Family & Relationships

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The rate of interracial marriage in the United States has steadily increased: One in six new marriages now crosses racial or ethnic lines. Yet these partnerships are not always embraced or even accepted by families, friends, and society. Within families, issues ranging from food and holiday traditions to parenting approaches and beliefs about gender roles sometimes must be negotiated between cultures. In a time of national division, questions of race and identity have become deeply fraught. The way these couples navigate differences is a model for how Americans, despite their differences, can come together.

This book—based on interviews with and surveys of hundreds of people and informed by the authors’ many decades of experience as therapists and researchers—explores how intermarried couples build lives together. People of varied backgrounds describe how they navigate a world where others wonder about their relationship, question the parentage of their children, and treat them differently from their partner based on their appearance. Spouses relate their experiences forming fulfilling relationships in the face of potential disapproval, and they speak candidly about the joys and challenges of raising mixed-race children. Many of these couples have strengthened their relationships by learning to communicate across cultural barriers, and they share strategies for overcoming misunderstandings. At once large-scale and intimate, this book offers practical advice and timely insight into the triumphs and struggles of love across lines of difference.

The fourth edition of The Out-of-Sync Family (formerly titled The Goodenoughs Get In Sync) is a delightfully illustrated chapter book geared for ages 8 to 12. It tells the tale of five family members (each with a different sensory processing challenge), their mischievous dog, and how they get in sync after a tough day. Family members honestly and humorously explain what they do to function successfully and suggest how readers can also enjoy practicing sensory-motor activities at home or school.

The unique book design puts the basic story line in larger type for younger children to read or hear. Explanations of sensory processing issues are woven throughout the story and are in smaller type for more proficient readers to peruse.

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.

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!

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.

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.

How working parents can lead more purposeful lives, characterized by harmony, connection, and impact.

Parents in today's fast-paced, disorienting world can easily lose track of who they are and what really matters most. But it doesn't have to be this way. As a parent, you can harness the powerful science of leadership in order to thrive in all aspects of your life.

Drawing on the principles of his book Total Leadership--a bestseller and popular leadership development program used in organizations worldwide--and on their experience as researchers, educators, consultants, coaches, and parents, Stew Friedman and coauthor Alyssa Westring offer a robust, proven method that will help you gain a greater sense of purpose and control. It includes tools illustrated with compelling examples from the lives of real working parents that show you how to:

• Design a future based on your core values
• Engage with your children in fresh, meaningful ways
• Cultivate a community of caregiving and support, in all parts of your life
• Experiment to discover better ways to live and work

Powerful, practical, and indispensable, Parents Who Lead is the guide you need to forge a better future, foster meaningful and mutually rewarding relationships, and design sustainable solutions for creating a richer life for yourself, your children, and your world.

For more information, visit ParentsWhoLead.net.

A practical research-backed guide for parents raising children across multiple cultures in a world shaped by digital media.

Every day, more families span continents, cultures and languages to raise cross-cultural children. Yet even as media brings us closer than ever, travel restrictions and censorship remind us how fragile these connections can be. Offering real-life stories, strategies and activities, this book explores how diverse families use media, both old and new, to bridge cultures and support their parenting journey. We meet children who balance frequent moves with staying in touch with a distant homeland. We encounter parents navigating multiple languages under one roof. We hear from relatives determined to keep in touch despite the challenges involved. We learn that media remains a vital tool that helps all these cross-cultural families stay connected – through shared recipes that conjure memories, video calls that span time-zones, popular culture that reflects a family's blended identity, and more. This is a book for anyone preparing for or living the realities of cross-cultural parenting.

Sex and sexuality are prominent features within families. Given the many issues associated with sex and sexuality there is a need for a more comprehensive understanding of sex and sexuality within the family context.

This compelling collection offers a deep dive into the diverse and complex issues surrounding sex, sexuality, and family dynamics across different cultures and societies. From the marital aspirations of sexual minority transgender young adults to the evolving intimacies of Indian women, each chapter provides a unique perspective on how personal and societal factors shape sexual identities and relationships. The book also examines the intersection of religion, politics, and sexuality, exploring topics such as the views of religiously conservative Christians on adolescent sex, toxic masculinity among Generation Z undergraduates, and the impact of dominant conservative socializing agents on attitudes toward same-sex adoption. Other chapters delve into the long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences on sexual health, survival mechanisms for identity management in Zimbabwe, and the challenges faced by gay and lesbian parents in Ireland. Additionally, the collection addresses cultural taboos in Turkey, the role of social media in sex education, and the support needs of parents in Italy.

By breaking the silence on these critical issues, Sex and Sexuality within the Family Context provides valuable insights for scholars interested in understanding the intricate connections between sex, sexuality, and family life.

Rock and a hard place? Feeling the crush of project delivery, commercial development, people leadership and caring for your kids? We get it: loving both your career and your children can feel like a collision course to burn-out.

Georgie Rudd, an ICF accredited executive coach, has coached hundreds of brilliant leaders who have the equally demanding job of parenting. In this warm and authentic guide she brings the power of executive coaching to anyone who needs it:

• practical, easy-to-use diagnostic tools
• deep, pragmatic understanding of the real world of corporate work
• honest case studies highlighting what everyone finds hard and what to do about it.

The Working Parent Equation enables working parents to get clear on what success looks like for their personal equation and how to take action to achieve it, sustainably.

Whether you're making the pivotal return to work or your challenging teen is making you doubt yourself, whether you're talking yourself out of a promotion you really want to pursue or you're trying to protect your non-negotiables at home, this book has your back.

Featured in THE BOSTON GLOBE'S Love Letters + INSIDER.COM + NEWS NATION 

You are never too old and it's never too late....

Beyond Beyond is today's version of 84, Charing Cross Road, via months of email correspondence chronicling the joys of living into one’s 80s and beyond.

The unlikely and extraordinary second-chance and real-life love story of Roz and Ralph, both 80-plus years old and living some 1,500 miles apart, Ralph in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Roz in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, is told through months of rich email letters that document a common bond of incomparable coincidence, charm, wisdom, and wit.

Roz (a widow of many years and Karen’s and Steve's Mom) and Ralph (a recent widower and Mori’s Dad) invite you to join them on their very special journey…one that may inspire you, your loved ones or friends.

Offered an open-ended ticket and challenged to pursue a new life even in the time of Covid-19, Roz and Ralph could only wonder where their choices would take them "in this last beautiful chapter of our lives. We know in our hearts that we are meant to be together … to blend our separate lives together making us a couple who measure our living moments as our moments," but there was so much to consider.

For the first time ever, most people in the United States are living into their eighties.

This must-read for people in and approaching their eighties, and also for their families, is a multi-generational story of hope. It is an inspirational and uplifting gift to the elders in our lives. Readers, young and old alike will cherish this eye-opening and comforting dialogue as Roz and Ralph broach their pasts, attitudes, interests, secrets, concerns, purposes, and joys that lead them to finding unexpected happiness in their declining years.

With a special ribbon marker, this book will become a treasurable presence on bedside nightstands and bookshelves everywhere.

Married Ever After is a guide through the marriage process based on 20 timeless Qur'anic principles, insightful Prophetic examples and contemporary research on maintaining successful relationships. We know all relationships involve struggle, and challenges are an inevitable part of a believer's life. Married Ever After teaches us how to pick the struggles that are worthy, rewarding and lead to the greatest pleasure.  

Whether you are preparing for marriage, already in a marriage or contemplating ending one, Married Ever After is your companion, reminder and compass back to Divine pleasure at every stage.  

Rooted in Islamic principles, we learn how our spiritual health impacts the wellbeing of our human relationships. The goal of Married Ever After is more important than ever. Learn how to revive the contentment at home, because successful thriving families are at the heart of a successful thriving Ummah.  

“Family stories grow to be bigger than the experiences themselves,” writes Judy Goldman in her memoir, Losing My Sister. “They become home to us, tell us who we are, who we want to be. Over the years, they take on more and more embellishments and adornments until they eclipse the actual memory. They become our past—just as a snapshot will, at first, enhance a memory, then replace it.” 

As she remembers it now, Goldman’s was an idyllic childhood, charmed even, filled with parental love and sisterly confidences. Growing up in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Judy and her older sister, Brenda, did everything together. Though it was clear from an early age that their personalities were very different (Judy was the “sweet” one, Brenda, the "strong" one), they continued to be fairly inseparable into adulthood. But the love between sisters is complex. 

Though Judy and Brenda remained close, Goldman recalls struggling to break free of her prescribed role as the agreeable little sister and to assert herself even as she built her own life and started a family. The sisters’ relationship became further strained by the illnesses and deaths of their parents, and later, by the discovery that each had tumors in their breasts—Judy’s benign, Brenda’s malignant. The two sisters came back together shortly before the possibility of permanent loss became very real. In her uniquely lyrical and poignant style, Goldman deftly navigates past events and present emotions, drawing readers in as she explores the joys and sorrows of family, friendship, and sisterhood.

Judy Goldman is the author of two novels, Early Leaving and The Slow Way Back, and two books of poetry. Her work has been published in Real Simple magazine, and in many literary journals—including Kenyon Review, Southern Review, Ohio Review, Gettysburg Review, Shenandoah, Prairie Schooner—as well as in numerous anthologies. Her commentaries have aired on public radio and she teaches at writers’ conferences throughout the country. She received the Fortner Writer and Community Award for "outstanding generosity to other writers and the larger community." She’s also the recipient of the Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction, the Mary Ruffin Poole Award for First Fiction, the Gerald Cable Poetry Prize, the Roanoke-Chowan Prize for Poetry, the Oscar Arnold Young Prize for Poetry, and the Zoe Kincaid Brockman Prize for Poetry. The Slow Way Back was shortlisted for the Southeastern Independent Bookseller Alliance’s Novel of the Year. Judy lives with her husband in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Five decades ago, I was challenged to read the Moynihan Report (1965). Then and now, I take issue with much of the content, which smacks of deficit thinking, blaming the victim, and a blindness or almost total disregard for how systemic racism and social injustices contribute to family structures.

I recall being professionally and personally offended by interpretations of single-parent families, which were often negative and hopeless. Moral development, criminal activity, poor educational outcomes, poverty, and apathy of many kinds were placed squarely on the shoulders of these families, especially if the families were/are headed by Black mothers. Eurocentric and middle class notions of ‘real’ families like those depicted on TV shows and movies dominate, then and now, what is deemed healthy in terms of family structures – with the polemic conclusion that nuclear families are the best and sometimes only structure in which children must be raised.

These colorblind, economic blind, and racist blind studies, reports, theories, and folktales have failed to do justice to the families in which there is one caregiver. Their stories of woe and mayhem make the news and guide policies and procedures. The stories of children who have been resilient have been unheard and silenced, they have been under-reported and relegated to the status of ‘exception to the rule’. Perhaps they are exceptions, but there are more exceptions than we may know.

This book is designed with those stories of resilience and success in mind. The book is not an attempt to glorify single-parent families, but such families are prevalent and increasing. High divorce rates are impactful. And some parents have chosen to not marry, which is their right. While not glorifying single-parent families, we are also not demonizing them or telling their stories void of context. Yes, income will often be low(er), time will be compromised when divided between offspring, work, and other obligations. Likewise, we are not glorifying two-parent families as being ideal; their context matters too. How healthy are married couples who don’t really love or even like each other? How healthy are those parents who have separate sleeping arrangements/bedrooms? How healthy are those families who have oppositional parenting styles and goals for their children?

This is the 50th anniversary of the Moynihan Report, and I am concerned that another 50 years will pass that fails to balance out the stories of single-parent families, mainly those whose children succeed and defy the odds so often unexpected of them.

This volume is the firstborn of the Annals of Cultural Psychology-- a yearly edited book series in the field of Cultural Psychology. It came into being as there is a need for reflection on “where and what” the discipline needs to further develop, in such a way, the current frontiers and to foster the elaboration of new fruitful ideas.

The topic chosen for the first volume is perhaps the most fundamental of all- motherhood. We are all here because at some unspecifiable time in the past, different women labored hard to bring each of us into this World. These women were not thinking of culture, but were just giving birth. Yet by their reproductive success—and years of worry about our growing up—we are now, thankfully to them, in a position to discuss the general notion of motherhood from the angle of cultural psychology. Each person who is born needs a mother—first the real one, and then possibly a myriad of symbolic ones—from “my mother” to “mother superior” to “my motherland”. Thus, it is not by coincidence if the first volume of the series is about motherhood. We the editors feel it is the topic that links our existence with one of the universals of human survival as a species.

In very general terms what this book aims to do is to question the ontology of Motherhood in favor of an ontogenetic approach to Life’s Course, where having a child represents a big transition in a woman’s trajectory and where becoming (or not becoming) mother is heuristically more interesting than being a mother. We here present a reticulated work that digs into a cultural phenomenon giving to the readers the clear idea of making motherhood (and not taking for granted motherhood). By looking at absences, shadows and ruptures rather than the normativeness of motherhood, cultural psychology can provide a theoretical model in explaining the cultural multifaceted nature of human activity.

Stepmothers often battle with a range of negative myths and stereotypes, with Cinderella’s wicked stepmother being the most infamous.

Drawing on 20 in-depth interviews with British stepmothers, this book reimagines the expectations, practices and position of stepmothers through a feminist sociological lens. Combining firsthand accounts, including the author’s own experiences, the book reveals the complexities of stepfamily dynamics and how stepmothers navigate them.

By examining the interplay between personal experiences and broader gendered, historical and social structures, the author offers a fresh perspective on contemporary stepmothers and stepfamilies.

Dear Mother… brings together mothers of all ages and backgrounds in a compendium of fictional letters, written from the heart. Great challenges and responsibilities, hopes and disappointments are explored without apology. As one mother prepares for a new-born, another shares her experience of being a single parent. Why is a mother at the primary school gate feeling burnt out by 9 am and what advice does a grandmother pass down to her granddaughter? Whether she’s sitting in the ante-natal clinic, on a bus or in the masjid, these letters reveal a variety of mothers’ inner dialogue – one which is rarely heard in society.

Although single fathers as primary carers are on the rise, most single-parent households in the United States are headed by women. These women are a lucrative market for parenting books and most of such books are aimed at single mothers raising sons. This intersectional study analyses a broad range of material: books written by female and male authors, African-American and white, health professionals as well as lay people, outspokenly feminist or traditionally conservative, addressing a middle-class or a working-class readership. This allows for a comprehensive analysis of normative attitudes towards parenting, showing how class and ethnicity interact with traditional assumptions of gender and biology to produce a genre of literature that is quite restrictive, perpetuating ideas of ‘intensive mothering’.

Situating these advice books within the context of parenting experts, the US fatherhood movement, the so-called ‘boy crisis’, cultural prejudice towards single mothers and what has been termed ‘neurosexism’ and ‘neuroparenting’, this study analyses the way in which the books draw on mother-blame language, misconceptions of neuropsychological research and traditional conceptualisations of masculinity and femininity to convince the mother readers that they are unable to raise a son to be a man. Using prescriptive and often alarmist language, the authors privilege traditional assumptions of gender, hegemonic masculinity and heteronormative family structures over single parent families, same-sex parenting and single mothers by choice (via adoption or ART). In doing so, the books afford very narrow parenting roles, for fathers as well as mothers, as well as a very limited range of masculine identities for young boys. Presented as common sense advice, these books are widely read by women seeking support and it is thus vital that they be interrogated for the way they continue to construct, shape and influence expectations on parenting, as well as the identities of young boys.

A modern mothering handbook - with none of the answers and all of the encouragement.
Everyone tells you that having children is life-changing (and we're not just talking about your new habit of binge-watching Bluey episodes), but you don't really believe them until you're there in the trenches, dealing with yet another toddler tantrum in the middle of the street, after realising you forgot to buy milk, all on four hours of (broken) sleep. Parenting is one of the hardest jobs in the world, and yet everyone assumes you should be enjoying it twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, which is funny because that pretty much describes your working hours. Oh, and did we mention that there are no toilet breaks, or holidays, or dare we say it... wages?
This book will be a handy companion as you deal with the ups and downs of motherhood. From making your way through those first few months of the newborn haze right through to sending them off into the world as (almost) proper adults, it contains a treasure trove of advice and words of wisdom from parents who have done it and got the (vomit-covered) T-shirt to prove it. While motherhood is undoubtedly special, it's not without it's challenges... and anyone who says otherwise is either a saint or has a really good nanny.
"Being a mom has made me so tired. And so happy." Tina Fey
"There's no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one." Jill Churchill

Motherhood in Mexico is profoundly shaped by the legacy of colonialism. This ethnography situates motherhood in a critical global health analysis of maternal health inequalities and interventions in the southeast state of Chiapas. Using a transitional life course framework, it demonstrates how the transition to motherhood is never complete. Once a good mother is defined, she becomes undefined, the goal posts moved, and the rules confronted.

“The tumultuous feelings that accompany pregnancy loss are hard to describe, and women who experience this often feel terribly alone in their grief. But All the Love, written by three wise and compassionate women, offers much-needed understanding, consolation, wisdom, and hope. Its heartfelt and caring message will provide solace and guidance to those who have lost babies as well as those who seek to support them.” –Christine Gross-Loh Author, Parenting Without Borders and co-author, The Path

All the Love: Healing Your Heart and Finding Meaning After Pregnancy Loss is a book dedicated to supporting and empowering women and their partners through miscarriage, stillbirth, and other types of pregnancy loss.

The book is part memoir, part therapy session; combining the personal story of Kim Hooper, who endured four losses, with therapeutic insights from Meredith Resnick (a licensed social worker) and Dr. Huong Diep (a board-certified psychologist). It is our hope that reading this book feels like sitting and chatting with someone about their experience, while therapist-friends listen in to provide clarity and comfort.

All the Love is the most in-depth book available to console women and partners in the wake of pregnancy loss. Topics include how to navigate the medical part of pregnancy loss, the emotional rollercoaster of grief, connecting with your partner, returning to “normal” life, rediscovering yourself, deciding whether to try again and having a baby after a loss. The book touches on considerations for LGBTQ+ couples and people facing racial, cultural, or socioeconomic issues that compound their grief.

For a loss that is so common, each woman’s story is beautifully unique. We want each woman to feel seen in this book. We want her to feel validated and hopeful as she steps into what’s next on her journey.

In this brave and devastatingly beautiful anthology, the illustrious poet and editor Aracelis Girmay gathers complex and intimate pieces that illuminate the nuances of personal and collective histories, analyses, practices, and choices surrounding pregnancy. 

Featuring the brilliant voices of writers such as Cheryl Boyce-Taylor, Patricia Smith, Elizabeth Alexander, and more, this book is a lighthouse—a tool and companion—for those navigating pregnancy, abortion, miscarriage, birth, loss, grief, and love.

In So We Can Know: Writers of Color on Pregnancy, pieces range from essays to poems to interviews, with a broad entanglement of various themes, from many different perspectives including Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latinx, and more. At a time when people are becoming more and more limited in their choices surrounding pregnancy and abortion, this record is increasingly urgent and indispensable.

A sentimental celebration of the power of a mother's love.

Brimming with messages of love, practical tips, inspiring quotes, heartfelt reflections and funny anecdotes, The Little Book of Mom is the ultimate ode to the highs and lows of motherhood. Mum, mom, mama, - whatever you call yours she'll love this little guide, designed to bring reassurance to mothers looking for a pocket of peace amongst the chaos.

Transform Your Relationship with Mother-Daughter Daily Journaling

“We sense that ‘normal’ isn’t coming back, that we are being born into a new normal: a new kind of society, a new relationship to the earth, a new experience of being human.”—Charles Eisenstein, author of Climate–A New Story

We are living in the new normal where strong relationships and family bonding are more important than ever. Are you looking for the perfect mother’s day gift for the moms in your life? Or great graduation gifts for young women? Mother Daughter Activity Journal is the perfect pick.

A place to be real. With this Mother Daughter Activity Journal, show your support and unconditional love. It’s filled with writing prompts, places to add doodles, fun things to do together, quizzes and plenty of blank space for thoughts and musings. A lovely mom and daughter keepsake, this beautiful diary includes engaging illustrations, a charmingly designed hardcover, and more. 

A modern-day mother-daughter daily journal for the challenges of the new normal. Mother Daughter Activity Journal is the perfect birthday gift for a daughter and is one of the best mother’s day gifts. With this mommy and me diary, keep each other’s secrets and share your thoughts, dreams, worries, cares, and experiences–and have fun, too!

In this Mother Daughter Activity Journal, find: 

• One of the best mother’s day gifts 
• A place for family bonding
• Quizzes, writing prompts, and blank spaces to write and doodle 

If you enjoyed books like Just Us Girls; Love, Mom and Me; or All About Mom and Me, you’ll love Mother Daughter Activity Journal.

As adults, we like to think we have a good idea of what the world may have in store for our teenagers, but the fact of the matter is there's a vast divide between what we perceive as dangerous and what our teens are actually up against.

Teenagers (ages 13 - 19) face unique challenges when it comes to situational awareness.

These challenges are only exacerbated by the constant physical and biological changes teens are subjected to. As young people learn to deal with these changes, they begin to explore the limits of their individuality.

Unfortunately, this process often involves rebellious behavior and unnecessary risk-taking. The key to keeping teens safe during this time is to keep them alert and engaged with their environment.

Teenagers have to understand that real personal safety isn't about being scared of what lies around the next corner. It requires confidence that if something bad were about to happen, that they have these skills:

• Ability to identify the problem early
• Competence to develop a plan of action
• Power to control their fear
• Aptitude to implement that plan

Spotting Danger Before It Spots Your Teens is designed around the principles of positive communication, trust, and teamwork. It’s written specifically to set parents' minds at ease and allow teens to confidently explore their independence, secure in the fact that they can spot dangerous situations before they happen and take the necessary steps to ensure their own well-being.

This book brings together international academics, policy makers and practitioners to build bridges between the real-world and scholarship on breastfeeding.

It asks the question: How can the latest social science research into breastfeeding be used to improve support at both policy and practice level, in order to help women breastfeed and to breastfeed for longer?

The edited collection includes discussion about the social and cultural contexts of breastfeeding and looks at how policy and practice can apply this to women’s experiences.

This will be essential reading for academics, policy makers and practitioners in public health, midwifery, child health, sociology, women's studies, psychology, human geography and anthropology, who want to make a real change for mothers.

The Learning Solution is a practical guide for parents who want to improve their child’s academic situation in school. It is written by a practicing school psychologist to give parents effective strategies for making the most helpful and realistic choices for children experiencing difficulty with their schoolwork.

The Learning Solution will provide parents with the skills needed to negotiate the education maze and teach them how to advocate for their child. Parents will also learn how build an effective cooperative relationship with their child at home.

The Learning Solution has been updated to include a chapter on mental health issues currently impacting on children’s learning experiences in school. In addition, current information is provided on the medications used in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

This book, which has been created in the framework of the EU-funded COST Action YOUNG-IN (CA17114), sheds a light on the structural disadvantages and opportunities in family formation among youth, offering an insight into the relevant contextual factors in eleven countries. Analyzing demographic trends and socioeconomic settings, including normative and institutional frameworks (that focus on family policies), the authors have identified and presented the peculiarities of the transition to parenthood, as well as common challenges that young people face in that process.

This book which has been created in the framework of the EU-funded COST Action INTERFASOL brings together researchers from 22 INTERFASOL countries, who frame intergenerational family solidarity in the specific historical, cultural, social and economic context of their own country. Integrating different perspectives from social and political sciences, economics, communication, health and psychology, the book offers country-specific knowledge and new insights into family relations, family values and family policies across Europe.

Eliminate fear and ensure your family's safety without the stress!

Safest Family on the Block is an invaluable guide for parents aiming to protect their families without succumbing to fear.

This accessible book offers crucial advice for enhancing your family's physical, mental, and emotional health—without causing anxiety or alarm.

With 101 brief essays—perfect for reading during short waits or while on the go—each entry provides quick tips, expert guidance, and empowering insights to immediately enhance your home and family's safety in practical, approachable ways.

In Safest Family on the Block, you'll discover how to:

• Implement a simple alternative to “Situational Awareness” that’s effective and suitable for all ages
• Prepare yourself with the right mindset before discussing safety with your children, ensuring calm and constructive conversations
• Secure your front door in just five minutes for only two dollars
• Transform a family vacation into a fun and effective safety-building experience
• And so much more!

You'll also receive advice on handling those rare but challenging days, with strategies to turn potential emergencies into mere inconveniences, empowering you to manage unexpected situations confidently.

"Many parents may not have the expertise to master various self-defense and safety skills. As a father and safety expert, my mission is to bridge that gap and simplify life for all families” —author Jason Brick

This book combines Jason’s experiences as a journalist, father, and martial artist, offering skills and insights for a proactive, positive approach to family safety. Discover a hopeful, empowering resource to help your family thrive!

Ideal for parents and caregivers seeking practical methods to ensure their loved ones' safety—without the stress.

DISCOVER DR. BALMER’S INNOVATIVE PARENTING STRATEGY
Throughout the history of the world, different cultures have used stories to teach valuable life lessons. We still use many of these parables today to teach valuable lessons to our children. In kissing frogs, Dr. Jared Balmer shows parents how to weave fascinating, personalized fairy tales that will not only entertain children but help them to conquer fears and overcome everyday challenges.
With proven results from his years of experience in children’s therapy, Dr. Balmer explains how parables allow children to discover lessons for themselves. This provides the child with a far more memorable and positive experience. With plenty of examples along the way, kissing frogs will teach you to: • Use metaphors to create interesting stories your children can learn from • Reframe a child’s negative experience into a positive one • Identify different story types to decide the best course of action
By giving your children the tools of discovery, you’ll find that everyone can live happily ever after.

This book offers a unique look into how couples manage paid employment, housework, and childcare. The author explores how employment structures, policies, and practices intersect with individual attitudes to either reinforce or challenge gender inequalities in the domestic sphere through the ‘doing’ and ‘undoing’ of gender.

The book introduces a new typology of fathering as a key mechanism through which policies affect domestic divisions of labour, demonstrating how this typology shapes the tasks men undertake and the impact of this on women’s ability to act on their ‘preferences’ about how to combine paid work and home

By examining couples' negotiations of housework and childcare, the book highlights the disparity between men’s and women’s reports on household duties, revealing distinct gendered differences in how these tasks are conceptualized and measured.

**Business Book Awards 2025 Finalist**

**The People's Book Prize Longlisted Title 2024/25**

When a working woman becomes a mother, she faces what can seem like an impossible dilemma: how can she continue to excel at work AND be a good mum? In the light of childcare costs, does it even make sense for many women to continue to work at all?

Workplaces need women. And most women want to work – not just for financial security but for personal fulfilment and because their work can often be a key part of their identity.

Working Mother offers simple, practical tools for each stage of this complex but rewarding life change, allowing you to become the coach you need by your side every step of the way.

• Overcome rejection by the in-crowd
• Gain a healthy perspective of his or her body
• Make good decisions and take on responsibility
• Overcome shyness and jealousy

**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

Uncovers the class and race dimensions of the "cupcake wars"

In the wake of school-lunch reform debates, heated classroom cupcake wars, and concerns over childhood obesity, the diet of American children has become a “crisis” and the cause of much anxiety among parents.

Many food-conscious parents are well educated, progressive and white, and while they may explicitly value race and class diversity, they also worry about less educated or less well-off parents offering their children food that is unhealthy. Jennifer Patico embedded herself in an urban Atlanta charter school community, spending time at school events, after-school meetings, school lunchrooms, and private homes. Drawing on interviews and ethnographic observation, she details the dilemma for parents stuck between a commitment to social inclusion and a desire for control of their children’s eating. Ultimately, Patico argues that the attitudes of middle-class parents toward food reflect an underlying neoliberal capitalist ethic, in which their need to cultivate proper food consumption for their children can actually work to reinforce class privilege and exclusion.

Listening closely to adults' and children's food concerns, The Trouble with Snack Time explores those unintended effects and suggests how the "crisis" of children’s food might be reimagined toward different ends.

The gay and lesbian community is experiencing a baby boom. Advances in gay rights coupled with increased availability of alternative reproduction techniques have led to an unprecedented number of openly gay and lesbian parents. Estimates are that between 6 and 14 million children in the United States are being raised by at least one parent who is gay. Yet, very little is known about how gay or lesbian headed families function, or whether they differ in any relevant ways from families headed by straight parents.
Written by two developmental psychologists, The Gay Baby Boom reports the findings of The Gay and Lesbian Family Study, the largest national assessment of gay and lesbian headed families. By asking participants detailed questions about the way they parent, the authors are able to describe for the first time exactly what takes place within gay and lesbian headed families across the county. Traditional research has tended to assume that there is something uniquely different and potentially psychologically damaging about children being raised by gays. The authors draw on their data to show these fears unfounded.

They go by many names: helicopter parents, hovercrafts, PFHs (Parents from Hell). The news media is filled with stories of well-intentioned parents going to ridiculous extremes to remove all obstacles from their child’s path to greatness . . . or at least to an ivy league school. From cradle to college, they remain intimately enmeshed in their children’s lives, stifling their development and creating infantilized, spoiled, immature adults unprepared to make the decisions necessary for the real world. Or so the story goes.

Drawing on a wealth of eye-opening interviews with parents across the country, Margaret K. Nelson cuts through the stereotypes and hyperbole to examine the realities of what she terms “parenting out of control.” Situating this phenomenon within a broad sociological context, she finds several striking explanations for why today’s prosperous and well-educated parents are unable to set realistic boundaries when it comes to raising their children. Analyzing the goals and aspirations parents have for their children as well as the strategies they use to reach them, Nelson discovers fundamental differences among American parenting styles that expose class fault lines, both within the elite and between the elite and the middle and working classes.

Nelson goes on to explore the new ways technology shapes modern parenting. From baby monitors to cell phones (often referred to as the world’s longest umbilical cord), to social networking sites, and even GPS devices, parents have more tools at their disposal than ever before to communicate with, supervise, and even spy on their children. These play important and often surprising roles in the phenomenon of parenting out of control. Yet the technologies parents choose, and those they refuse to use, often seem counterintuitive. Nelson shows that these choices make sense when viewed in the light of class expectations.

Today’s parents are faced with unprecedented opportunities and dangers for their children, and are evolving novel strategies to adapt to these changes. Nelson’s lucid and insightful work provides an authoritative examination of what happens when these new strategies go too far.

Fear, worry, stomach pains, self-doubt—these are classic symptoms of anxiety in children. Using kid-friendly concepts and real-life examples, this reassuring guide helps adults and children understand the powerful ways in which anxiety works and how to overcome its negative effects. This revised edition includes all-new chapters on food phobia; the relationship between anxiety and other illnesses and problems such as ADHD, depression, and autism; and anxiety in teens.
 

The lessons in The Anxiety Cure for Kids have helped many children break free from anxiety. By making changes little by little, any child with anxiety can get well and stay well.

• Provides up-to-date, practical guidance for helping both younger children and teenagers deal with anxiety issues
• Shows how to recognize the symptoms of anxiety, evaluate a child's need for medication and/or therapy, assess the role of the family in anxiety disorders, and take concrete steps to find solutions
• Explains how to communicate effectively with your child, help him or her confront fear, and boost your child's feelings of accomplishment and self-esteem
• Addresses a range of anxiety disorders, such as food phobia and anxieties about terrorism, as well as the relationship between anxiety and other illnesses
• Also includes advice that can be used by teachers, coaches, doctors, therapists, school nurses, and others who work with anxious kids

Who will thrive in the year 2050?

The New Smart is a riveting study of the kinds of minds that will succeed in the 21st century. As it turns out, the key ingredient for all aspects of life is not traditional IQ but creativity.

In Dr. Terry Roberts’ newest book he presents readers with a 21st century exploration into intelligence and creativity. The New Smart argues that the old notion of intelligence as a static quotient has ceased to mean much of value. Being smart, especially as it’s related to test scores and school grades, has less and less to do with success in contemporary life. Both these words and the ideas they represent are worn out.

Our new age demands something much more fluid, much more resilient—much more creative. In this book, we ask who will thrive in the future? And by reframing the question, we arrive at the following profile of successful creators:

•
• They will blend multiple intelligences in a way that might be described as synthetic or even symphonic
•
• They will be ambitious and focused without being self-obsessed
•
• They will value asynchrony and even seek it out
•
• They will use their own marginality to generate novel perspective and new work
•
• They will exhibit a steadfast resilience in all phases of life
•
• They will be measured by what they produce over the course of their lives, not by any static notion of capacity or quotient

The New Smart asks how we re-train ourselves and educate our children for a life that demands such creativity. It provides a clear roadmap away from standardized schools producing standardized minds and describes in detail why creative is The New Smart.

Drawing on extensive empirical research, this book examines paternal involvement in caregiving practices and asks what is currently happening to ‘involved’ fatherhood?

The book investigates fatherhood in various everyday settings, such as outdoor spaces, workplaces and the home, while considering the influence of policy frameworks across different European countries. By analysing fathers’ experiences and the impact of policy on familial roles, it provides fresh insights into the concept of ‘involvement’ and progression towards practices of more equitable fatherhood.

Encouraging new thinking on paternal engagement, this is a critical look at how fatherhood is navigated, negotiated and understood within diverse cultural and policy contexts in everyday life.

Homer and Bart. Phil and Luke. God and Jesus. Charles and William. Perhaps no other relationship is as complex, rewarding and ever-changing as that of a father and son. Whether the son becomes a mini-me of the father or rebels entirely, who you grow up to be is inevitably shaped by your father.
Over the last 50 years, the relationship between a father and son has changed from being a more distant and emotionally strained one to a more loving, open and honest one, which provides a whole new minefield for fathers to navigate. They're more hands-on than ever before, no longer just the traditional breadwinner and disciplinarian. But this thankfully means the father-son bond is often now stronger than ever, as this book shows.
Packed full of facts, quotes and trivia, The Little Book of Fathers and Sons is the perfect insight into this unique relationship, whether the parent or child. Full of wit and wisdom, this is the perfect gift for your old man or little man.

Explores the surprising diversity of fathers and fatherhood throughout American history and society

The nuclear family has been endlessly praised as the bedrock of American society, even though there has rarely been a time in history when a majority of Americans lived in such families. This book deconstructs the myth of the nuclear family by presenting the rich diversity of family lives in American history from the American Revolution to the twenty-first century. To tell this story, Jürgen Martschukat focuses on fathers and their relations to families and American society. Using biographical close-ups of twelve different characters, each embedded in historical context, American Fatherhood provides a much more realistic picture of how fatherhood has been performed within different kinds of families. Each protagonist covers a crucial period or event in American history, presents a different family constellation, and makes a different argument with regard to how American society is governed through the family.

Wise, wry, and witty essays on fatherhood from Chris Erskine, the beloved columnist for the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune.

“Charming, well written, concise, and to the point. Perfect for anyone who enjoys stories of fatherhood.”
— Library Journal

Life is never peaceful in Chris Erskine's house, what with the four kids, 300-pound beagle, chronically leaky roof, and long-suffering wife, Posh. And that's exactly the way he likes it, except when he doesn't. Every week in the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune (and now and then in many other papers), Erskine distills, mocks, and makes us laugh at the absurdities of suburban fatherhood. And now, he's gathered the very best of these witty and wise essays—and invited his kids (and maybe even Posh) to annotate them with updated commentary, which they promise won't be too snarky. This handsome book is the perfect gift for the father who would have everything—if he hadn't already given it all to his kids.

With jokes, quotes, to-do lists and even dad bod tips, this laugh-out-loud handsomely packaged gift is a hilarious celebration of the world’s most misunderstood and fragile species of man.

Their bellies may stretch their spandex beyond saving and their capes may only fly after an ominous-sounding fart, but – make no mistake – dads are superheroes. Well, half the time, at least. Because, let's not forget, when it comes to messing things up, dads are also incredibly self-sufficient. Ignored by moms everywhere and taken advantage by babies of all ages, being a dad is arguably the world's toughest job (after motherhood, of course). Overworked, underpaid and constantly in need of feeding, dads deserve just as much attention, validation and an equal share of the duvet as moms, and yet often have to settle for second best. From taxi-ing teenagers to funding fun, juggling jobs to half-baking house chores, dads simply are the best. Even at their hungover worst.  

Little Book of Dad is a celebration of dad-hood, daddy-ing and all the dad-based shenanigans that comes with it. The bitesize fun book is the perfect impulse gift for exhausted dads of all strange shapes, sizes and smells, which, last time we looked, was all of them.

The ultimate baby shower gift, sure to become a keepsake

What's in a word? If the word is a wish, a powerful plenty times a hundred. Mina Parker has chosen one hundred words any new parents might wish for their baby and paired them with inspirational quotes, silly sayings, and little poems. Here are just a few examples:

Take achievementSleeping through the nighta fine achievement for baby and mom.
• Or beauty: "The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things." Plato
• Or generosity: "Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." Buddha
• Or freedom: Barefoot in spring grass. Running without your diaper. Living the good life.

Find these plus ninetysix more whimsical, inspiring, and loving messages for baby, all rendered in vibrant pastelswith polka dots, hearts, stars, rabbits, teddy bears, and more.

The best time is story time.

Reading to kids from birth to age five has bundles of benefits: It helps them develop language skills, encourages empathy and emotional development, fires up their imagination, helps them focus, and better prepares them for school, especially reading and writing. But most important, story time is quality time between your child and you.

Born to Read is a keepsake memory book of your story time together and a guide to raising a reader, all rolled into one. By reading just one book a day for the first five years of your child’s life, they can log almost two thousand books before kindergarten. Use the beautiful journal pages within to keep a list of the books you and your child read together from birth to age five. It’s a perfect way to recall particular favorites, record memories, and chronicle your child’s reading journey—and your child will look back proudly at all the books they’ve logged as they start school.

Interspersed throughout the journal pages are age-appropriate tips for raising a reader and book lists to help you expand you and your child’s reading horizons or dive deeper into particular interest areas. Special features encourage you to think about your unique reader. For example, “My Kid in Books” allows you to record specific reading milestones and passions and, as your child grows, interview them about the books they love. And in “Reading Recs” you can note recommendations from family and friends.

The perfect baby shower gift for expecting parents or an excellent birthday present for growing readers, Born to Read: My First Five Years in Books helps document the story of how your child grew from baby to bookworm, as well as the memories you created along the way.

While the topic of gay marriage and families continues to be popular in the media, few scholarly works focus on gay men with children. Based on ten years of fieldwork among gay families living in the rural, suburban, and urban area of the eastern United States, Gay Fathers, Their Children, and the Making of Kinship presents a beautifully written and meticulously argued ethnography of gay men and the families they have formed.

In a culture that places a premium on biology as the founding event of paternity, Aaron Goodfellow poses the question: Can the signing of legal contracts and the public performances of care replace biological birth as the singular event marking the creation of fathers? Beginning with a comprehensive review of the relevant literature in this field, four chapters—each presenting a particular picture of paternity—explore a range of issues, such as interracial adoption, surrogacy, the importance of physical resemblance in familial relationships, single parenthood, delinquency, and the ways in which the state may come to define the norms of health. The author deftly illustrates how fatherhood for gay men draws on established biological, theological, and legal images of the family often thought oppressive to the emergence of queer forms of social life.

Chosen with care and described with great sensitivity, each carefully researched case examines gay fatherhood through life narratives. Painstakingly theorized, Gay Fathers, Their Children, and the Making of Kinship contends that gay families are one of the most important areas to which social scientists might turn in order to understand how law, popular culture, and biology are simultaneously made manifest and interrogated in everyday life. By focusing specifically on gay fathers, Goodfellow produces an anthropological account of how paternity, sexuality, and masculinity are leveraged in relations of care between gay fathers and their children.

No one is immune to the byproducts of compulsory schooling and standardized testing. And while reform may be a worthy cause for some, it is not enough for countless others still trying to navigate the tyranny of what schooling has always been. Raising Free People argues that we need to build and work within systems truly designed for any human to learn, grow, socialize, and thrive, regardless of age, ability, background, or access to money.

Families and conscious organizations across the world are healing generations of school wounds by pivoting into self-directed, intentional community-building, and Raising Free People shows you exactly how unschooling can help facilitate this process.

Individual experiences influence our approach to parenting and education, so we need more than the rules, tools, and “bad adult” guilt trips found in so many parenting and education books. We need to reach behind our behaviors to seek and find our triggers; to examine and interrupt the ways that social issues such as colonization still wreak havoc on our ability to trust ourselves, let alone children. Raising Free People explores examples of the transition from school or homeschooling to unschooling, how single parents and people facing financial challenges unschool successfully, and the ways unschooling allows us to address generational trauma and unlearn the habits we mindlessly pass on to children.

In these detailed and unabashed stories and insights, Richards examines the ways that her relationships to blackness, decolonization, and healing work all combine to form relationships and enable community-healing strategies rooted in an unschooling practice. This is how millions of families center human connection, practice clear and honest communication, and raise children who do not grow up to feel that they narrowly survived their childhoods.

A vital anthology exploring the intersections between caregiving and abolition

Abolition has never been a proposal to simply tear things down. As Alexis Pauline Gumbs asks, “What if abolition is something that grows?” As we struggle to build a liberatory, caring, loving, abundant future, we have much to learn from the work of birthing, raising, caring for, and loving future generations.

In We Grow the World Together, abolitionists and organizers Maya Schenwar and Kim Wilson bring together a remarkable collection of voices revealing the complex tapestry of ways people are living abolition in their daily lives through parenting and caregiving. Ranging from personal narratives to policy-focused analysis to activist chronicles, these writers highlight how abolition is essential to any kind of parenting justice.

Contributors include:
Beth Richie
Harsha Walia
EJ, 6 years old
Dorothy Roberts
Ruth Wilson Gilmore
Dylan Rodríguez
Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn
Shira Hassan
Victoria Law
Mariame Kaba
The PDX Childcare Collective
adrienne maree brown and Autumn Brown
and more

In making love, one is elevated beyond the carnal desires it satisfies. For the religious, it is Divine; for those who are not religiously inclined, it is still a spiritual experience, one of seamless solidarity, a unity of two as one that defies mere orgasmic stimulation. You don’t have to make love to have sex. Even strangers can be sexually attracted and have an orgasmic escapade. But in the act of making love, there is symbolic meaning that is felt through-and-through the sex act. Two in love are joined, in life, and the sexual expression of this unison is deeply felt in the sex act itself. This is sexual intimacy, the making of love, the likes of which is rarely, if ever, seen outside a loving relationship. There is no escape from the philosophical dimensions of such a loving relationship. It is as abstract as it is concrete in the ideals that ground it. There is a mystery about it, a kind of transcendent experience that defies translation into words. Making and being in love are thus joined at the hip. Loving relationships make the bed in which true lovers sleep.
Unfortunately, many relationships flounder or never get off the ground. Just having sex may ease the tension, but it then becomes a means, not truly an end-in-itself. The moment the sex act ends, the couple may retreat and fall into discord. It is an oasis in a barren desert that provides temporary relief, a titillating, temporary escape from reality. This book can help you to overcome the obstacles, the unlovable habits that encumber your relationship, both inside and outside the bedroom. It can help to create the harmonic balance between your sex life and other aspects of your personal and interpersonal relationships, which are preludes to making and being in love.
To accomplish this, it applies a five-step method based on Logic-Based Therapy & Consultation (LBTC), a popular form of evidence-based, philosophical counseling modality. First, it introduces you to six types of unlovable ways of thinking and acting and helps you to identify the ones that may be sabotaging your own relationship. Second, it shows you how to counter these self-defeating habits with certain lovable goals (“virtues of love”). Third, it helps you to identify and embrace a personal “love philosophy” that empowers you to reach for your lovable goals. Fourth, it provides core philosophical ideas that are key to any successful quest for romantic love. Fifth, it helps you construct a behavioral plan that applies your philosophies to making constructive changes in your relationship. The latter may require making changes both inside and outside your relationship. Thus, this book also shows you how the problems you are having in one area of your life (at work, in your social life, etc.) can affect the quality of your relationship, inside and outside the bedroom, and it offers guidance, including self-improvement exercises, to overcome these impediments and attain enduring love and sexual intimacy.

A book to offer clarity and guidance when facing the difficult decision of whether your relationship has a future.

Whether we should stay in or leave a relationship is one of the most consequential and painful decisions we are ever likely to confront.

What makes the issue so hard is that there are no fixed rules for judgement. How can we tell whether a relationship is 'good enough' or plain wrong? How do we draw the line between justified longing and naivety? Does someone 'better' actually exist? Should the feelings of children be counted (and what might they be in the long term)? Could one's partner change, perhaps with therapy, or should one assume that who they are now is who they will always be?

All these questions typically haunt our minds as we weigh up whether to stay or go. With no axe to grind or ideology to promote, Stay or Leave walks us gently through our options, opening our minds to perspectives we might not have considered.

This book aims to take the reader towards a time, presently hard to imagine, when the choice will no longer feel so agonizing. Using its lessons, we can understand ourselves deeply, consider our options, minimize our regrets and find the way ahead.

• REFRESHINGLY PRAGMATIC relationship advice for couples of all kinds.
• ROMANTIC REALISM a common sense way to look at your relationship.
• RELATIONSHIP TOOLKIT for working through your fears and anxieties.
• THERAPIST-RESEARCHED draws from The School of Life’s Therapy department and their experience providing couples therapy.

"A moving look at the ties that bind."— Publisher's Weekly

An intimate look at the complexities of family life told through evocative photography and authentic interviews.

Families are a mystery. Is everyone’s as complicated as ours? Is there such a thing as a "normal" one? We generally only get to see the polished exteriors and are left to imagine what might be going on behind closed doors. Here is a book that takes us on a tour around the reality of families. It provides a rare, privileged glimpse into private realms, allowing us a new, profound understanding of ourselves and others. 

Comprised of 60 interviews and portraits captured by five supremely talented photographers – Mark Hobbs, Kate Peters, Marjolaine Ryley, Michelle Sank and Naomi Williams – the book introduces us to an extraordinary array of participants: new parents, stepchildren, siblings, the wealthy and the marginalized, the old and the young.

In this book, photographs intertwine with the the subject's story, reminding us of Humans of New York - a photographic project by Brandon Stanton which portraits daily glimpses into the lives of strangers on the streets of New York City.

What surfaces is the astounding diversity of family life – and the number of commonalities too. Above all, we recognize the fundamental role that family plays in making us who we are.This is a book for anyone who has ever wondered about their family or fantasized about being part of someone else’s – in short, this is a book for us all.

• PRACTICAL ADVICE ON AFFAIRS: and on dealing with the aftermath of an affair.
• WHY DO AFFAIRS HAPPEN?: historical and psychological framework to help us understand affairs-both the lead up, and the aftermath.
• A FRESH TAKE ON INFIDELITY: and how it impacts our lives.
• PART OF THE SCHOOL OF LIFE'S LOVE SERIES: focusing on the joys and sorrows of relationships.

In the context of dramatically changing contemporary patterns of mate selection in China, Mate Selection in China focuses upon both the causes and consequences the societal changes which have resulted in a considerable shift in the ways in which young adults go about finding a spouse.

Tracking a period of change, from a long history of patriarchal families and arranged marriages, into an environment wherein individuals are relatively free to choose their intimate partners, Blair, Madison and Fang demonstrate and analyse how recent shifts in divorce, cohabitation, and pre-marital sex have altered young adults’ perceptions of marriage. Delving into demographic factors, such as the skewed sex ratio among young adults which have resulted in an overabundance of young males, cultural factors, such as increasingly individualistic forms of dating, and social and economic change which has resulted an increasingly materialistic middle-class, this book highlights that while traditional influence of parents in the selection of partners for their children has been overtaken, mate selection choices are not entirely made by the individuals themselves.

Providing a comprehensive examination of mate selection within an ever-changing context, this book is a fascinating read for scholars interested in the impact of culture of family and marriage.

"Your partner can and should meet all of your emotional needs." "All disagreements can and should be resolved." “Great relationships require little maintenance.”

Old models of marriage such as these are crumbling. Divorce rates remain high. Many people are skeptical and mistrustful about having real love in their lives. It's clear people need new models to help them connect with each other in meaningful, lasting ways. It's time to break free from old patterns of commitment and to forge new pathways for healthy, thriving, deeply loving relationships.

This hope-filled resource for developing soulful, mature love is aimed at committed couples who are looking to build, maintain and glorify the sacred in their relationship. It creates a context for couples to honor the gradual movement from physical “flight-fight-freeze” body-based survival to more heart-filled, communication-oriented love, to spiritual awakening and soul-purpose fulfillment. It encourages couples—as individuals and as partners—to let go of dysfunctional, hurtful, restrictive behavior in favor of liberating self-concepts and belief systems. It provides solutions for communicating and problem-solving more effectively, allowing each partner in the relationship to experience more emotional intimacy, joy and sexual pleasure. The book provides relationship information, practical tools and inspirational, real-life stories. It also offers a banquet of spiritual practices for couples of all faiths—or none—to bring these new models into focused action.