Family First: Your Step-by-step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family: Amazon.co.uk: Phillip C. McGraw: Books

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7 Reviews

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4.0 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)

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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phil states the obvious then claims ownership, 27 Nov 2004

By	Jane in PA "Jane in PA" (Penn) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Family First: Your Step-by-step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family (Hardcover)

After completing "Family First" I feel used! Phil states the obvious then claims ownership to ideas that I think are probably intuitive to many parents and families. Let's save you the expense of buying this book by summarizing the pertinent points:

1. Your family is important.
2. If you prioritize your family you will experience healthy consequences and have healthier children.

With that said, how do you achieve this if, by chance, you lack the critical skills and experience to incorporate this belief into your familial relations? Well, this is where Family First comes up short. This is a complicated process and goes well beyond Phil's over simplified "step-by-step plan." Sure, read Family First if you are a Dr. Phil fan, then quickly move on to other more competent books such as "Systemic Parenting: An Exploration of the Parenting Big Picture" (Gaskill) and "Parenting from the Inside Out: How A Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive" (Siegel & Hartzell). These books were written by seasoned therapists who seem have greater experience working the real life challenges that face families and parents. These authors may not have TV shows in America - that's probably because they recognize there are few 30 second soundbite solutions, or simple step-by-step plans, that effectively address the real life situations we all encounter. I've read all three and would suggest that you forego Family First and go straight to the parenting and family resources that are more likely to be helpful. One person's opinion.

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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a "paint by number" type of book, 1 Feb 2005

By	Jefferson "Father of Two" (Ann Arbor) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Family First: Your Step-by-Step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family (Paperback)

If you're a Dr. Phil fan this book is for you. No doubt. It is a "paint by number" type of book. However, after reading it I find myself thinking that families are very dynamic and sometimes complex systems - I know mine is. A simple paint by the numbers / step-by-step approach certainly falls short of being too helpful in anything but the most trivial matters of familial functioning. I enjoyed Family First and recommend it as it doesn't hurt to read. Personally I prefer greater depth than what I found in Family First. Another reviewer suggested a book "Systemic Parenting" by Mark Gaskill. I also picked up a copy of that book. These books work well together! Gaskill definitely fills the gaps left open by Phil. Actually, I think it would have been helpful to read Systemic Parenting before reading Family First - I would even suggest that many of Phil's ideas came from reading Systemic Parenting. It is certainly an, if not the, original. Gaskill's discussions on topics like intimacy, emotional safety, emotional process, thinking errors, and interactions styles probably would have positively contributed to my family's use of the questionnaires found in Family First.

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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I think I jsut got done reading the original!, 17 Feb 2005

By A Customer

This review is from: Family First: Your Step-by-step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family (Hardcover)

I read Family First some time ago. Rather liked it although it seems to oversimplify things a bit. However, I just finished reading a book titled "Systemic Parenting: An Exploration of the Parenting Big Picture." I think Phil McGraw must have gotten the idea (if not his actual material) from this text. Family First is good, but definitely fails in comparison to the detail and insights found in the original. Suggest that you pass on the knock-off and go to the source.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Phil seems to be spread too thin these days.
I was very disappointed in Family First. I would have thought that Phil would have done more research into the world of family therapy and incorporated what is now well... Read more

Published on 30 Nov 2005 by bluealice

3.0 out of 5 stars A Starting Point
For someone who is looking for a few tips to guide them into achieving healthier, closer, and happier family relationships, this book is a starting point. Read more

Published on 11 Dec 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Dr Phil Offers Sound Advice towards Happier Families
I saw a video of Dr. Phil's 2 Hour TV special from the USA and decided to order his book. What I really like is that he helps you recognize the problem and gives you guidance in... Read more

Published on 30 Nov 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Family First and it is not what it purports
I read Family First and it is not what it purports. Families are made up of an infinite number of variables - stating the you have a 'step-by-step plan for creating a phenomenal... Read more

Published on 30 Nov 2004

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Family First: Your Step-by-step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family (Paperback)

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