Expertly crafted parenting advice that advocates gentleness and presence above all else.
Family therapist, health and wellness executive, and writer Dolan-Del Vecchio (The Pet Loss Companion, 2013, etc.) offers common-sense parenting advice.
The author expands upon the traditional adage that children are a gift by averring that parents can also be gifts to their children—that is, if they’re attentive, caring parents. He expounds upon this idea over the course of five chapters, exploring different types of habits (“Habits of Heart and Mind,” “People Habits,” “Spiritual Habits,” and “Healthy Habits”) and concluding with a discussion of “Reflection and Reward.” Each chapter is divided into titled sections, with a list of the most important points at the end of each. Throughout the book, Dolan-Del Vecchio emphasizes another theme: that parents should develop “power with” rather than “power over” their children. The latter, as the name suggests, is about dominance and control, while “power with” emphasizes doing the best for both parent and offspring. The author writes from his own experience as a father and a family therapist, backing up his suggestions with examples and stories, including details from his private life that make him a more relatable adviser: “While I want to consistently show love, I have also caught myself letting my attention drift, impatiently, when Erik needed a listening ear.” In general, he advocates a compassionate, gentle style of parenting, with a strong emphasis on simply being present for one’s kids. He also notes that parents should not beat themselves up over past mistakes but rather learn from them and move forward. Another key point is that one should accept a child’s uniqueness instead of trying to mold him or her into an ideal. Dolan-Del Vecchio writes in a very clear, straightforward style, eschewing unfamiliar jargon. The deliberately short sections, despite their presence in very long chapters, make the book easy to read, and the bullet points and summaries effectively reinforce important ideas. The author also avoids overusing pithy quotations from other experts, but he does use a few very effectively—particularly one from the late Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Expertly crafted parenting advice that advocates gentleness and presence above all else.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: GreenGate Leadership
Review Posted Online: May 9, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Dogged original research and superb narrative skills come together in this gripping account of pitiless evil.
Greed, depravity, and serial murder in 1920s Oklahoma.
During that time, enrolled members of the Osage Indian nation were among the wealthiest people per capita in the world. The rich oil fields beneath their reservation brought millions of dollars into the tribe annually, distributed to tribal members holding "headrights" that could not be bought or sold but only inherited. This vast wealth attracted the attention of unscrupulous whites who found ways to divert it to themselves by marrying Osage women or by having Osage declared legally incompetent so the whites could fleece them through the administration of their estates. For some, however, these deceptive tactics were not enough, and a plague of violent death—by shooting, poison, orchestrated automobile accident, and bombing—began to decimate the Osage in what they came to call the "Reign of Terror." Corrupt and incompetent law enforcement and judicial systems ensured that the perpetrators were never found or punished until the young J. Edgar Hoover saw cracking these cases as a means of burnishing the reputation of the newly professionalized FBI. Bestselling New Yorkerstaff writer Grann (The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession, 2010, etc.) follows Special Agent Tom White and his assistants as they track the killers of one extended Osage family through a closed local culture of greed, bigotry, and lies in pursuit of protection for the survivors and justice for the dead. But he doesn't stop there; relying almost entirely on primary and unpublished sources, the author goes on to expose a web of conspiracy and corruption that extended far wider than even the FBI ever suspected. This page-turner surges forward with the pacing of a true-crime thriller, elevated by Grann's crisp and evocative prose and enhanced by dozens of period photographs.
Dogged original research and superb narrative skills come together in this gripping account of pitiless evil.Pub Date: April 18, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-385-53424-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2017
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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