I have a five-year-old, and I think a lot about how to raise him. What kinds of conversations about race should we be having and at what ages? How do I have a five-year-old, and I think a lot about how to raise him. What kinds of conversations about race should we be having and at what ages? How do we talk about him being biracial? Should we bring things up proactively or wait until he asks questions? When choosing schools, how much should we weigh student and teacher body diversity compared to academic outcomes?
All of these questions are covered in this book that is part memoir and part compilation of lots of studies and statistics. I love that the last third of the book is notes: Kendi really did his homework to write this book, and sprinkling the book with his own personal vignettes of raising a child (and also from his own childhood) made the book much more readable and engaging.
I’d recommend this to everyone responsible for young kids.
My kid just turned five, and I feel like I’m at the perfect time for this one. We’re making lots of decisions right now (which school? should we redshMy kid just turned five, and I feel like I’m at the perfect time for this one. We’re making lots of decisions right now (which school? should we redshirt him for Kindergarten? should we start him in extra-curricular activities?), and this book provides a framework for making these decisions and also offers up summaries of existing research.
The framework isn’t for everyone, but as the person at work responsible for strategy and project management to execute that strategy, ooooh, I thought this was so much fun.
Emily Oster is able to distill research into its salient points in a straightforward, fun way. If I knew her in real life, I’d want to be her friend (I might not be academic enough for her to be my friend, but that’s a different story). ...more
Well, this is one of the most harrowing books I’ve ever read.
Cho takes us into her postpartum psychosis, and it’s terrifying. If I were rating the seWell, this is one of the most harrowing books I’ve ever read.
Cho takes us into her postpartum psychosis, and it’s terrifying. If I were rating the second half of the book, thus would be a solid five stars, but I had a hard time wading through the first half. It was a slow start for me, and I almost abandoned it. ...more
There are always more neuroses around the corner when you’re parenting.
Dr. Oster’s economist take on parenting is refreshing. Here’s the data to make
There are always more neuroses around the corner when you’re parenting.
Dr. Oster’s economist take on parenting is refreshing. Here’s the data to make informed decisions, and most of that data comes down to: do what works for you, and try to worry less.
I wish I’d had this book when my kid was younger....more
You can kind of skip the book and read the “Connect and Redirect Refrigerator Sheet” in the Resources section without missing much content. I’d preferYou can kind of skip the book and read the “Connect and Redirect Refrigerator Sheet” in the Resources section without missing much content. I’d prefer the anecdotes be replaced with research and sources. ...more
This was a good primer on baby led weaning, and Rapley pioneered the movement.
Three rather than more stars because some of the information is out of This was a good primer on baby led weaning, and Rapley pioneered the movement.
Three rather than more stars because some of the information is out of date (such as when to introduce peanut butter) and for a book that makes a lot of claims, there is very little evidence that isn't anecdotal....more
We're expecting, and our MIL gifted us this book so that we could see what sort of parenting advice she'd been reading when she raised my husband and We're expecting, and our MIL gifted us this book so that we could see what sort of parenting advice she'd been reading when she raised my husband and his sister.
It was interesting, but I wouldn't recommend it today. Much of the book is science-dependent (which is great), but science in parenting has moved along quite a bit since these essays were originally published. ...more