Book thirty-three: NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman

There is just too much to say about this book. The takeaways for me were that I shouldn't use praise too much and that when I do, the praise should be specific. Sleep is important for kids' brains' development. Kids don't pick up the message that all kids are equal - they might not even know what the word means when you use it - and race is unimportant when determining who should be included in your peer group unless you talk to them about it explicitly. Kids lie because they don't want to disappoint their parents, their parents are too intrusive, and because they see their parents lie. Kids without firm boundaries are more likely to get in trouble than those who have parents with rules for conduct and behavior. Only children aren't doomed to become socially-inept, isolated people who lack creativity. And, well, I could go on but perhaps it'd be best if you just read the book for yourself, eh?

The problem with books like this is that I'm sure you could find studies that prove the exact opposite. So while I appreciate the information, I approach it with the attitude that if it happens to apply to my kid, great. And if not, no big deal. 26 down, plus 7.