I came to this book through a series of emotional literacy sessions for adults, organised by my daughter's school. I am a parent and a qualified executive coach.
The temptation for us as parents is to assume that we know it all; we've been there, done it and made plenty of mistakes so our children don't have to. As practicing coaches, we are perhaps in greater danger of assuming we are `all knowing'. Not only do we have our own life experience to draw on, we are equipped with lots of techniques to help our kids to get it right by working things out for themselves. In reading this book, as parent and coach, I was struck by how easy it is not to put our theories into practice when it comes to our closest relationships. Much of the book is common sense stuff we sort of already know. Unfortunately, even as knowledgeable adults we need to have it spelled out, to spend time actually thinking about it and even more time putting it into effect.
The book tackles some meaty issues pertinent to teenagers, such as relationships, sex, addictions, family background etc. in a way that is both rational and empathetic. It acknowledges that in life we have to tackle some difficult stuff and have to work hard at creating a fulfilling life. However the book gives many tools to assist in this process and sources of further assistance.
In my opinion, the book is excellent! My only (very minor) criticism is that some of the language and anecdotes are rather American, which could slightly alienate a wider audience. However, this book is not aimed at me. Our teenagers are probably very familiar with American culture and comfortable with the language used. I will seek my daughter's opinion when she has read the book.
I gained a lot from reading this book and enjoyed a sense of optimism on finishing it. I have set myself several action points to work on as a direct result. If I can learn from this, just imagine the impact it could have on someone just starting out - the sky really is the limit!