The assumption of this book seems to be that most parents are inconsistent and harsh with their children; a sad indictment of Western society. The authors advise staying calm, and addressing issues directly, explaining why corporal punishment and yelling are counter-productive.

I didn’t find anything new in this book; indeed, I found the emphasis on ‘rules’ (albeit flexible) to be a bit coercive, and I thought it a pity that the book did not define the distinction between punishment (revenge), discipline (teaching) and consequences (the natural or logical result of some action).

Nevertheless, there is some sound advice about ways of relating to children and engaging with them - I just hope this will be read by some who genuinely wish to try a more constructive form of parenting.

While the free edition of this book is not very long, it’s nicely presented and edited in such a way that it feels complete in itself - it's not just a few pages, but contains about a third of the full text. I would recommend it in a low-key way to any parents feeling caught up in an angry battle with their children; if useful, it might be worth getting hold of the full edition.

Three and a half stars would be fairer.
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