Relationships and families: advice, topics and issues Books

Book SynopsisThe third book in Dawn Dais's popular Sh!t No One Tells You series covers all a parent needs to know once the reality of having two young children settles in.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis Silicon Valley tech giants design their products to hook even the most sophisticated adults. Imagine, then, the influence these devices have on the developing minds of young people. Touted as tools of the future that kids must master to ensure a job in the new economy, they are, in reality, the culprits, stealing our children’s attention, making them anxious, agitated, and depressed. What’s worse, schools across the country are going digital under the assumption that a tablet with a wi-fi connection is what’s lacking in our education system. Add to that the legion of dangers invited by unregulated access to the internet, and it becomes clear that our screen-saturated culture is eroding some of the essential aspects of childhood. In Be the Parent, Please, former New York Post and Wall Street Journal writer Naomi Schaefer Riley draws from her experience as a mother of three and delves into the latest research on the harmful effects that excessive technology usage has on a child’s intellectual, social, and moral formation. Throughout each chapter, she backs up her discussion with “tough mommy tips”—realistic advice for parents who want to take back control from tech. With the alluring array of gadgets, apps, and utopian promises expanding by the day, engulfing more and more of our lives, Be the Parent, Please is both a wake-up call and an indispensable guide for parents who care about the healthy development of their children. Trade Review “Be the Parent, Please is among the sternest of [the]recent books about the dangers of computerized childhood, and perhaps for exactly that reason, it’s also the most compelling.” —Joseph Bottom, Washington Free Beacon “If you’re a parent, you’re probably not going to enjoy reading Naomi Schaefer Riley’s new book Be The Parent, Please: Stop Banning Seesaws and Start Banning Snapchat: Strategies for Solving the Real Parenting Problems. But that’s precisely why you should. Riley’s book largely avoids parent shaming, but she does offer some real talk for parents about technology use—from babies to teens. She provides not just the jarring facts but also suggestions on how to curb the use and alleviate parent guilt about depriving our kids of technology, something we have been fooled into believing we need far more than we do.” —Bethany Mandel, Federalist “Be the Parent, Please is one of the most thought-provoking and jarring books I’ve read in a long time. When I finished the book, I literally thought to myself, ‘I wish I’d read this ten years ago!’ Engagingly written and filled with fascinating studies, this important book should be a conversation changer.” —Amy Chua, Yale Law professor and author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and The Triple Package “Most parents know the right things to do but often lack the courage to do them. Riley’s excellent new book, Be the Parent, Please, provides the rationale, research, and encouragement that parents need—to resist the commercial culture that wants to profit from the free time of small children, to shield kids from the vast, unmonitored experiment that is the online life as lived by very young children; to be the parent and not the enabling pal of their children. This is a book that every parent—and every person who cares about children and childhood—should read. Five stars.” —Caitlin Flanagan, contributing editor to the Atlantic and author of Girl Land “Just as it’s hard to tell our kids, ‘No snack till dinner’—even when we have a purse full of Pirate’s Booty—it’s even harder to say, ‘No screen time’ when our smartphone is ringing in our pocket. In this well-researched, non-hectoring book, Riley helps us understand why we must ‘Be the Parent’ and actually how to do it.” —Lenore Skenazy, founder of Free-Range Kids “We need more books like Be the Parent, Please! Riley calls parents a wake-up call to put healthy boundaries regarding technology and kids. A must-read for any parent fumbling around in this digital world of parenting.” —Brooke Shannon, founder of Wait Until 8thTable of ContentsIntroduction: Screen Time / 3 Chapter 1: What We Don’t Know Can Hurt Us / 7 Chapter 2: Babies Aren’t Meant to Be Einsteins / 35 Chapter 3: Are You Preparing Your Child for School or Las Vegas? / 53 Chapter 4: Drop the Call—and the Phone While You Are at It / 71 Chapter 5: The Price of Internet Access is Eternal Vigilance / 93 Chapter 6: Think American Education Can’t Get Worse? Put iPads in the Classroom / 123 Chapter 7: Just Say No / 155 Chapter 8: Less Technology, More Independence / 175 Conclusion / 203 Postscript: The Tech-lash / 225 Notes / 231 Index / 247

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Book SynopsisFrom the all-star cast who brought you The Seven Deadly Virtues comes a book with a look at the good life… or the crazy-stressful-overwhelmed life… of a father. The Dadly Virtues is a tongue-in-cheek collection of encouragement and guidance for any stage of fatherhood, from pacifying babies to prepping for senior prom, from cutting the cord to getting the first, “Best Grandpa” t-shirt. P.J. O’Rourke sets the stage with the chapter, “What Do Men Get from Fatherhood? Besides What They Put In …” and then is followed by: •Matthew Continetti’s, “Newborn Terror: The Moment You Realize that ‘Bundle of Joy’ Is a Euphemism for Something Very Different.” •Stephen F. Hayes’ “Siblings: The Best Gift You’ll Ever Give Your Kids.” •Jonah Goldberg’s “Get Your Kid a Dog: The Moral Case for Pets.” •Tucker Carlson’s “In Praise of Adventure: How to Fill a Child’s Life with Excitement and Danger (without Getting Them Killed).” •Michael Graham’s, “Dating: Enjoy the Movie and Please Keep the Impregnation to a Minimum.” •Christopher Caldwell’s “College: It’s Not as Bad as You Think; It’s Worse.” •Andrew Ferguson’s “Emerging Adults and Empty Nesters: Just When You Had Fatherhood All Figured Out.” •Toby Young’s “The Dark Side: Bad Parenting and the Things We Think, but Do Not Say.” •Joseph Epstein’s “Thanks, Grandpa: Grandfatherhood and the Spirit of the Age.” •And more. Father-to-be, two-time-dad, or granddad, each essay will make you laugh and, at the same time, reinforce your commitment to the virtuous—the dadly—life.Trade Review“To their kids, all fathers must eventually seem conservative. And old-fashioned, and perhaps even boring. But, politically speaking, is there a uniquely conservative way to be a dad? Weekly Standard senior writer Jonathan V. Last has edited an essay collection by 17 conservative writers, policy wonks and entertainers, all offering advice and reflections on the business of fatherhood.” — Carlos Lozada, Washington Post (May 7, 2015) “The book is a compilation of stories about fatherhood and is a refreshing change over all the books out there written from women’s perspective of parenting.” —Dr. Helen Smith, PJ Media (March 15, 2015 “Some of the country’s most highly-respected conservative journalists and opinion makers have come together and penned a new book. While these journalists are best known for their writings on political matters, this new book's subject is far more important. Parenting. More specifically, fatherhood.” — Dan Joseph, MRC TV (May 7, 2015)In the Fraternity of Dad, children haze their sires, who become men. Maybe. With one exception, each of the contributors to The Dadly Virtues is a member of the Frat of Dad and has stories about what he learned, what he wishes he’d known, and what he still doesn’t know. The book is arranged chronologically, from new fathers to grandfathers, but you should start with the final essay, Joseph Epstein’s reflections on being a single father and then helping raise his grandchildren. Amongst the frat, Epstein is the man, a mensch, the incredibly cool alumnus everybody wants to be—or at least write as well as. —Mike Hubbard, Ricochet“The Dadly Virtues takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to a subject with serious societal ramifications. It arrives at a time when fathers, and men in general, are often portrayed as bumbling and clueless—and, as Last notes in his introduction, ‘only 69 percent of kids (in America) live in a home with two parents.’ It contains some language that’s probably best not shared with younger children.” “The book covers all stages of fatherhood: expecting and experiencing a first child’s birth; seeing one’s family expand; dealing with children about religion, athletics, college, dating, marriage, and moving out on their own or back home; and eventually becoming a grandfather.” “The readers who might benefit most from the book are those about to be fathers. Describing it as ‘part instructional guide, part meditation, part war journal,’ Last writes: ‘It is, frankly, the book I wish I’d had back when my first child, Cody, was born.’” —Alan Wallace, TribLive “In the best-selling 2014 book The Seven Deadly Virtues, editor Jonathan V. Last makes a case for gratitude as the best of the virtues, surpassing justice, curiosity, prudence, and all others.” —Marty Wiggins, Tyler Morning Telegraph “What author Jonathan Last has assembled here is a distillation of what it means to be a father, told through the stories of fathers who happen to be gifted writers, as well as being absolutely hilarious. Each chapter has its share of funny war stories, but each also has some deep insights into the ups and downs of raising kids. There is timeless wisdom in these comical stories. Plus, this book has an essay by Matt Labash who many claim is the funniest writer in America these days. But don’t be surprised if your eyes get misty at the closing chapter on becoming a good grandfather.” —Sue Randleman, Crossville Chroncile "In the new book The Dadly Virtues, fathers - from all walks of life and from all stages of family life - share their insights about what being a father means to them. And they do it with a liberal dose of irreverent humor. . . . Every journey needs a journal, and The Dadly Virtues is an excellent collection of journal entries about the fatherhood journey. The book makes you think, laugh and remember; you can’t ask for much more than that." —Wayne Parker, About.com“Depending on the author, the humor ranges from quiet dry wit to don’t-drink-your-coffee-while-reading-because-you-will-snort-coffee-through-your-nose funny. P. J. O’Rourke’s chapter on how fatherhood turns men into adults will make you chuckle. Tucker Carlson’s exploration on filling your children’s lives with excitement and danger will make you laugh. So will Toby Young’s on bad parenting, Andrew Ferguson’s on empty nests, Rob Long’s on marriage, and Joseph Epstein’s on being a grandparent.”“The chapters are not just about jokes. Each dispenses wisdom about some aspect of fatherhood. Any dad who had gone through “the Talk” on sex with their children will identify with the embarrassment experienced by Matt Labash. You may not be as into shared experiences in television watching with your children as James Lileks, but he reminds you of some shared experience with your children.”“Fathers who have been through the experiences related by the authors will nod in agreement. Fathers who have yet to go through some aspect of fatherhood outlined will get useful pointers. The Dadly Virtues is out in time for Father’s Day. It is a book with application past Father’s Day. This book is one that will resonate throughout the year.” —Mark Lardas, Galveston County Daily News (June 7, 2015)“What do you get when you assemble an all-star cast of writers who have collectively experienced the many terrors and triumphs of fatherhood and have lived to write about it? You end up with The Dadly Virtues: Adventures From the Worst Job You’ll Ever Love. As the subtitle suggests, this book is a tongue-in-cheek portrait of the gory glory of fatherhood, containing plenty of side-splitting anecdotes and cultural critique with a dash of philosophical profundity. The editor, Jonathan Last, likens the book to ‘something of a Swiss army knife: part instructional guide, part meditation, part war journal’ (4) … . As a recent inductee to the fraternity of fatherhood, I am personally weary of the many formulaic books I have seen that treat fatherhood as though it’s a science to be conquered. If you’re like me, you’ll agree that the unfiltered and personal nature of The Dadly Virtues is its greatest strength. Last and company portray fatherhood less like a science and more like an art form in which hapless amateurs creep toward mastery through a process of trial and error. With each chapter, you’ll be treated to a strikingly intimate and refreshingly witty take on the real-life rigors and joys of fatherhood… . The Dadly Virtues is a refreshing look at the time-worn institution of fatherhood. After reading it, those of you who aren’t dads will wonder if you should ever become one, while those of us who are will wonder why we didn’t start sooner. In the words of Last, ‘If you aren’t otherwise engaged in some duty that precludes it—say, the priesthood—and you have the opportunity, then you should be a father. There is nothing more vexing, exhausting, noble, or manly. It’s the worst job you’ll ever love’ (15)… . Often side-splitting, sometimes tear-jerking, and always riveting, The Dadly Virtues will resonate with any father or father-to-be.” — Timothy Kleiser, the Gospel CoalitionTable of ContentsAcknowledgments / xi Introduction: On Fatherhood, Manliness, and Failure / 3 Jonathan V. Last Chapter 1: What Do Men Get from Fatherhood? Besides What They Put In … / 17 P. J. O’Rourke Chapter 2: Newborn Terror: The Moment You Realize That “Bundle of Joy” Is a Euphemism for Something Very Different / 25 Matthew Continetti Chapter 3: Siblings: The Best Gift You’ll Ever Give Your Kids / 36 Stephen F. Hayes Chapter 4: Television and Kids: The Beauty and Pain of TV / 45 James Lileks Chapter 5: Get Your Kid a Dog: The Moral Case for Pets / 58 Jonah Goldberg Chapter 6: In Praise of Adventure: How to Fill a Child’s Life with Excitement and Danger (Without Getting Them Killed) / 66 Tucker Carlson Chapter 7: Catechesis: Teaching Your Kid about God / 73 Larry Miller Chapter 8: Surviving School: It’s Just as Bad the Second Time Around / 84 Joe Queenan Chapter 9: Sports: Advice for the Care and Feeding of the Child-Athlete / 94 David Burge (aka Iowahawk) Chapter 10: The Dark Side: Bad Parenting and the Things We Think, but Do Not Say / 104 Toby Young Chapter 11: The Talk: The Birds and Bees Aren’t What They Used to Be / 113 Matt Labash Chapter 12: Dating: Enjoy the Movie and Please Keep the Impregnation to a Minimum / 127 Michael Graham Chapter 13: College: It’s Not as Bad as You Think; It’s Worse / 137 Christopher Caldwell Chapter 14: Emerging Adults and Empty Nesters: Just When You Had Fatherhood All Figured Out / 146 Andrew Ferguson Chapter 15: Love and Marriage: How to Talk to Your Kids about the Most Important Decision They’ll Ever Make / 156 Rob Long Chapter 16: Thanks, Grandpa: Grandfatherhood and the Spirit of the Age / 166 Joseph Epstein About the Contributors / 177

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Book SynopsisFrom the all-star cast who brought you The Seven Deadly Virtues comes a book with a look at the good life… or the crazy-stressful-overwhelmed life… of a father. The Dadly Virtues is a tongue-in-cheek collection of encouragement and guidance for any stage of fatherhood, from pacifying babies to prepping for senior prom, from cutting the cord to getting the first, “Best Grandpa” t-shirt. P.J. O’Rourke sets the stage with the chapter, “What Do Men Get from Fatherhood? Besides What They Put In …” and then is followed by: •Matthew Continetti’s, “Newborn Terror: The Moment You Realize that ‘Bundle of Joy’ Is a Euphemism for Something Very Different.” •Stephen F. Hayes’ “Siblings: The Best Gift You’ll Ever Give Your Kids.” •Jonah Goldberg’s “Get Your Kid a Dog: The Moral Case for Pets.” •Tucker Carlson’s “In Praise of Adventure: How to Fill a Child’s Life with Excitement and Danger (without Getting Them Killed).” •Michael Graham’s, “Dating: Enjoy the Movie and Please Keep the Impregnation to a Minimum.” •Christopher Caldwell’s “College: It’s Not as Bad as You Think; It’s Worse.” •Andrew Ferguson’s “Emerging Adults and Empty Nesters: Just When You Had Fatherhood All Figured Out.” •Toby Young’s “The Dark Side: Bad Parenting and the Things We Think, but Do Not Say.” •Joseph Epstein’s “Thanks, Grandpa: Grandfatherhood and the Spirit of the Age.” •And more. Father-to-be, two-time-dad, or granddad, each essay will make you laugh and, at the same time, reinforce your commitment to the virtuous—the dadly—life.Trade Review“To their kids, all fathers must eventually seem conservative. And old-fashioned, and perhaps even boring. But, politically speaking, is there a uniquely conservative way to be a dad? Weekly Standard senior writer Jonathan V. Last has edited an essay collection by 17 conservative writers, policy wonks and entertainers, all offering advice and reflections on the business of fatherhood.” — Carlos Lozada, Washington Post (May 7, 2015) “The book is a compilation of stories about fatherhood and is a refreshing change over all the books out there written from women’s perspective of parenting.” —Dr. Helen Smith, PJ Media (March 15, 2015 “Some of the country’s most highly-respected conservative journalists and opinion makers have come together and penned a new book. While these journalists are best known for their writings on political matters, this new book's subject is far more important. Parenting. More specifically, fatherhood.” — Dan Joseph, MRC TV (May 7, 2015)In the Fraternity of Dad, children haze their sires, who become men. Maybe. With one exception, each of the contributors to The Dadly Virtues is a member of the Frat of Dad and has stories about what he learned, what he wishes he’d known, and what he still doesn’t know. The book is arranged chronologically, from new fathers to grandfathers, but you should start with the final essay, Joseph Epstein’s reflections on being a single father and then helping raise his grandchildren. Amongst the frat, Epstein is the man, a mensch, the incredibly cool alumnus everybody wants to be—or at least write as well as. —Mike Hubbard, Ricochet“The Dadly Virtues takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to a subject with serious societal ramifications. It arrives at a time when fathers, and men in general, are often portrayed as bumbling and clueless—and, as Last notes in his introduction, ‘only 69 percent of kids (in America) live in a home with two parents.’ It contains some language that’s probably best not shared with younger children.” “The book covers all stages of fatherhood: expecting and experiencing a first child’s birth; seeing one’s family expand; dealing with children about religion, athletics, college, dating, marriage, and moving out on their own or back home; and eventually becoming a grandfather.” “The readers who might benefit most from the book are those about to be fathers. Describing it as ‘part instructional guide, part meditation, part war journal,’ Last writes: ‘It is, frankly, the book I wish I’d had back when my first child, Cody, was born.’” —Alan Wallace, TribLive “In the best-selling 2014 book The Seven Deadly Virtues, editor Jonathan V. Last makes a case for gratitude as the best of the virtues, surpassing justice, curiosity, prudence, and all others.” —Marty Wiggins, Tyler Morning Telegraph “What author Jonathan Last has assembled here is a distillation of what it means to be a father, told through the stories of fathers who happen to be gifted writers, as well as being absolutely hilarious. Each chapter has its share of funny war stories, but each also has some deep insights into the ups and downs of raising kids. There is timeless wisdom in these comical stories. Plus, this book has an essay by Matt Labash who many claim is the funniest writer in America these days. But don’t be surprised if your eyes get misty at the closing chapter on becoming a good grandfather.” —Sue Randleman, Crossville Chroncile "In the new book The Dadly Virtues, fathers - from all walks of life and from all stages of family life - share their insights about what being a father means to them. And they do it with a liberal dose of irreverent humor. . . . Every journey needs a journal, and The Dadly Virtues is an excellent collection of journal entries about the fatherhood journey. The book makes you think, laugh and remember; you can’t ask for much more than that." —Wayne Parker, About.com“Depending on the author, the humor ranges from quiet dry wit to don’t-drink-your-coffee-while-reading-because-you-will-snort-coffee-through-your-nose funny. P. J. O’Rourke’s chapter on how fatherhood turns men into adults will make you chuckle. Tucker Carlson’s exploration on filling your children’s lives with excitement and danger will make you laugh. So will Toby Young’s on bad parenting, Andrew Ferguson’s on empty nests, Rob Long’s on marriage, and Joseph Epstein’s on being a grandparent.”“The chapters are not just about jokes. Each dispenses wisdom about some aspect of fatherhood. Any dad who had gone through “the Talk” on sex with their children will identify with the embarrassment experienced by Matt Labash. You may not be as into shared experiences in television watching with your children as James Lileks, but he reminds you of some shared experience with your children.”“Fathers who have been through the experiences related by the authors will nod in agreement. Fathers who have yet to go through some aspect of fatherhood outlined will get useful pointers. The Dadly Virtues is out in time for Father’s Day. It is a book with application past Father’s Day. This book is one that will resonate throughout the year.” —Mark Lardas, Galveston County Daily News (June 7, 2015)“What do you get when you assemble an all-star cast of writers who have collectively experienced the many terrors and triumphs of fatherhood and have lived to write about it? You end up with The Dadly Virtues: Adventures From the Worst Job You’ll Ever Love. As the subtitle suggests, this book is a tongue-in-cheek portrait of the gory glory of fatherhood, containing plenty of side-splitting anecdotes and cultural critique with a dash of philosophical profundity. The editor, Jonathan Last, likens the book to ‘something of a Swiss army knife: part instructional guide, part meditation, part war journal’ (4) … . As a recent inductee to the fraternity of fatherhood, I am personally weary of the many formulaic books I have seen that treat fatherhood as though it’s a science to be conquered. If you’re like me, you’ll agree that the unfiltered and personal nature of The Dadly Virtues is its greatest strength. Last and company portray fatherhood less like a science and more like an art form in which hapless amateurs creep toward mastery through a process of trial and error. With each chapter, you’ll be treated to a strikingly intimate and refreshingly witty take on the real-life rigors and joys of fatherhood… . The Dadly Virtues is a refreshing look at the time-worn institution of fatherhood. After reading it, those of you who aren’t dads will wonder if you should ever become one, while those of us who are will wonder why we didn’t start sooner. In the words of Last, ‘If you aren’t otherwise engaged in some duty that precludes it—say, the priesthood—and you have the opportunity, then you should be a father. There is nothing more vexing, exhausting, noble, or manly. It’s the worst job you’ll ever love’ (15)… . Often side-splitting, sometimes tear-jerking, and always riveting, The Dadly Virtues will resonate with any father or father-to-be.” — Timothy Kleiser, the Gospel CoalitionTable of ContentsAcknowledgments / xi Introduction: On Fatherhood, Manliness, and Failure / 3 Jonathan V. Last Chapter 1: What Do Men Get from Fatherhood? Besides What They Put In … / 17 P. J. O’Rourke Chapter 2: Newborn Terror: The Moment You Realize That “Bundle of Joy” Is a Euphemism for Something Very Different / 25 Matthew Continetti Chapter 3: Siblings: The Best Gift You’ll Ever Give Your Kids / 36 Stephen F. Hayes Chapter 4: Television and Kids: The Beauty and Pain of TV / 45 James Lileks Chapter 5: Get Your Kid a Dog: The Moral Case for Pets / 58 Jonah Goldberg Chapter 6: In Praise of Adventure: How to Fill a Child’s Life with Excitement and Danger (Without Getting Them Killed) / 66 Tucker Carlson Chapter 7: Catechesis: Teaching Your Kid about God / 73 Larry Miller Chapter 8: Surviving School: It’s Just as Bad the Second Time Around / 84 Joe Queenan Chapter 9: Sports: Advice for the Care and Feeding of the Child-Athlete / 94 David Burge (aka Iowahawk) Chapter 10: The Dark Side: Bad Parenting and the Things We Think, but Do Not Say / 104 Toby Young Chapter 11: The Talk: The Birds and Bees Aren’t What They Used to Be / 113 Matt Labash Chapter 12: Dating: Enjoy the Movie and Please Keep the Impregnation to a Minimum / 127 Michael Graham Chapter 13: College: It’s Not as Bad as You Think; It’s Worse / 137 Christopher Caldwell Chapter 14: Emerging Adults and Empty Nesters: Just When You Had Fatherhood All Figured Out / 146 Andrew Ferguson Chapter 15: Love and Marriage: How to Talk to Your Kids about the Most Important Decision They’ll Ever Make / 156 Rob Long Chapter 16: Thanks, Grandpa: Grandfatherhood and the Spirit of the Age / 166 Joseph Epstein About the Contributors / 177

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Book Synopsis Silicon Valley tech giants design their products to hook even the most sophisticated adults. Imagine, then, the influence these devices have on the developing minds of young people. Touted as tools of the future that kids must master to ensure a job in the new economy, they are, in reality, the culprits, stealing our children’s attention, making them anxious, agitated, and depressed. What’s worse, schools across the country are going digital under the assumption that a tablet with a wi-fi connection is what’s lacking in our education system. Add to that the legion of dangers invited by unregulated access to the internet, and it becomes clear that our screen-saturated culture is eroding some of the essential aspects of childhood. In Be the Parent, Please, former New York Post and Wall Street Journal writer Naomi Schaefer Riley draws from her experience as a mother of three and delves into the latest research on the harmful effects that excessive technology usage has on a child’s intellectual, social, and moral formation. Throughout each chapter, she backs up her discussion with “tough mommy tips”—realistic advice for parents who want to take back control from tech. With the alluring array of gadgets, apps, and utopian promises expanding by the day, engulfing more and more of our lives, Be the Parent, Please is both a wake-up call and an indispensable guide for parents who care about the healthy development of their children. Trade Review “Be the Parent, Please is among the sternest of [the]recent books about the dangers of computerized childhood, and perhaps for exactly that reason, it’s also the most compelling.” —Joseph Bottom, Washington Free Beacon “If you’re a parent, you’re probably not going to enjoy reading Naomi Schaefer Riley’s new book Be The Parent, Please: Stop Banning Seesaws and Start Banning Snapchat: Strategies for Solving the Real Parenting Problems. But that’s precisely why you should. Riley’s book largely avoids parent shaming, but she does offer some real talk for parents about technology use—from babies to teens. She provides not just the jarring facts but also suggestions on how to curb the use and alleviate parent guilt about depriving our kids of technology, something we have been fooled into believing we need far more than we do.” —Bethany Mandel, Federalist “Be the Parent, Please is one of the most thought-provoking and jarring books I’ve read in a long time. When I finished the book, I literally thought to myself, ‘I wish I’d read this ten years ago!’ Engagingly written and filled with fascinating studies, this important book should be a conversation changer.” —Amy Chua, Yale Law professor and author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and The Triple Package “Most parents know the right things to do but often lack the courage to do them. Riley’s excellent new book, Be the Parent, Please, provides the rationale, research, and encouragement that parents need—to resist the commercial culture that wants to profit from the free time of small children, to shield kids from the vast, unmonitored experiment that is the online life as lived by very young children; to be the parent and not the enabling pal of their children. This is a book that every parent—and every person who cares about children and childhood—should read. Five stars.” —Caitlin Flanagan, contributing editor to the Atlantic and author of Girl Land “Just as it’s hard to tell our kids, ‘No snack till dinner’—even when we have a purse full of Pirate’s Booty—it’s even harder to say, ‘No screen time’ when our smartphone is ringing in our pocket. In this well-researched, non-hectoring book, Riley helps us understand why we must ‘Be the Parent’ and actually how to do it.” —Lenore Skenazy, founder of Free-Range Kids “We need more books like Be the Parent, Please! Riley calls parents a wake-up call to put healthy boundaries regarding technology and kids. A must-read for any parent fumbling around in this digital world of parenting.” —Brooke Shannon, founder of Wait Until 8thTable of ContentsIntroduction: Screen Time / 3 Chapter 1: What We Don’t Know Can Hurt Us / 7 Chapter 2: Babies Aren’t Meant to Be Einsteins / 35 Chapter 3: Are You Preparing Your Child for School or Las Vegas? / 53 Chapter 4: Drop the Call—and the Phone While You Are at It / 71 Chapter 5: The Price of Internet Access is Eternal Vigilance / 93 Chapter 6: Think American Education Can’t Get Worse? Put iPads in the Classroom / 123 Chapter 7: Just Say No / 155 Chapter 8: Less Technology, More Independence / 175 Conclusion / 203 Postscript: The Tech-lash / 225 Notes / 231 Index / 247

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