Pre-Hysteric Parenting

Those Christian parents who would spare the metaphorical rod should first consult this draconian but thought-provoking book, which challenges them to stop indulging their children and teach responsibility instead. Wright comes down hard on America's love affair with consumerism (the ""affluenza"" epidemic), and also asks parents to carefully consider each activity their children undertake. He rightly observes that many parents are so frazzled and exhausted from hauling kinds around in a minivan that they often miss opportunities to spend unstructured quality time with them. Wright makes some simplistic overgeneralizations about the 1950s (""these children knew nothing but the good life,"" he asserts), and his indictments of contemporary culture can be too stark. Overall, however, he raises some excellent points here. (July)