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If Aristotle's Kid Had an iPod
You've never seen Aristotle like this! In "If Aristotle's Kid Had an iPod: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Parents", Gallagher dusts off Aristotle's "Ethics" and reveals a vibrant, illuminating philosophy no less powerful and profound than when it was first penned. Aristotle's philosophy of man has endured for millenia. The truth of Aristotle's insights has been acknowledged by Saints and scholars, illustrated in literature and pop culture, even empirically demonstrated by modern science. But you've never seen it like this. Gallagher masterfully weaves Aristotle, scientific studies, pop culture, and parenting tales together making "If Aristotle's Kid Had an iPod: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Parents" a funny, rich, and informative read, and an indispensible guide for any parent who wants to pass on the secrets of a happy life to their kids.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2012
10 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 9, 2014
This book, which attempts to put Aristotle's Ethics into plain language and relate it to raising children does a good job of an introductory level approach to teaching the importance of virtue and friendship. There are good applications, but I felt it was a little too entry-level for my taste.
I believe it is an important book for many people who don't feel like taking on Aristotle's writing, but want themselves and their children to benefit from his wisdom. One piece of such wisdom that I think is somewhat representative is the following from page 102:
"It's become sort of culture shock when we unplug. Social interaction requires give and take. It takes unselfishness. It takes understanding. Our kids aren't learning any of this from their iPods."
Recommended for parents wanting an introduction to teaching virtue to their children.
I believe it is an important book for many people who don't feel like taking on Aristotle's writing, but want themselves and their children to benefit from his wisdom. One piece of such wisdom that I think is somewhat representative is the following from page 102:
"It's become sort of culture shock when we unplug. Social interaction requires give and take. It takes unselfishness. It takes understanding. Our kids aren't learning any of this from their iPods."
Recommended for parents wanting an introduction to teaching virtue to their children.
February 7, 2015
A popular internet parenting meme is "Steve Jobs didn't let his kids have an iPad." I've never taken the click-bait since I don't have any idea whether Jobs was a good parent or not. Sure, he's a brilliant entrepreneur and a smart guy, but that doesn't make him a good dad. Then I saw the title of this book and knew I wanted to read it. Aristotle did have a son, Nicomacheus, for whom his Nicomachean Ethics is named. Unlike Jobs, Aristotle does have a legacy of human education and perfection. But is it relevant in today's times?
Conor Gallagher argues that Aristotle's legacy is relevant today. He follows the Nicomachean Ethics but uses modern scientific studies and pop culture to show the validity of Aristotle. Gallagher cites various fascinating psychological experiments from the 1960s (including Milgram's Experiment, where people kept delivering electric shocks to strangers just because they were ordered to, and The Stanford Experiment, where students volunteered to role play a prison for two weeks and those playing guards became abusive and authoritarian while the "prisoners" broke down) showing how people can make rapid shifts in their moral behavior based on external circumstances. He explains Aristotle's four moral characters (the virtuous, the strong-willed, the weak-willed, and the vicious) by showing how Socrates, Frodo Baggins, King David, and Darth Vader are examples of each.
Gallagher shows the relevance to parenting too. Aristotle's system depends on developing virtues (which are good habits of acting) and fostering true friendships (where friends seek the good of the other, not their own good). Children are bundles of passions that need to be guided by reason. At first, they don't have enough experience or education to think things out on their own, so parents need to guide them. Reason and passion should work together for the true good, not just for personal pleasure (a la Tony Robbins) or the most pleasure for the most people (a la John Stuart Mill's utilitarianism). A great help in achieving that good is finding friends who aren't just useful to some end or fun to hang out with, but who really want the good for their friends. Such friendships are not frequent but are important. Parents need to keep an eye on their friends and encourage the best friendships.
The book ends with some fun quizzes and resources for further research if parents are interested. Overall, this book is a great introduction to Aristotle's moral theory and a great help in applying that theory to raising kids today. The style of writing is more personal and less academic, making it easy to read (much easier than reading Aristotle, I assure you!).
Conor Gallagher argues that Aristotle's legacy is relevant today. He follows the Nicomachean Ethics but uses modern scientific studies and pop culture to show the validity of Aristotle. Gallagher cites various fascinating psychological experiments from the 1960s (including Milgram's Experiment, where people kept delivering electric shocks to strangers just because they were ordered to, and The Stanford Experiment, where students volunteered to role play a prison for two weeks and those playing guards became abusive and authoritarian while the "prisoners" broke down) showing how people can make rapid shifts in their moral behavior based on external circumstances. He explains Aristotle's four moral characters (the virtuous, the strong-willed, the weak-willed, and the vicious) by showing how Socrates, Frodo Baggins, King David, and Darth Vader are examples of each.
Gallagher shows the relevance to parenting too. Aristotle's system depends on developing virtues (which are good habits of acting) and fostering true friendships (where friends seek the good of the other, not their own good). Children are bundles of passions that need to be guided by reason. At first, they don't have enough experience or education to think things out on their own, so parents need to guide them. Reason and passion should work together for the true good, not just for personal pleasure (a la Tony Robbins) or the most pleasure for the most people (a la John Stuart Mill's utilitarianism). A great help in achieving that good is finding friends who aren't just useful to some end or fun to hang out with, but who really want the good for their friends. Such friendships are not frequent but are important. Parents need to keep an eye on their friends and encourage the best friendships.
The book ends with some fun quizzes and resources for further research if parents are interested. Overall, this book is a great introduction to Aristotle's moral theory and a great help in applying that theory to raising kids today. The style of writing is more personal and less academic, making it easy to read (much easier than reading Aristotle, I assure you!).
April 23, 2021
I really like the concept of this book and I did take away some good thoughts about developing my kids' virtues, friendships and ability to lose themselves in something outside themselves. It was a quick read because I felt that he dumbed it down so much I was able to skim through a lot of it.
May 26, 2016
What if Aristotle’s kid had an iPod? Chances are his father would have severely limited him using it and any similar electronic devices in favor of fostering human interaction, real life experiences, and face-to-face conversations. Don’t let the title fool you. If Aristotle’s Kid Had an iPod: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Parents is a very catchy title and cover photo, but it seems to contradict the actual knowledge conveyed in the book. What Conor Gallagher in his modern-day application of Aristotle’s concepts claims (in a nutshell) is that parents and children need to spend more time together unplugged. I wholeheartedly agree for a myriad of reasons.
Most of us have been out for a meal and have seen a parent talking, texting, surfing the net on their phone while their young child stares at them likely wondering what they’d have to do to get some quality time and attention. What I like best about this book is the emphasis and importance placed on close relationships and the suggestions of how we can do a better job of creating deeper bonds with our family members and friends that will lead us to true happiness and guide our children to value people and morality.
Have you forgotten what it’s like to unplug and spend quality time with the people in your life? Would you be willing to turn off the TV, cell phone, iPod, computer, game system…in order to reconnect with your loved ones? How would it affect your marriage, your relationship with your kids, your friendships if you made unplugging a regular thing in order to deepen the bonds among you?
I know I’ve definitely fallen into ruts when I am plugged in more often than not, and I can see how it adversely affects my closest relationships as well as my sense of peace and wellbeing. I’m someone who is really bothered by having the TV on all of the time because I have a hard time concentrating completely on what else is going on. I make it very clear that I cannot and will not attempt to have a serious, in-depth conversation while the TV is on or while someone has headphones on, or is using the computer. I realize part of this hang-up came from learning that we better not disturb Dad when he was watching sports on TV. We might as well not exist while there was a game on that he was interested in.
Gallagher who is married and has eight children doesn’t suggest you give away or destroy all of your electronics, nor does he condemn all forms of entertainment and interaction available through them. He simply gives a wake-up call that these are not what will make your children (or you) truly happy or satisfied in life. In fact, many of the examples he uses are based on Aristotle’s theories and recent scientific research that support the philosopher’s fundamental claims.
My hands-down favorite passages of the book are those with clear messages that Aristotle would have unplugged his kid. Gallagher provides parents with what he calls: “Aristotle’s Challenge” to help you and your children see how deeply entrenched many of us have become in the world of electronic gizmos and gadgets to the detriment of real life and real time interactions.
Usually, I’m not much one for underlining or highlighting books that I’m reading, but there’s one paragraph that grabbed me and won’t let me go, so I had to mark it. Here’s an excerpt from it: “…With the onslaught of TV and game systems Androids and iPods and iPads and e-mail, we’ve begun to ignore our own family members. There’s too much interruption and too much noise. It’s very hard to turn off all the devices and simply talk. Chances are good you’ve forgotten how…” (pg. 96)
Aristotle was right about many things, including what brings true fulfillment in life: the pursuit of virtue and the strengthening of relationships. I’ve been aware for quite some time that being plugged in all or most of the time harms relationships, but If Aristotle’s Kid Had an iPod reminded me of the bigger reasons why we need to make a shift as much for our own lives as for kids and others closest to us.
Most of us have been out for a meal and have seen a parent talking, texting, surfing the net on their phone while their young child stares at them likely wondering what they’d have to do to get some quality time and attention. What I like best about this book is the emphasis and importance placed on close relationships and the suggestions of how we can do a better job of creating deeper bonds with our family members and friends that will lead us to true happiness and guide our children to value people and morality.
Have you forgotten what it’s like to unplug and spend quality time with the people in your life? Would you be willing to turn off the TV, cell phone, iPod, computer, game system…in order to reconnect with your loved ones? How would it affect your marriage, your relationship with your kids, your friendships if you made unplugging a regular thing in order to deepen the bonds among you?
I know I’ve definitely fallen into ruts when I am plugged in more often than not, and I can see how it adversely affects my closest relationships as well as my sense of peace and wellbeing. I’m someone who is really bothered by having the TV on all of the time because I have a hard time concentrating completely on what else is going on. I make it very clear that I cannot and will not attempt to have a serious, in-depth conversation while the TV is on or while someone has headphones on, or is using the computer. I realize part of this hang-up came from learning that we better not disturb Dad when he was watching sports on TV. We might as well not exist while there was a game on that he was interested in.
Gallagher who is married and has eight children doesn’t suggest you give away or destroy all of your electronics, nor does he condemn all forms of entertainment and interaction available through them. He simply gives a wake-up call that these are not what will make your children (or you) truly happy or satisfied in life. In fact, many of the examples he uses are based on Aristotle’s theories and recent scientific research that support the philosopher’s fundamental claims.
My hands-down favorite passages of the book are those with clear messages that Aristotle would have unplugged his kid. Gallagher provides parents with what he calls: “Aristotle’s Challenge” to help you and your children see how deeply entrenched many of us have become in the world of electronic gizmos and gadgets to the detriment of real life and real time interactions.
Usually, I’m not much one for underlining or highlighting books that I’m reading, but there’s one paragraph that grabbed me and won’t let me go, so I had to mark it. Here’s an excerpt from it: “…With the onslaught of TV and game systems Androids and iPods and iPads and e-mail, we’ve begun to ignore our own family members. There’s too much interruption and too much noise. It’s very hard to turn off all the devices and simply talk. Chances are good you’ve forgotten how…” (pg. 96)
Aristotle was right about many things, including what brings true fulfillment in life: the pursuit of virtue and the strengthening of relationships. I’ve been aware for quite some time that being plugged in all or most of the time harms relationships, but If Aristotle’s Kid Had an iPod reminded me of the bigger reasons why we need to make a shift as much for our own lives as for kids and others closest to us.
March 10, 2014
There is a lot of helpful parenting wisdom in this book. The author does a good job making Aristotle accessible to those of us who haven't spent much time delving into ancient philosophy. I particularly loved the emphasis on the value of true friendship and the practical advice on encouraging your children toward that end, as well as the sections on virtue and how to train your children to become virtuous (ie motivated by good for good's sake).
My only complaints were the shoddy editing (loads of distracting typos and some seemingly unintentionally repeated material) and the several times I felt like I was rereading books I've already read (in certain sections he borrows heavily from Born To Run, What the Dog Saw, and Outliers). (I should clarify that he clearly credits those authors for their ideas.) It's still an engaging book full of good advice, though, and I'd recommend it to any parent interested in raising thoughtful, confident children.
My only complaints were the shoddy editing (loads of distracting typos and some seemingly unintentionally repeated material) and the several times I felt like I was rereading books I've already read (in certain sections he borrows heavily from Born To Run, What the Dog Saw, and Outliers). (I should clarify that he clearly credits those authors for their ideas.) It's still an engaging book full of good advice, though, and I'd recommend it to any parent interested in raising thoughtful, confident children.
January 12, 2014
Accessible, quick read. Wish it'd had a few more eyes on the pages (typos were numerous and distracting). I liked most of it, and wasn't offended by any of it. I even shared chunks with my 12yo as discussion starters, because the examples were good and not too tough for her to grasp.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews