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sehmort's review against another edition
3.0
Torn between 3-4 stars. I listened to the book and found the voice to be sad and almost defeated sounding (and the start of the book sounded defensive) which may have colored my view of the book. I loved the research and statistics and the overall discussion around parenting and the law but found the personal narrative piece less enjoyable. It felt defensive and as if the author still had some work to do around her experience before sharing it with the world.
real_life_reading's review against another edition
2.0
Brooks was pretty thorough in her research and I could totally see exactly how all of the points in her book play out in my life. I totally judge my own parenting based on how I think others might judge my parenting. I totally did the same thing with planning the births of my children and doing all the research to make sure I was informed on exactly how I could make it the best.
I did feel like Brooks' writing was a bit all over the place, and it was sometimes difficult for me to follow her sequencing of events and arguments. 2.5 stars.
I did feel like Brooks' writing was a bit all over the place, and it was sometimes difficult for me to follow her sequencing of events and arguments. 2.5 stars.
toris_reads's review
5.0
This was a great read. It was both entertaining and informative, and I love how Brooks intertwined facts and data with her own personal narrative, and stories from others.
cdale8's review against another edition
3.0
Really a 3.5 for me. This was an interesting read on fear-driven parenting as a new cultural construct, although it got a bit rambly at the end. Several worthwhile interviews of academics, legal professionals, and parents that have endured institutionalized judicial and social systems that reinforce uber-supervision of children and promote unwarranted judgement of parents -- particularly mothers rather than fathers. No real solutions, but touches on a lot of blog-worthy topics we've all likely read before: unequal gender accountability in parenting, child-free vs. child-having people, sanctimommies, irrational expectations in the face of actual statistics, fuzzy laws and CPS, class/race/privilege and punishment.
katerintree's review against another edition
4.0
Super interesting & insightful - honestly a MUST READ for parents, educators, & policy makers. Would definitely recommend.
readwithtabi's review
5.0
Every modern parent should read this! It made me think and question. The balance of personal story and research was perfection.
lavoiture's review
4.0
At work the other day, I was saying that I felt sad my son wouldn't have the childhood I had growing up. We ran around outside all day, climbed trees that were over busy streets, rode motorcycles, shot each other with bb guns, walked across town to see the sunrise, rolled down hills, explored, rode our bikes, and just generally had a great time on our own. And even though I *know* that the world is statistically a much safer place now and that the most dangerous thing I do every day is drive my kiddo to daycare...still, he'll have a much more sheltered life than I did. What a shame.
That's what this book is about. It doesn't answer questions; it introduces a bunch of questions and lets them hang. I'm ok with that. And while I don't think I'll ever be a full free range parent, I'm going to rededicate myself to giving my son a lot more freedom.
That's what this book is about. It doesn't answer questions; it introduces a bunch of questions and lets them hang. I'm ok with that. And while I don't think I'll ever be a full free range parent, I'm going to rededicate myself to giving my son a lot more freedom.
lavoiture's review against another edition
4.0
At work the other day, I was saying that I felt sad my son wouldn't have the childhood I had growing up. We ran around outside all day, climbed trees that were over busy streets, rode motorcycles, shot each other with bb guns, walked across town to see the sunrise, rolled down hills, explored, rode our bikes, and just generally had a great time on our own. And even though I *know* that the world is statistically a much safer place now and that the most dangerous thing I do every day is drive my kiddo to daycare...still, he'll have a much more sheltered life than I did. What a shame.
That's what this book is about. It doesn't answer questions; it introduces a bunch of questions and lets them hang. I'm ok with that. And while I don't think I'll ever be a full free range parent, I'm going to rededicate myself to giving my son a lot more freedom.
That's what this book is about. It doesn't answer questions; it introduces a bunch of questions and lets them hang. I'm ok with that. And while I don't think I'll ever be a full free range parent, I'm going to rededicate myself to giving my son a lot more freedom.
destinyr's review against another edition
1.0
This book has some good messages. I think kids should be given the freedom to take risks, for sure. But I couldn’t get past the author’s fatphobia and fixation on childhood obesity. It’s like she wanted me to let go of my anxieties about my child being harmed and replace them with anxieties about my child being fat, which I absolutely don’t have and won’t ever.