Bowden P. (Trey) -
Helpful Score: 7
I really, really hate to say that, but it is. I started this because of the suggestion of a friend of my wife's and I have an almost 2 year old girl. And the killer of this is, it opens well - it has a great start. But the second half of the book kind of loses the thread.
Look, my goal is a young adult with decent judgement and able to stand on her own in about 20 years. And this book has some excellent points about the role and importance of a father in a girl's life. I have no problem with those.
The problems arise when the book pretty much says privacy is wrong, equating it with secrecy. This is a button issue for me (and one my wife and I have gone round and round on). I think there is a difference - Privacy is the state of being unobserved; Secrecy is the act of keeping things hidden, usually for advantage or out of fear. And I think this is key thing - and it relates to growing up. I agree with Dr. Meeker that kids do need monitoring and parents in their lives, but I think they also need to grow up to handle the difference between the two.
How To Fight - this is the most misleadingly titled chapter. Its not about how to have an argument, but about balance and belief. It entirely avoids how and when to argue (or fight). This steps away from a life skill I think people need, especially women.
Finally, most of the kids used in anecdotes in the book need a healthy sense of skepticism - especially about the motives of others. And again, I think Dr. Meeker drops the ball here. Again, the skill of how to evaluate data, make decisions and assess the motives of the people providing the data.
I will get my own copy of this book, but its not the strong piece I thought it was.
Look, my goal is a young adult with decent judgement and able to stand on her own in about 20 years. And this book has some excellent points about the role and importance of a father in a girl's life. I have no problem with those.
The problems arise when the book pretty much says privacy is wrong, equating it with secrecy. This is a button issue for me (and one my wife and I have gone round and round on). I think there is a difference - Privacy is the state of being unobserved; Secrecy is the act of keeping things hidden, usually for advantage or out of fear. And I think this is key thing - and it relates to growing up. I agree with Dr. Meeker that kids do need monitoring and parents in their lives, but I think they also need to grow up to handle the difference between the two.
How To Fight - this is the most misleadingly titled chapter. Its not about how to have an argument, but about balance and belief. It entirely avoids how and when to argue (or fight). This steps away from a life skill I think people need, especially women.
Finally, most of the kids used in anecdotes in the book need a healthy sense of skepticism - especially about the motives of others. And again, I think Dr. Meeker drops the ball here. Again, the skill of how to evaluate data, make decisions and assess the motives of the people providing the data.
I will get my own copy of this book, but its not the strong piece I thought it was.
