Never Enough

I assumed that I already knew what was in this book, but I was wrong. The author went beyond my (low) expectation that she would say that our fast-paced achievement-oriented culture is bad for our kids. Instead, she offered:
lots of compelling stories;
a reminder that the high school treadmill continues into college (from grade pressures to internship pressures);
compassion for parents (especially mothers who often carry the responsibility to help our kids stand out among their peers);
an accessible – if brief –explanation of how parent anxiety is understandable given how society has changed and economic mobility increasingly precarious for the middle class; and
practical suggestions for making ourselves and our kids healthier and happier.

One of her themes is that we need to feel that we matter, and that focus drives the second half of the book. I do think all of this is easier said than done, and she admits she comes from the Ivy League background that she's now challenging somewhat, but I felt understood and encouraged – both as a parent and an educator – in the middle of the culture she critiques.