam seemed to have his own idea for how life should be,” writes his father in the opening chapter, in which Sam pieces together his memories with stories told by his family to describe what it was like for Sam to express himself, from pulling his sister Eliza’s hair to wandering to Häagen-Dazs at age three.

Sam’s inability to speak concerned his parents, who consulted doctors to figure out what was wrong. One specialist said Sam would never graduate from high school, let alone go to college. Turning to writing, reading, and his own sense of humor to cope with constant bullying for his differences, Sam proved them wrong, earning a BA from Mitchell College in Connecticut.

Any family can find hope in Sam’s story. Anyone who feels different, misunderstood, bullied, or unfairly treated in life can find light in the way Sam charted his course. This is a story of neurodiversity, but it’s not just for people dealing with ADHD, autism, or any other diagnostic label, because everyone has unique ways of thinking, processing, and behaving. 

Don’t Pull Your Sister’s Hair is about the moments where neurodiversity creates opportunity. It’s the story of what’s possible.

Avoid Popping Under Pressure

Pressure management is the key to effective leadership, conflict resolution, and staying composed when life feels like it’s stretching you to the limit. In How to Untie a Balloon, former hostage negotiator and founder of Conflictish® Ryan Dunlap provides practical strategies for managing stress, mastering conflict management, and building emotional resilience.

Dunlap reveals the profound effects of pressure on our decision-making, relationships, and emotional well-being. Through the vivid metaphor of a balloon, he illustrates how unmanaged stress and unresolved conflict can lead to self-sabotage. By introducing the F.I.R.S.T. Steps framework—Feelings, Interests, Relationships, Situation, and Toll—Dunlap delivers a proven system for mastering negotiation, enhancing communication skills, and achieving breakthrough results in both personal and professional arenas.

Experience immediate and lasting benefits, including the ability to remain composed during difficult conversations, strengthen relationship communication, and approach every negotiation with clarity and confidence. Whether you are navigating business deals, couples communication, or leadership challenges, these strategies empower you to transform pressure into opportunity.

Through each step of the F.I.R.S.T. Steps framework, you’ll learn how to:

• Recognize and regulate your emotions to maintain respect, influence, and composure in negotiation and conflict resolution.
• Distinguish between surface frustrations and underlying priorities, sharpening your conversation skills for meaningful dialogue.
• Foster relationship communication and prevent conflicts from escalating, whether in couples communication or organizational settings.
• Approach high-pressure scenarios with assurance, mastering difficult conversations and leadership communication.
• Deconstruct complex conflicts into manageable elements for strategic negotiation and problem-solving.
• Integrate real-world tactics from a seasoned negotiator to build emotional intelligence and resilience in response to human emotions.

With its blend of compelling real-life stories, expert frameworks, and actionable advice, How to Untie a Balloon is the definitive resource for anyone committed to personal growth, effective negotiation, and lasting conflict resolution.

If you have valued works such as The Anatomy of Peace, Getting to Yes, or The Next Conversation, this book will be an indispensable addition to your collection.

Investigates social parents – people who function as parents but who may not be recognized as such
in the eyes of the law

What makes a person a parent? Around the world, same-sex couples are raising children; parents are separating and re-partnering, creating blended families; and children are living with grandparents, family friends, and other caregivers. In these situations, there is often an adult who acts like a parent but who is unconnected to the child through biogenetics, marriage, or adoption—the common paths for establishing legal parenthood. In many countries, this person is called a “social parent.” Psychologically, and especially from a child’s point of view, a social parent is a parent. But the legal status of a social parent is hotly debated.

Social Parenthood in Comparative Perspective considers how the law does—and how it should—recognize social parenthood. The book begins with a psychological account of social parenthood, establishing the importance of a relationship between a child and a social parent and the harms of not protecting this relationship. It then turns to social scientists to identify and explore some circumstances when a child may have a social parent. And to compare legal responses to social parenthood, the book draws on the expertise of legal scholars in nine countries in North America and Europe. The legal contributors describe the existing laws governing social parents, critique their efficacy, and offer new insights. Though almost all of the countries analyzed have adapted to the new reality of family life by recognizing social parents in some manner, the nature and extent of the recognition varies widely.

The volume concludes by discussing some of the issues flowing from the decision to recognize social parents, including whether social parents should have the same legal rights and responsibilities as other legal parents, whether all social parents must be treated identically, whether the law should limit a child to two parents, and much more. Families are changing, and the law must adapt accordingly. Social Parenthood in Comparative Perspective charts a way forward by offering solutions to help policymakers consider options for addressing social parenthood.

Why are so many children and teens today struggling with depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges, and who or what is to blame? Mind the Children provides insight into the scale, scope, and causes of the youth mental health crisis. From the decline in family life and religious affiliation to the rise in marijuana use and the ubiquity of cell phones and other screens, this book explores the cultural, institutional and technological changes that are making kids' lives more difficult.

Contributors to the book -journalists, researchers, and clinicians- address topics as varied as how schools may paradoxically worsen matters they are trying to address, how political rhetoric may affect children's ability to cope with ordinary challenges, and how to reverse the shortage of professionals available to help kids. Mind the Children will help parents and policymakers gain a comprehensive understanding of a multifaceted problem, which other experts have been too quick to trace to a single cause.

For the past half century, Maurice Blanchot has been an extraordinarily influential figure on the French literary and cultural scene. He is arguably the key figure after Sartre in exploring the relation between literature and philosophy.

This collection of 29 critical essays and reviews on art, politics, literature, and philosophy documents the wide range of Blanchot's interests, from the enigmatic paintings in the Lascaux caves to the atomic era. Essays are devoted to works of fiction (Louis-René des Forêts, Pierre Klossowski, Roger Laporte, Marguerite Duras), to autobiographies or testimonies (Michel Leiris, Robert Antelme, André Gorz, Franz Kafka), or to authors who are more than ever contemporary (Jean Paulhan, Albert Camus).

Several essays focus on questions of Judaism, as expressed in the works of Edmond Jabès, Emmanuel Levinas, and Martin Buber. Among the other topics covered are André Malraux's "imaginary museum," the Pléiade Encyclopedia project of Raymond Queneau, paperback publishing, the work of Claude Lévi-Strauss, Benjamin's "Task of the Translator," Marx and communism, writings on the Holocaust, and the difference between art and writing. The book concludes with an eloquent invocation to friendship on the occasion of the death of Georges Bataille.

A personal, intimate account of the extraordinary ways that today’s families are being created.

From adoption and assisted reproduction, to gay and straight parents, coupled and single, and multi-parent families, the stories in Modern Families explain how individuals make unconventional families by accessing a broad range of technological, medical and legal choices that expand our definitions of parenting and kinship. Joshua Gamson introduces us to a child with two mothers, made with one mother’s egg and the sperm of a man none of them has ever met; another born in Ethiopia, delivered by his natural grandmother to an orphanage after both his parents died in close succession, and then to the arms of his mother, who is raising him solo.

These tales are deeply personal and political. The process of forming these families involved jumping tremendous hurdles—social conventions, legal and medical institutions—with heightened intention and inventiveness, within and across multiple inequities and privileges. Yet each of these families, however they came to be, shares the same universal joys that all families share.

A companion for all those who choose to navigate the world of modern kinship, Modern Families provides a “fascinating look at the remarkable range of experiences that is broadening the very idea of family” (Booklist).

Transgender survivors of violence tell their stories

Transgender people face some of the highest rates of violence in the US and around the world, particularly within romantic relationships. In Transgressed, Xavier L. Guadalupe-Diaz offers a ground-breaking examination of intimate partner violence in the lives of transgender people.

Drawing on interviews and written accounts from transgender survivors of intimate partner violence, he sheds much-needed light on the dynamics of abuse that entrap trans partners in violent relationships. Transgressed shows how rigidly gendered discussions of violence have served to marginalize and silence stories of abuse. Ultimately, these stories of survival follow their unique journeys as they navigate—and break free—from the cycle of abuse, providing us with a better understanding of their experiences.

An emotionally compelling read, Transgressed offers new ways of understanding the complexities of intimate partner violence through the eyes of transgender survivors.

Transgender survivors of violence tell their stories

Transgender people face some of the highest rates of violence in the US and around the world, particularly within romantic relationships. In Transgressed, Xavier L. Guadalupe-Diaz offers a ground-breaking examination of intimate partner violence in the lives of transgender people.

Drawing on interviews and written accounts from transgender survivors of intimate partner violence, he sheds much-needed light on the dynamics of abuse that entrap trans partners in violent relationships. Transgressed shows how rigidly gendered discussions of violence have served to marginalize and silence stories of abuse. Ultimately, these stories of survival follow their unique journeys as they navigate—and break free—from the cycle of abuse, providing us with a better understanding of their experiences.

An emotionally compelling read, Transgressed offers new ways of understanding the complexities of intimate partner violence through the eyes of transgender survivors.

A poignant look at empathetic encounters between staunch ideological rivals, all centered around our common need for food.

While America's new reality appears to be a deeply divided body politic, many are wondering how we can or should move forward from here. Can political or social divisiveness be healed? Is empathy among people with very little ideological common ground possible? In A Decent Meal, Michael Carolan finds answers to these fundamental questions in a series of unexpected places: around our dinner tables, along the aisles of our supermarkets, and in the fields growing our fruits and vegetables. What is more common, after all, than the simple fact that we all need to eat?

This book is the result of Carolan's career-long efforts to create simulations in which food could be used to build empathy, among even the staunchest of rivals. Though most people assume that presenting facts will sway the way the public behaves, time and again this assumption is proven wrong as we all selectively accept the facts that support our beliefs. Drawing on the data he has collected, Carolan argues that we must, instead, find places and practices where incivility—or worse, hate—is suspended and leverage those opportunities into tools for building social cohesion.

Each chapter follows the individuals who participated in a given experiment, ranging from strawberry-picking, attempting to subsist on SNAP benefits, or attending a dinner of wild game. By engaging with participants before, during, and after, Carolan is able to document their remarkable shifts in attitude and opinion. Though this book is framed around food, it is really about the spaces opened up by our need for food, in our communities, in our homes, and, ultimately, in our minds.

**Business Book Awards 2025 Finalist**

'This is the book I really needed when I first became a working parent!' - Kathryn Bishop, CBE

Welcome to the world of working parenthood...

• Wondering how you’ll still do your job as well as being a parent?
• Want to have a conversation about changing your working pattern but not sure how to approach it?
• Don’t really know where to start with creating a return-to-work plan?

This how-to guide is designed to help you every step of the way on your journey to becoming a working parent – from before you head off on parental leave to while you’re away and on your return. Catherine Oliver has not only been there and done that but has supported many thousands who have chosen to take on the dual roles of parent and employee.

It will also be invaluable if your partner is taking a longer period of parental leave, or if you’re a manager worried about doing or saying the wrong thing. In the past this support has only been available to employees of big corporates: now you’re holding it in your hands.

Catherine Oliver is a Diversity and Inclusion Advisor who specializes in helping organizations from start-ups to the largest listed companies support working parents and their managers. She became a parent herself during her 20-year corporate career and founded Sky’s parenting network.

'An excellent practical guide to working through the many challenges of becoming a working parent.' Colin Jones, ex-COO, Sky

'As a first-time expectant parent this book was a game-changer.' Emma McKinley, Mum-to-be & Finance Director, Haleon PLC

A compassionate guide to raising resilient, authentic, well-rounded children.

The Good Enough Parent is a compendium of life lessons, including how to say 'No', how to look beneath the surface of "bad" behavior to find the root of what is going on, how to encourage a child to be genuinely kind, and how to handle the moodiness of adolescence. 

Rather than striving for perfection, the book argues, the job of any parent is in fact to guide a child gently into the imperfect nature of everything. 

Encouraging, wry, and steeped in years of experience, The Good Enough Parent is an intelligent guide to raising a child who will one day look back on their childhood with just the right mixture of gratitude, humor, and love.

• COMPASSIONATE ADVICE: for raising content toddlers into resourceful teens.
• FOR BUSY PARENTS: includes digestible, accessible lessons in parenting.
• ACTIONABLE TIPS: for balancing parental instinct with the acquisition of new skills.
• EMOTIONAL CURRICULUM: with lessons in curiosity, listening, manners, and adolescence.

Full of colorful original photographs, The Joys and Sorrows of Parenting promises us a gentle way of staying calm around one of the most arduous yet deeply fulfilling jobs in the world. 

This playful adult board book distills 2,000 years of philosophy into 26 consoling mini essays that shed light on trials and pleasures of parenting. 

• A PLAYFUL BOARD BOOK FOR ADULTS illustrated with full color, original photographs throughout. 

• 26 DIGESTIBLE MINI ESSAYS to reassure and entertain the modern parent. 

• PRACTICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL parenting advice that doesn't shy away from the imperfections of family life. 

• THE IDEAL GIFT for parents at all stages of their family journey.

Raise calmer, happier, healthier children with these fun, hands-on nature activities for parents and kids to enjoy together.

Gold Winner, Nonfiction Authors Association Book Awards

Are your kids stressed? Are they feeling a bit down? Do your children—and you—need a break from screens? Nature can help. What we all suspected intuitively for generations, science has now confirmed: spending time connecting to nature is a safe, effective tool to help improve our health and happiness.

In Finding Ecohappiness, author Sandi Schwartz guides families in building regular habits of experiencing nature to reduce stress and boost mood. She explores key positive psychology tools from a nature-loving perspective. You will learn simple, practical tips for incorporating these tools—awe and gratitude, mindfulness, creative arts, outdoor play and adventure, volunteering, food, and animals—into your daily routine to help your children thrive and live a happy, balanced life.

Finding Ecohappiness will introduce you to all kinds of engaging nature activities you can do with your kids, from hiking and bike rides to visiting nature centers and science museums to volunteering outdoors to embarking on ecotourism adventures. In addition, you will discover unique nature relaxation activities like cow cuddling, animal yoga, forest bathing, float therapy, and earthing. Nature isn’t just for kids, either—doing these activities with your children will tremendously improve your own well-being, too.

A must-read for all families, Finding Ecohappiness will help you protect your children from feeling stressed and overwhelmed; manage your children’s current issues regarding stress, anxiety, and mood; and improve family togetherness.

Let’s face it—modern life is stressful. With constant demands on your time and attention, it’s not surprising that you’ve neglected what used to be your North Star: your relationship. You might feel disconnected from each other and stuck in a cycle of go-nowhere arguments. Perhaps you miss the spark that made you excited to see one another at the end of the day. You might long for the time when the two of you were in sync on most things and could laugh at misunderstandings and miscommunications.

Fire It Up is the solution to relationships that are struggling, feeling stale, or just in need of a little extra care. Experienced couples therapist Carolyn Sharp outlines a clear four-step process to bring back the love, connection, and vitality to any marriage, with humor and authenticity. She’ll help you understand how relationships work—and why your partner does that annoying thing. Get to the heart of the problem and empower yourself with the knowledge to make lasting change in your relationship.

The key ingredients to contented love—quintessential advice on relationships from The School of Life, with an approachable tone

It can sometimes seem a mystery why some couples stay together and thrive – while many more split up or drag on scratchily. While we might think happy love is left to chance, there are some identifiable secrets that underpin good relationships that we can learn and put into practice.

The first title of a new series, The Secrets of Successful Relationships draws upon the expertise of The School of Life therapists to teach us the key ingredients of contented love. Chapters such as “Learning to Love Oneself”, “Knowing What to Overlook”, “Good Listening” and “The Importance of Bad Dates” prompt us to think about how we can achieve success in love. In a tone that’s warm, encouraging and funny, we learn: how to communicate effectively, how to manage differences, what to do when sexual problems arise, how to air grievances, the best way to share a home and – when things grow truly problematic – how to judge whether or not we should stay or leave.

This handbook shows us how to take the necessary, careful, intelligent steps towards the contented love we deserve.

A guided questionnaire to help understand ourselves and our romantic relationships more clearly.

Most questionnaires are happy to be a bit of fun; this one sets out to be both entertaining and, more importantly, useful – offering us nothing less than a guide to the comforting and supportive relationships we long for.

With online apps taking over the dating game, it has never been more crucial to know the rules.

Through a series of pertinent questions, it reveals our distinctive style of loving, what our strengths and weaknesses are with partners and how we might secure genuine fulfillment going forward.

As we work through the questionnaire and its accompanying essays, writing the answers in a notebook, we discover the many reasons why relationships go wrong – and how they might do so far less often in the future. The book considers the role of self-hatred, the influence of childhood, the importance of vulnerability, the appeal of unavailable people and the best way to overcome patterns of self-doubt and unhealthy attachment.

Our minds are such confusing places, even the most thoughtful among us can fail to know central things about how we behave in relationships. This questionnaire will help us to understand ourselves more clearly – and so set us free to discover the love we deserve.

52 Parenting Principles outlines simple strategies to help parents prepare their kids with important life skills for when they leave home. The 52 principles are bite-sized nuggets that parents can learn, understand, and apply weekly or as they choose. With enough theory for context, it emphasizes applications parents can make immediately. Most of the principles can be adopted to fit children of all ages. By reading 52 Parenting Principles, parents feel empowered to make changes they can master and witness relational transformation. Each principle is followed by discussion questions and action steps to help parents understand and integrate what they have learned.

In Changing Course—now fully revised and updated—Claudia Black extends a helping hand to anyone overcoming the complex trauma of growing up in an impaired family system.

Don't talk. Don't trust. Don't feel.

Being raised in a dysfunctional family system, whether unpredictable and chaotic or overly rigid and joyless, can set the course for chronic emotional pain in adulthood. Changing Course is a gentle, affirming guide to healing from childhood experiences of loss, abandonment, fear, and shame.

Through carefully crafted questions, charts, exercises, and real-life stories of people impacted by various types of family impairment, Dr. Black skillfully presents an interactive process of healing from childhood wounds. You will learn four essential steps you can use to let go of old hurtful beliefs and behaviors and develop new skills for both redefining self and negotiating relationships.

Everyone experiences heartbreak at some point in their life. Advice can be heard to receive with a broken heart, and it tends to focus on letting time do the healing. This consoling and encouraging guide from The School of Life presents a refreshing perspective on heartbreak, arguing that a more nuanced understanding of our pain can help us along the path to healing. 

Through history, psychology, and a little philosophy, Heartbreak teaches us how our responses to abandonment are formed, what the best way to think about an ex might be, and how to envision future relationships when we are in the midst of despair. We come away feeling less alone, consoled that our suffering will have an end, and intrigued by the endless subtleties of relationships. 

• A PRACTICAL GUIDE: to understanding and overcoming heartbreak. 
• PART OF THE SCHOOL OF LIFE'S 'LOVE' SERIES: focusing on the joys and sorrows of relationships. 
• A PHILOSOPHICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH: to life's innumerable heartbreaks. 

Winner of the 2024 Eileen Basker Memorial Prize from the Society for Medical Anthropology

How embryo adoption advances the Christian Right’s political goals for creating a Christian nation

In 1997, a group of white pro-life evangelical Christians in the United States created the nation’s first embryo adoption program to “save” the thousands of frozen human embryos remaining from assisted reproduction procedures, which they contend are unborn children. While a small part of US fertility services, embryo adoption has played an outsized role in conservative politics, from high-profile battles over public investment in human embryonic stem cell research to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Based on six years of ethnographic research with embryo adoption staff and participants, Risa Cromer uncovers how embryo adoption advances ambitious political goals for expanding the influence of conservative Christian values and power.

Conceiving Christian America is the first book on embryo adoption tracing how this powerful social movement draws on white saviorist tropes in their aims to reconceive personhood, with drastic consequences for reproductive rights and justice. Documenting the practices, narratives, and beliefs that move embryos from freezers to uteruses, this book wields anthropological wariness as a tool for confronting the multiple tactics of the Christian Right. Timely and provocative, Conceiving Christian America presents a bold and nuanced examination of a family-making process focused on conceiving a Christian nation.

In this unique book of correspondence, two men from different generations write to each other about the burdens, anxieties, and singular joys of parenthood. Thirtysomething Charles Demers and 80-year-old George Bowering are both celebrated authors and the best of friends, and soon both will be the fathers of daughters. The letters begin as Charles and his wife discover they will become parents; he expresses his hopes and fears of impending fatherhood, compounded by his OCD and his own father's illness, while George recalls his own experiences raising a daughter in the 1970s and his own anxieties about bringing a child into a troubled world.

Together, their thoughtful, funny, candid missives reveal what fathers know (or don't know) about raising daughters, as well as themselves and each other. Their combined observations make for a passionate, funny and moving portrait of fatherhood in all its imperfect, beautiful glory.

George Bowering is Canada's first poet laureate and an officer of the Order of Canada. He is the author of more than eighty books, the most recent of which include The Hockey Scribbler, Writing the Okanagan, and Pinboy. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Charles Demers is a comedian, performer, and writer. His previous books are The Horrors (Douglas & McIntyre) and Vancouver Special (Arsenal). He lives in Vancouver, where he teaches writing at the University of British Columbia.

The act of adopting children, and the processes and politics around it, have changed drastically in recent decades, mostly for the better. Still, many prospective adoptive parents remain bewildered or apprehensive, and those who have adopted find themselves struggling in ways they hadn't anticipated.

Thicker Than Blood is a comprehensive yet down-to-earth look at adoptive parenting in the twenty-first century. Author Marion Crook's family includes two adopted sons; in her experience, adoptive parents need to acquire skills, knowledge, and a good sense of humor in order to deal with the emotional upheavals of raising adopted children.

The book looks at all facets of adoption, including its dark history over the past one hundred years when it was seen as a lower-class option for desperate parents, or when children were taken from single mothers against their will. Today, adoption is much more open-minded?LGBT adoptive parents and adoptive single parents are now commonplace?yet challenges linger, from adoptive children suffering from PTSD to those dealing with issues of anger and abandonment. Crook gently takes adoptive parents through the process of adoption from childhood to adulthood, helping to demystify the experience with compassion and reassurance.

Meticulously researched but refreshingly free of academic jargon, Thicker Than Blood will enlighten and empower adoptive parents and those who work with adopted children alike.

Marion Crook is the author of twenty-one previous books which include novels and nonfiction for both adults and young people, on such subjects as women's health, teen suicide, and body image.

Teen suicide has long been considered one of society’s darkest secrets; the idea of troubled young people driven to take their own lives was a tragedy too horrible to contemplate, let alone talk about openly. But the fact remains that teen suicide is an issue that refuses to go away so long as young people in crisis have nowhere to turn. But now, in this age of frank discussions about bullying, peer pressure, and issues of "difference," there is a growing sense that teen suicide is no longer a taboo subject, and that talking about it can help us to identify and acknowledge the kind of problems that lead teens to make such drastic and tragic decisions.

Based on interviews with teen suicide survivors, -parents, and professionals, Marion Crook sensitively explores all aspects of teen suicide, in particular the -reasons why certain young people are driven to it. The motives are far-ranging, but central to all is a sense of desperation. Despite their dire circumstances, however, many found a way out of the darkness and into adult lives of meaning and worth.

Marion Crook also examines the history of teen suicide in Western and other cultures, as well as what roles parents and schools can play in suicide prevention, and coping strategies for teens in crisis. Out of the Darkness is a book for both teens and adults that breaks the silence surrounding teen suicide, offering hope for those who think there is none.

Marion Crook has spent the last fifteen years actively researching the difficulties teens face, relying on the expertise of the teens themselves. This is her twenty-third published book. She teaches at the university in Surrey, B.C. while continuing to research and write.

From Frustration to Connection

Bold, practical, and compassionate, ADHD Parenting: From Meltdowns to Momentum gives overwhelmed parents a clear, evidence-based path to calmer days, stronger relationships, and real progress at home and school. Blending clinical expertise with lived experience, therapist Joshua Terhune reframes “difficult” behaviors as signals—and shows how to meet an ADHD child with connection, not control.

A calm home starts with feeling understood. Drawing on years of ADHD-focused counseling and his nationally-followed parenting classes, Terhune teaches parents how the ADHD brain actually works—executive function, sensory processing, and emotional regulation—so meltdowns, impulsivity, and “inconsistency” finally make sense. When you understand the “why,” you can change the “what.”

Authority with heart, science you can use. Terhune’s connection-first approach translates research into step-by-step tools: love-and-limits discipline that protects self-esteem, routines that work with an ADHD brain, and advocacy strategies for IEP/504 plans that build partnership with teachers. Real family stories remind readers they’re not alone, and that success is measured in progress, not perfection.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Behavior tools that work with the ADHD brain—connection-before-correction scripts, playful coaching, and executive function supports that reduce power struggles
• Home systems that create calm—sensory-informed routines, transition plans, and environment “hacks” that cut chaos and boost follow-through
• School and life scaffolds—IEP/504 essentials, strength-based motivation, and small-win ladders that grow independence and confidence

If you liked Brain-Body Parenting, Differently Wired, or Good Inside, then you’ll love ADHD Parenting.

From a world-renowned expert on creative play and the impact of commercial marketing on children, a timely investigation into how big tech is hijacking childhood—and what we can do about it

“Engrossing and insightful . . . rich with details that paint a full portrait of contemporary child-corporate relations.” —Zephyr Teachout, The New York Times Book Review

Even before COVID-19, digital technologies had become deeply embedded in children’s lives, despite a growing body of research detailing the harms of excessive immersion in the unregulated, powerfully seductive world of the “kid-tech” industry.

In the “must read” (Library Journal, starred review) Who’s Raising the Kids?, Susan Linn—one of the world’s leading experts on the impact of Big Tech and big business on children—weaves an “eye-opening and disturbing exploration of how marketing tech to children is creating a passive, dysfunctional generation” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). From birth, kids have become lucrative fodder for tech, media, and toy companies, from producers of exploitative games and social media platforms to “educational” technology and branded school curricula of dubious efficacy.

Written with humor and compassion, Who’s Raising the Kids? is a unique and highly readable social critique and guide to protecting kids from exploitation by the tech, toy, and entertainment industries. Two hopeful chapters—“Resistance Parenting” and “Making a Difference for Everybody’s Kids”—chart a path to allowing kids to be the children they need to be.

From a world-renowned expert on creative play and the impact of commercial marketing on children, a timely investigation into how big tech is hijacking childhood—and what we can do about it

“Engrossing and insightful . . . rich with details that paint a full portrait of contemporary child-corporate relations.” —Zephyr Teachout, The New York Times Book Review

Even before COVID-19, digital technologies had become deeply embedded in children’s lives, despite a growing body of research detailing the harms of excessive immersion in the unregulated, powerfully seductive world of the “kid-tech” industry.

In the “must read” (Library Journal, starred review) Who’s Raising the Kids?, Susan Linn—one of the world’s leading experts on the impact of Big Tech and big business on children—weaves an “eye-opening and disturbing exploration of how marketing tech to children is creating a passive, dysfunctional generation” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). From birth, kids have become lucrative fodder for tech, media, and toy companies, from producers of exploitative games and social media platforms to “educational” technology and branded school curricula of dubious efficacy.

Written with humor and compassion, Who’s Raising the Kids? is a unique and highly readable social critique and guide to protecting kids from exploitation by the tech, toy, and entertainment industries. Two hopeful chapters—“Resistance Parenting” and “Making a Difference for Everybody’s Kids”—chart a path to allowing kids to be the children they need to be.

From a world-renowned expert on creative play and the impact of commercial marketing on children, a timely investigation into how big tech is hijacking childhood—and what we can do about it

“Engrossing and insightful . . . rich with details that paint a full portrait of contemporary child-corporate relations.” —Zephyr Teachout, The New York Times Book Review

Even before COVID-19, digital technologies had become deeply embedded in children’s lives, despite a growing body of research detailing the harms of excessive immersion in the unregulated, powerfully seductive world of the “kid-tech” industry.

In the “must read” (Library Journal, starred review) Who’s Raising the Kids?, Susan Linn—one of the world’s leading experts on the impact of Big Tech and big business on children—weaves an “eye-opening and disturbing exploration of how marketing tech to children is creating a passive, dysfunctional generation” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). From birth, kids have become lucrative fodder for tech, media, and toy companies, from producers of exploitative games and social media platforms to “educational” technology and branded school curricula of dubious efficacy.

Written with humor and compassion, Who’s Raising the Kids? is a unique and highly readable social critique and guide to protecting kids from exploitation by the tech, toy, and entertainment industries. Two hopeful chapters—“Resistance Parenting” and “Making a Difference for Everybody’s Kids”—chart a path to allowing kids to be the children they need to be.

La doctora María Velasco, la psiquiatra y psicoterapeuta especialista en niños y adolescentes más conocida dentro y fuera de las redes, nos propone un libro para ayudar a padres y madres a criar a sus hijos y a cuidar de su salud mental. Una crianza más sana y con sentido es posible.

En Criar con salud mental, la doctora María Velasco, experta en psiquiatría infantojuvenil, se ofrece a acompañarnos en la difícil y fascinante tarea de ser madres y padres y responde a varias preguntas: ¿Qué es ser padre y madre?, ¿qué es la infancia?, ¿qué es la crianza?, ¿qué necesidades emocionales tienen nuestros hijos?, ¿cómo lograr un buen apego?, ¿qué conflictos emocionales se nos activan con la maternidad y la paternidad?, ¿a qué dificultades se enfrentan los padres y madres de hoy?, ¿cómo lograr que nuestros hijos se conviertan en adultos mentalmente sanos y resilientes?, ¿es posible educar de forma serena?

Actualmente vivimos en una sociedad que no permite ni a los padres y madres ni a los hijos vivir una infancia y una adolescencia mentalmente sanas. La soledad y la falta de ayuda, así como las exigencias sociales son algunas de las causas de que los padres y las madres no puedan satisfacer las necesidades de los niños y los adolescentes. De hecho, muchas veces son las necesidades y exigencias de los adultos las que acaban invadiendo la infancia de los más pequeños de un modo pernicioso que no favorece que crezcan y se construyan como personas.

Una guía clara y esperanzadora para que los padres y madres actuales consigan interiorizar un tipo de crianza sana, ponerla en práctica y cuidar de su mayor regalo: el amor incondicional de los hijos.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

Dr. María Velasco, the renowned psychiatrist and psychotherapist specializing in children and adolescents—both online and off—offers a book to help parents raise their children while caring for their mental health. A healthier, more meaningful approach to parenting is possible.

In Criar con salud mental (Raising Children with Good Mental Health), Dr. María Velasco, an expert in child and adolescent psychiatry, guides us through the difficult and fascinating journey of parenting and answers key questions: What does it mean to be a parent? What is childhood? What is parenting? What emotional needs do our children have? How can we foster secure attachment? What emotional conflicts are triggered by motherhood and fatherhood? What challenges do today’s parents face? How can we help our children grow into mentally healthy and resilient adults? Is it possible to raise children with calm and serenity?

Today we live in a society that makes it difficult for both parents and children to experience a mentally healthy childhood and adolescence. Loneliness, lack of support, and social pressures are some of the reasons why parents struggle to meet the emotional needs of children and teens. In fact, it is often the demands and needs of adults that end up invading childhood in harmful ways, preventing children from growing and developing as whole individuals.

A clear and hopeful guide to help modern parents embrace a model of healthy parenting, put it into practice, and care for their greatest gift: the unconditional love of their children.

Vuelve la autora del fenómeno internacional Calma tu pinche cabeza.

¿ESTÁS AGOTADA? ¿NO SE TIENE EN CUENTA TU OPINIÓN? ¿NO PARAN DE DELEGARTE MÁS Y MÁS TAREAS Y YA NO SABES DÓNDE METERTE? ¿ESTÁS HARTA DE PRIORIZAR LAS NECESIDADES DE LOS DEMÁS?

Si has respondido «sí» a alguna de estas preguntas, necesitas urgentemente establecer unos límites.

Cuando decimos «basta» con asertividad, construimos una base sólida en un mundo incierto en el que la salud mental está constantemente en peligro. Con esta guía sabrás cómo forjar algunas líneas rojas para sentirte segura entre desconocidos y en tus relaciones más cercanas. La Dra. Faith G. Harper te da las claves para hacer frente a una realidad: no puedes controlar lo que hacen las personas que se comportan como imbéciles, pero puedes tomar decisiones saludables para ti y controlar cómo comunicas tus necesidades para sentirte más libre que nunca.

Respeta mis pinches límites incluye, además, un cuaderno de ejercicios para trazar un plan de acción y salvar tanto nuestras relaciones como a nosotras mismas.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

The bestselling author of the international phenomenon Unfuck Your Brain returns.

ARE YOU EXHAUSTED? IS YOUR OPINION IGNORED? ARE YOU CONSTANTLY GIVEN MORE AND MORE TASKS UNTIL YOU FEEL OVERWHELMED? ARE YOU TIRED OF PRIORITIZING EVERYONE ELSE’S NEEDS?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you urgently need to set some boundaries.

When we say “enough” with assertiveness, we build a solid foundation in an uncertain world where mental health is constantly at risk. This guide will show you how to draw clear lines to feel safe among strangers and in your closest relationships. Dr. Faith G. Harper offers tools to face a hard truth: you can’t control what people do when they act like jerks, but you can make healthy choices for yourself and take charge of how you communicate your needs to feel freer than ever.

Respeta mis pinches límites (Respect My Fucking Boundaries) also includes a workbook to help you create an action plan and rescue both your relationships and yourself.

Deja de complacer a los demás y aprende a decir "no".

¿Y si desafiar fuera el primer paso para transformar tu mundo?
¿Cuántas veces has querido hablar, disentir o actuar según tus principios, pero optas por guardar silencio y ceder para no incomodar?

En un mundo en el que la presión por complacer es constante —en la casa, en el trabajo, en la sociedad—, la doctora Sunita Sah, reconocida experta en ética, conflictos de interés y toma de decisiones, ofrece una guía clara y accesible para que dejes atrás el miedo a no gustar y comiences a actuar desde tu verdad.

Este libro combina investigaciones de vanguardia y estrategias cotidianas que te ayudarán a fortalecer tu voz interior y reconocer las señales que tu cuerpo te envía cuando la decisión que estás por tomar no es la correcta para ti. Aprende a desobedecer de manera inteligente y a prepararte para conversaciones difíciles, como cuando en una cena familiar alguien hace un comentario desagradable sobre ti, y todos, incluyéndote, guardan silencio. Tu «yo» del pasado quizá se habría quedado callado, pero ahora sabrás cómo poner un límite con claridad y respeto.

Rompe con la idea de que la obediencia es una virtud e inspira a otros: la valentía también se contagia.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

Stop pleasing others and learn to say “no.”

What if defiance were the first step to transforming your world?
How many times have you wanted to speak up, disagree, or act according to your principles—but chose silence to avoid discomfort?

In a world where the pressure to please is constant—at home, at work, in society—Dr. Sunita Sah, a renowned expert in ethics, conflicts of interest, and decision-making, offers a clear and accessible guide to help you move past the fear of not being liked and start acting from your truth.

This book blends cutting-edge research with everyday strategies to help you strengthen your inner voice and recognize the signals your body sends when a decision isn’t right for you. Learn to disobey wisely and prepare for difficult conversations—like when someone makes an unpleasant comment about you at a family dinner, and everyone, including you, stays silent. Your past self might have stayed quiet, but now you’ll know how to set boundaries with clarity and respect.

Break free from the idea that obedience is a virtue and inspire others—courage is contagious too.

From Jane Austen to Taylor Swift, a look at the surprising politics of romantic love and its dissolution.

Whatever the underlying motives – be they love, financial security, or mere masochism – the fact is that getting involved in a romantic partnership is emotionally, morally, and even politically fraught.

In Hard To Do, Kelli María Korducki turns a Marxist lens on the relatively short history of romantic partnership, tracing how the socio-economic dynamics between men and women have transformed the ways women conceive of domestic partnership. With perceptive, reported insights on the ways marriage and divorce are legislated, the rituals of twentieth-century courtship, and contemporary practices for calling it off, Korducki reveals that, for all women, choosing to end a relationship is a radical action with very limited cultural precedent.

From Jane Austen to Taylor Swift, a look at the surprising politics of romantic love and its dissolution.

Whatever the underlying motives – be they love, financial security, or mere masochism – the fact is that getting involved in a romantic partnership is emotionally, morally, and even politically fraught.

In Hard To Do, Kelli María Korducki turns a Marxist lens on the relatively short history of romantic partnership, tracing how the socio-economic dynamics between men and women have transformed the ways women conceive of domestic partnership. With perceptive, reported insights on the ways marriage and divorce are legislated, the rituals of twentieth-century courtship, and contemporary practices for calling it off, Korducki reveals that, for all women, choosing to end a relationship is a radical action with very limited cultural precedent.

A celebration of the most powerful force on earth.

A mother's love is like no other - both fierce and quiet, strong and gentle, demanding and selfless, incredibly complicated and yet also the most simple thing on earth. It changes form and takes a new shape as her children grow and take their own steps into the world, and yet through all these variables it is always... there, unrelenting and eternal. And, as overprotective as they can oftentimes be, a mother can always be counted upon to offer comfort and consolation. Their love is the safe haven we return to no matter how old we are.

This little book is a celebration of that love, and alongside the sage sayings and words of wisdom, you will find a treasure trove of some of the things only a mother would say to her children. And while we all know that "I want doesn't get", if you wish to delight in the sacred bond you share with your own mum, or simply feel inspired while on your own motherhood journey, this is the book for you.

"A mother's love liberates." Maya Angelou

"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity. It dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path." Agatha Christie

"When you look into your mother's eyes, you know that is the purest love you can find on this Earth." Mitch Albom

Things only mums do: Turn up at your front door with tissues, medicine, soup and snacks after they heard you sniff (once) on the phone earlier that day.
Thanks, Mum, but you do know I'm 28 years old, right...?

The Little Book of SuperMom is a heartwarming, joyful celebration of moms and all their incredible superpowers. Packed with uplifting quotes, fabulous facts and mom-themed trivia, this charming book shines a light on everything that makes moms truly amazing - from their multitasking magic to the endless hugs, wisdom and wit.

Discover how moms are celebrated around the world, learn quirky motherhood facts and smile at relatable truths only a mom could understand. Whether it's her ability to find lost socks, soothe tears in seconds or juggle a million things at once, being a mom is nothing short of heroic.

Perfect for Mother's Day, birthdays or just because, this little book is a delightful gift for the superhero in your life - your mom.

Sample Content:

"At the end of the day, my most important job is still mom-in-chief."
Michelle Obama, attorney and former First Lady of the United States (b. 1964)

"All I am I owe to my mother."
George Washington, Founding Father and the first US president (1732-99)

"To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power."
Maya Angelou, American poet and civil rights activist (1928-2014)

Did you know the average mom performs the equivalent of two and a half full-time jobs? Studies show moms spend up to 98 hours a week juggling work, home, kids - and everything in between! From chef to nurse, coach to counselor, moms wear countless hats (and capes) with grace and grit.

The Little Book of SuperMum is a heartwarming, joyful celebration of mums and all their incredible superpowers. Packed with uplifting quotes, fabulous facts and mum-themed trivia, this charming book shines a light on everything that makes mums truly amazing - from their multitasking magic to the endless hugs, wisdom and wit.

Discover how mums are celebrated around the world, learn quirky motherhood facts and smile at relatable truths only a mum could understand. Whether it's her ability to find lost socks, soothe tears in seconds or juggle a million things at once, being a mum is nothing short of heroic.

Perfect for Mother's Day, birthdays or just because, this little book is a delightful gift for the superhero in your life - your mum.

Sample Content:

"A mother's arms are made of tenderness, and children sleep soundly in them."
Victor Hugo, French author and poet (1802-85)

"To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power."
Maya Angelou, American poet and civil rights activist (1928-2014)

"At the end of the day, my most important job is still mom-in-chief."
Michelle Obama, attorney and former First Lady of the United States (b. 1964)

Did you know the average mum performs the equivalent of two and a half full-time jobs? Studies show mums spend up to 98 hours a week juggling work, home, kids - and everything in between! From chef to nurse, coach to counsellor, mums wear countless hats (and capes) with grace and grit.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that the modern world of courtship can at times be compared to a steaming pile of horse excrement!

From first dates to final breaks, awkward dinners to dance-floor disasters, and PDA to MIA, allow Lady Bennet-Down to be your heavily corseted guide as she offers insight and sympathy to some of the most commonly ruinous dilemmas contemporary daters face and spills the tea on the Regency art of courtship.

So, set aside your cynicism, banish those bad-date memories, because the dating game is not over, dear reader. In fact, it has only just begun.

... And we're back!

Dads, we see you. In a perpetual state of "Dad Mode", juggling work, family, an inexplicable desire to nap on the couch, and the sad notion that you've run out of corny jokes that seem to leave only you in stitches. But you couldn't be more wrong. The Little Book of Epic Dad Jokes is a rib-tickling collection of the laugh-out-loud humour (otherwise known as the timeless art of dad jokes) that you've been waiting for. From classic one-liners to clever puns, this little book is packed with jokes that are guaranteed to make you chuckle (or groan) even more than last time.

With more than 175 side-splitting jokes contained in this pocket-sized tome, this little book is powerfully packed with wholesome fatherly humour that will have Dads embracing their role as the king of jokes (even if it's as cheesy as a slice of extra-large pizza).

The Little Book of Super Dad is a delightful tribute to the unsung superheroes of everyday life. Dive into the hilarious and heartwarming world of super Dads, with laugh-out-loud stories and relatable anecdotes that showcase the unique charm of Dads, because, let's face it, whether they're imparting questionable life lessons or attempting daring feats of backyard engineering, Dads have a knack for turning ordinary moments into extraordinary memories (and sometimes epic fails).

Whether you're a dad in need of a good chuckle or someone who appreciates the comedic genius of fatherly wisdom, The Little Book of Super Dad is your ticket to a rollicking good time. Treat yourself or the super Dad in your life to this uplifting book and celebrate the true superheroes of family life!

A nation is only as strong as the families that form its foundation. Communities thrive when families are stable, cohesive, and purpose-driven. To build a resilient and empowered society, our families must be intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually sound. When families are strengthened with clarity of purpose and guided by values, they become powerful engines of change, raising children who are prepared, inspired, and equipped to contribute meaningfully to both community and country. Without such a foundation, we risk raising generations who are unprepared to carry the mantle of leadership and responsibility.

At the heart of every empowered family stands a father, a figure of strength, guidance, and moral leadership. Heart to Heart: A Fatherhood Guide from Surah Luqman explores the critical role of fatherhood, drawing deeply from the timeless wisdom of the Qur’an, particularly the profound parenting insights found in Surah Luqman. This book is both a spiritual and practical guide, calling fathers to embrace their God-given responsibility with intentionality, emotional intelligence, and wisdom. It highlights how responsible fatherhood serves as the driving force behind the moral and psychological development of the next generation.

Families and Migration: Examining the Human Meaning of Migration provides a broad examination of immigrant families, with a particular focus on examining the human meaning of migration. Chapters analyze the complex interplay between migration and family dynamics across various global contexts, addressing key themes such as integration, cultural identity, mobility aspirations, and caregiving.

This edited collection explores diverse case studies, including the integration perspectives of Ukrainian refugees in East Germany and the theoretical frameworks for understanding the family-migration nexus. It delves into the cultural significance of traditional clothing across generations, the mobility aspirations of young migrant descendants in Portugal, and the settlement experiences of a Bangladeshi family in Canada through arts-based ethnography. Further, the authors examine migration trends, policy implications, and well-being among transnational families in North America, and the caregiving experiences of Polish immigrants caring for individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

Offering significant contributions to the field of migration studies by providing a nuanced understanding of how migration shapes and is shaped by family dynamics, Families and Migration: Examining the Human Meaning of Migration is an essential resource for anyone interested in the socio-cultural impacts of global mobility and the intricate dynamics of migrant families.

• techniques and tips to hack those intrusive thoughts and turn your inner critic into an inner coach, so you can build self-esteem and resilience
• ways to encourage healthy coping behaviors when life gets tough
• how to develop small, positive daily habits
• getting to know yourself better so you can trust your gut feeling
• lifestyle tips for sleep, diet, and a healthy relationship with social media.

Discover the science, the stories, and the heart behind LGBTQ+ families—your essential guide to queer parenting and love.

Embark on an emotional and informative journey with Allie and Sam Conway, widely recognized as "Mommy and Other Mommy," as they share their transformative path to parenthood. How to Make a Baby is a comprehensive guide tailored for LGBTQ+ families trying to conceive, navigating artificial insemination, IVF, and other fertility options. This inspiring resource combines personal narratives with practical advice, offering a beacon of hope and guidance for those aspiring to build their own families.

From the first steps of lgbtq+ pregnancy to the joys and challenges of queer parenting, this book is an inclusive, science-backed resource for families of all kinds. Whether you’re navigating childbirth lgbt experiences, exploring lgbtq fertility options, or seeking support for lgbtq infertility, you’ll find answers, inspiration, and community within these pages. How to Make a Baby is written for parents, future parents, allies, and anyone curious about the evolving landscape of family.

Inside, you’ll discover:

• Real-life stories and expert insights on lgbtq+ families and parenting for queer people.
• Evidence-based guidance on lgbtq+ pregnancy, childbirth lgbt, and the unique paths to parenthood.
• Practical advice for overcoming lgbtq infertility and understanding lgbtq fertility treatments.
• Resources and support for lesbian family building, plus tips for navigating social and legal challenges.
• Affirming, accessible information on pregnancy and childbirth for lgbtq individuals and couples.

If you’re seeking a comprehensive, compassionate, and empowering guide to queer parenting and lgbtq+ families like It Starts with the Egg, Queer Conception, or Three Makes Baby, then How to Make a Baby is your must-have resource. Whether you’re starting your journey, expanding your family, or supporting loved ones, this book will help you navigate the big questions with confidence, knowledge, and pride.

Una mirada diferente acerca del amor.

"No es cierto que el amor todo lo puede.No es cierto que el que ama no puede engañar.No es cierto que a la relación amorosa no haya que ponerle condiciones. No es cierto que el amor y el deseo vayan siempre de la mano.Pero decir que todo esto no es cierto no implica que sea imposible", escribe Gabriel Rolón en el epílogo de su nuevo libro.

Y es que, en contra de lo esperable -y esperado- de un libro sobre el amor, El desafío de amar se mete de lleno en los pliegues de un tema tan viejo como la humanidad: los celos y el deseo, la infidelidad, la pareja y la sexualidad, las relaciones entre padres e hijos, el enamoramiento y la ilusión vana de lo "eterno". Así, este "lado B del amor" cuestiona esos lugares comunes que atraviesan el decir cotidiano y que, más de una vez, nos hacen tomar decisiones equivocadas que nos precipitan hacia la angustia, el dolor y la desilusión.

Sin embargo, lejos de una postura cínica o sombría, la siempre lúcida y aguda mirada del autor de Historias de diván arroja luz y hace de El desafío de amar —fruto de un ida y vuelta, cara a cara, entre el autor y sus lectores— un material indispensable para entender que, a pesar de sus asperezas, el amor es, sin lugar a dudas, el motor más importante de la vida.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

A different perspective on love.

"It’s not true that love conquers all.It’s not true that someone in love can’t cheat.It’s not true that romantic relationships shouldn’t have boundaries. It’s not true that love and desire always go hand in hand.But saying all this isn’t true doesn’t mean it’s impossible," writes Gabriel Rolón in the epilogue of his new book.

Far from what one might expect from a book about love, The Challenge of Loving dives deep into the folds of a theme as old as humanity itself: jealousy and desire, infidelity, partnership and sexuality, parent-child relationships, and falling in love and the vain illusion of “forever”. This “B-side of love” questions the clichés we repeat every day—those that often lead us to make misguided decisions that spiral into anguish, pain, and disappointment.

Yet, far from a cynical or gloomy stance, the always sharp and lucid voice of the author of Couch Stories sheds light and makes The Challenge of Loving—born from a face-to-face exchange between author and readers—an essential work for understanding that, despite its rough edges, love is without a doubt the most powerful force in life.

La Dra. Becky Kennedy, experta en crianza y creadora del método Good Inside, comparte su enfoque innovador sobre la crianza de los hijos y ofrece estrategias para educarlos de forma que se sientan bien.

Durante mucho tiempo se nos ha enseñado un modelo de crianza que por lo general no funciona y que nos hace caer en una espiral de frustración y decepción. Recurrimos a estrategias como los time outs y los sistemas de recompensa, que se centran en modelar el comportamiento, no en formar seres humanos. Estas técnicas nos impiden ayudar a nuestro hijo o hija a desarrollar las habilidades necesarias para la vida, e ignoran sus complejas necesidades emocionales.

En Buenos por dentro la Dra. Becky comparte su filosofía y consejos prácticos que ya han ayudado a millones de padres y madres a superar la incertidumbre y la autoculpabilidad. Con nuevas perspectivas y soluciones para situaciones específicas, como la rivalidad entre hermanos, la ansiedad por separación y los berrinches, este libro es un recurso integral para una generación de padres que busca una nueva manera de criar a sus hijos, y al mismo tiempo los prepara para una vida de autorregulación, confianza y resiliencia.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

Dr. Becky Kennedy, parenting expert and creator of the Good Inside method, shares her innovative approach to raising children and offers strategies to help them feel good from the inside out.

For years, we’ve been taught a parenting model that often doesn’t work and leads to a spiral of frustration and disappointment. We rely on strategies like time outs and reward systems that focus on shaping behavior rather than nurturing human beings. These techniques prevent us from helping our children develop essential life skills and overlook their complex emotional needs.

In Good Inside, Dr. Becky shares her philosophy and practical advice that has already helped millions of parents overcome uncertainty and self-blame. With fresh perspectives and solutions for specific situations—such as sibling rivalry, separation anxiety, and tantrums—this book is a comprehensive resource for a generation of parents seeking a new way to raise their children while preparing them for a life of self-regulation, confidence, and resilience.

Betrayed by Those Meant to Love Her, This is Gerri Mayo’s True Story of Survival

For fans of Cathy Glass and #1 bestselling author Toni Maguire comes a true story of abuse and survival

Toni Maguire is the author of twelve books sold over 1.5 million worldwide, including her own bestselling memoirs Don't Tell Mummy and When Daddy Comes Home. Telling her own story encouraged others who had kept their childhood secrets hidden to approach her. Now she writes for those who need a voice too.

Gerri Mayo was only a young girl when she was first abused by her father. Growing up in a small village in Northern Ireland, in the tumultuous time of the Troubles, she had no one to turn to. He father’s evil acts were followed by abuse from her local priest, arranged by her father. After her mother found out about the abuse, and believing there was nothing she could do to help her child, she committed suicide.

Gerri and her siblings were split up and placed in different foster homes. The children knew they were unlikely to see each other ever again. Told that her mother had committed a grave sin, Gerri’s foster parents were far from kind to her. She experienced years of loneliness, feeling completely abandoned.The abuse Gerry experienced was so extensive it required an operation to repair the damage to her body. When asked who or what had been responsible, she responded “the priest”. But she was not believed in her small Northern Ireland town in the 1960s, where everyone believed a priest took his orders directly from God. After finally meeting her kind and caring husband a few years ago, and after celebrating her 60th birthday, Gerry decided it was time for her story to be told. This is her true story of survival.

If you’re a fan of Cathy Glass and books like Tears of the Silenced, If You Tell, or Spilled Milk, you will want to read Toni Maquire’s Why, Father?

Parenting Teen Boys with Love and Confidence

“John is the real deal… He knows what kids are dealing with, what their struggles are, where their strengths lie, what they know, and what they need.”—Giuliana Rancic,  journalist, television personality, and infotainer

#1 Best Seller in Popular Adolescent Psychology

Dr. John Duffy; bestselling author of Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety, clinical psychologist, and parenting expert; offers 8 practical solutions for dealing with our national crisis of disaffected boys and young men.

How to help our sons grow into happy, successful, capable adults. Recent decades have shown that boys are simply not thriving the way they should be. In Rescuing Our Sons, Dr. Duffy has developed 8 practical parenting steps to improve your understanding of your teenager, equip him with life skills to improve his present and his future, and bring your family together.

Become the effective, confident parent your teen needs. Raising responsible, confident boys is difficult, especially through the teen years. Dr. Duffy is dedicated to helping you encourage your son’s growth with positive parenting tips.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Practical and proven parenting strategies for dealing with the common issues that teen boys face, including gaming addictions, pornography, vaping, and drug use
• New perspectives and insights on your son’s teenage brain and behavior that will help you develop a more meaningful relationship with him
• Methods for effectively raising a motivated young man who can overcome depression, anxiety, and risky behaviors

Readers of books on parenting teens, such as The Teenage Brain, How to Raise an Adult, He’s Not Lazy, or Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety, will want to pick up a copy of Dr. Duffy’s Rescuing Our Sons. 

How to Raise a Sexually Healthy, Safe, and Informed Child in Our Modern World

“A Modern Approach to the Birds and the Bees is the only book you’ll need for teaching sex education... —Amanda DeLis-Mireles, mother of four (ages 4–17) and teacher

#1 New Release in Human Sexuality and Health Education & Teaching

This book enables parents to engage in effective age-appropriate, evidence-based, integrated discussions with their children to optimize sexual health and reduce risk behaviors.

Raise sexually healthy kids. As parents, we want our children to be armed with scientifically accurate sexual education. But many of us lack the information, tools, and skill to be able to effectively engage in these complex conversations with our children. This book is an essential tool for parents, informing them about key issues surrounding sexual health so that they are better equipped to engage in age-appropriate, evidence-based, informed discussions with their children that improve sexual health and reduce risk behaviors throughout their lives.

Help your kids through puberty and beyond. Dr. Pickering knows that your children are going to face unique and difficult issues as they grow up. To help you prepare, A Modern Approach to the Birds and the Bees covers controversial and sensitive topics, diving into questions that many parents are afraid to ask. The chapters are written in an accessible format that will be easy for parents to understand and pass on to their kids. This book also takes an inclusive approach to sex education, capturing the unique concerns and questions related to modern sexuality, including:

• Issues related to social media and the internet
• Topics such as consent and personal safety
• Unique concerns in the LGBTQ+ community

Parents looking for age-appropriate books on sexuality and puberty like Celebrate Your Body (and Its Changes, Too!), Growing Up Great!, Boys & Sex, and Girls & Sex will love the scientifically based educational tools in A Modern Approach to the Birds and the Bees.

Share, reminisce, laugh, and dream together with this guided couple's journal to foster an enduring relationship filled with love, support, and joy.

Created from scientific research in neuroplasticity and how people build resiliency, Just Between Us is specially designed for two people to create a stronger connection and deepen intimacy, all while engaging in entertaining, creative activities. Inside these pages, you'll find thought-provoking questions and prompts that spark insightful discussion and joyful memories; and along the way, you'll discover the tools to help you and your partner embrace each other for who you and to face the challenges of life lived together. There are also inspirational quotes sprinkled throughout to guide your journey through the book, plus a list of helpful resources at the back.

This book will help you honor your shared past, embrace your present, and dream your future together—just between the two of you.

There are a multitude of reasons for migration: war, natural disaster, famine, poverty, or political oppression, among others. Immigrants or immigrant families commonly face many challenges in starting a new life in completely different cultural contexts. This edited collection provides a broad examination of immigrant families, with a particular focus on the causes, processes and consequences of migration. Families and Migration: Examining the Causes, Processes, and Consequences of Migration sheds light on the emotional, social, and economic impacts of migration on individuals and families, highlighting key themes such as mental health, labor dynamics, transnational care, and cultural adaptation. The chapters explore various contexts, from the mental health challenges of unaccompanied Latino adolescents in the United States to the global mobility of middle-class families from Hong Kong. They delve into the labor experiences of Nicaraguan mothers in Spain, the transnational care practices of Romanian families during COVID-19, and the cultural navigation of interracial families moving from the UK to Zimbabwe. Chapters also examines the role of family in Vietnamese labor migration to South Korea and the temporality of Ukrainian refugees in Romania. This collection is a timely resource for scholars interested in migration studies, family dynamics, and the socio-cultural impacts of global mobility.

Descubre los distintos tipos de manipuladores, las técnicas que utilizan para someterte y cómo neutralizarlos.

La manipulación emocional es una forma de control psicológico muy común, aunque a menudo nos cuesta reconocerla. Esta sutil forma de influencia no solo se encuentra en la política o en comunidades sectarias, sino que se teje diariamente en las interacciones con aquellos más cercanos a nosotros: parejas, jefes, amigos e incluso familiares. Empujados por nuestras necesidades básicas de afecto y seguridad, es fácil caer en estos patrones tóxicos y no poder salir de allí.

La psicóloga Claudia Nicolasa nos brinda en este libro un enfoque revelador sobre cómo las trampas de manipulación se desarrollan y cómo podemos desactivarlas, así como un análisis exhaustivo de los manipuladores oscuros, grises y blancos. A través de sus páginas, aprenderás a identificar las maniobras de control emocional, entenderás los motivos detrás de estas acciones y, lo más importante, obtendrás herramientas prácticas y efectivas para derribarlas, proteger tu salud mental y avanzar hacia tu crecimiento personal.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

Discover the different types of manipulators, the techniques they use to control you, and how to neutralize them.

Emotional manipulation is a common form of psychological control, though we often struggle to recognize it. This subtle form of influence isn’t limited to politics or cults—it plays out daily in our closest relationships: partners, bosses, friends, and even family members. Driven by our basic needs for affection and security, it’s easy to fall into these toxic patterns and feel trapped.

Psychologist Claudia Nicolasa offers a powerful perspective on how manipulation traps develop and how we can dismantle them, along with a thorough analysis of dark, gray, and white manipulators. Through these pages, you’ll learn to spot emotional control tactics, understand the motivations behind them, and most importantly, gain practical and effective tools to break free, protect your mental health, and move forward in your personal growth.

Un libro indispensable para los padres de hoy.

Las autoras, aclamadas expertas en comunicación familiar, Adele Faber y Elaine Mazlish han renovado esta obra clásica para incluir nuevos temas y técnicas novedosas. Además, incorporan sus métodos probados a lo largo del tiempo para resolver problemas comunes y construir las bases de relaciones duraderas y positivas.

Este libro ofrece técnicas innovadoras para lidiar con los sentimientos negativos de tus hijos —como la frustración, el enojo y la decepción—, para ejercer autoridad y expresar el desacuerdo sin herir sus sentimientos, para establecer límites firmes y resolver los conflictos familiares de forma pacífica.

Las autoras han incluido ejercicios prácticos, caricaturas y diálogos modelo que te ayudarán a que tus hijos estén dispuestos a cooperar, a fomentar la disciplina mediante métodos alternativos al castigo y a comprender que, utilizadas correctamente, tus palabras pueden transformar la relación con tus hijos y crear un ambiente familiar sin estrés y lleno de recompensas.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

An essential book for today’s parents.

Renowned family communication experts Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish have updated this classic work to include new topics and innovative techniques. They also share their time-tested methods for solving common problems and building the foundation for lasting, positive relationships.

This book presents fresh strategies for dealing with your children’s negative emotions—such as frustration, anger, and disappointment—while maintaining authority and expressing disagreement without hurting their feelings. It also offers guidance on setting firm boundaries and resolving family conflicts peacefully.

The authors include practical exercises, cartoons, and sample dialogues to help your children become more cooperative, promote discipline through alternatives to punishment, and understand how, when used wisely, your words can transform your relationship with your children and create a low-stress, highly rewarding family environment.

Corazón y cabeza: claves para construir una pareja feliz.

El amor inteligente tiene tres notas básicas en su sinfonía: corazón, cabeza y espiritualidad, sin olvidar que lo cotidiano nunca es banal ni insignificante. El mejor amor se echa a perder si no se cuida a base de pequeños detalles. El doctor Enrique Rojas nos deleita en esta obra, ampliada con un nuevo prólogo, con un análisis psicológico profundo guiado por un principio fundamental: para poder amar y respetar a los demás es primordial aprender a quererse y respetarse uno mismo.

Enrique Rojas nos ofrece una espléndida obra que muestra la importancia que para el ser humano tiene el verdadero amor y nos da las claves para que, con afectividad e inteligencia construyamos una pareja feliz.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

Heart and mind: keys to building a happy relationship.

Intelligent love is composed of three essential notes: heart, mind, and spirituality, always remembering that the everyday is never trivial or insignificant. Even the best love can fade if it’s not nurtured through small, thoughtful gestures. In this expanded edition with a new foreword, Dr. Enrique Rojas offers a profound psychological analysis guided by a fundamental principle: to love and respect others, we must first learn to love and respect ourselves.

Enrique Rojas presents a splendid work that highlights the vital role true love plays in human life and provides the keys to building a happy relationship through emotional connection and intelligence.

"Insightful, honest and very down-to-earth. I so wish there had been a book like this when I was a single dad." Steve Legg, editor, Sorted magazine

This is a book that comes alongside the reader as a travel guide and walks through the journey via a step-by-step approach. 

Walking the Single Parent Journey offers the reader a chance for self-discovery, of coming to terms with the pains and effects of the past in order to boldly face the challenges that lie ahead. The book discusses the everyday struggles and issues that single parents face, whilst offering advice and tips on managing and dealing with them successfully. The author encourages the reader to create systems and put strategies in place to help make life easier, drawing on her own experiences.

God invented marriage. So it seems rather obvious to look to our Maker for marriage instructions. Yet by nature we prefer to work it out for ourselves, starting with our own needs, hopes and desires.

This book turns our thinking upside down. The author examines the Bible's teaching on marriage, while remaining firmly earthed in the twenty-first-century world where messing up, heartbreak, divorce and sexual chaos are distressingly common. Starting with God's grace applied to our pain and failure, the author centres on God's plan for sex and marriage, one of service.

Whether you are an engaged couple preparing for marriage, or have been married for many years, this Biblical wisdom will help you grow your love and commitment both to one another and to God.

Are you a new parent, or about to become one? Learn three simple habits that will keep love alive and protect your relationship against the pressures that parenting brings.

In the excitement and exhaustion of becoming parents, the first thing that can get overlooked is your relationship. You might spend less time together, argue over little things, drift apart.

In the UK, one in five children see their parents separate before the end of their first year at school. One in two children experience family breakdown before they finish school. But it doesn't have to be like this. Most family breakdown is avoidable.

In Let's Stick Together, relationship educator and father of six Harry Benson guides you through three simple habits that research shows make or break new mums and dads.

Illustrated with real-life examples from Harry's own back-from-the-brink marriage and those of other couples, Let's Stick Together highlights simple principles that will make your relationship the best it can be and ensure you don't become just another statistic.

Everyone wants a relationship that lasts. Yet nearly half of all today's parents split up.

Harry and Kate Benson began their own married life with great expectations. But within a few years, they stood on the brink of divorce. Today, their marriage is stronger than ever and they have helped many other struggling couples. So what changed?

In this ground-breaking book Harry and Kate tell their own inspiring, hope-filled story, set within the wider context of family research into what works. Harry and Kate's radical solution to strengthening families and reducing unnecessary family breakdown is simple.

Their research suggests a happy mum tends to mean a happy household. She is the lynchpin around whom the family rotates. So for most mums, the success of a marriage depends primarily on her husband's ability to make her feel valued. In other words: husband, love your wife. And she will love you right back. In that order. That's what mums want.

That's the recipe for happy family life.