Life Lists for Teens: Tips, Steps, Hints, and How-Tos for Growing Up, Getting Along, Learning, and Having Fun

by Pamela Espeland

Lists organize your thinking, focus your energy, free up time in your day (and space in your brain), and give you confidence. No wonder everyone loves making them, reading them, checking things off on them. Most books of lists feature facts, statistics, or trivia. Life Lists for Teens is different. It’s not about the tallest this or the weirdest that. Instead, it’s a user’s guide to life. Over 200 powerful self-help lists distill “big topics” like health and wellness, relationships, feelings, creativity, personal safety, school, self-esteem, and problem-solving. Each list is like a mini self-help book—a starting-point for learning, thinking, and making positive choices and decisions. Some of the lists are 6 Ways to Remember What You Study, 12 Tips for Making and Keeping Friends, 3 Rules for Doing Internet Research. Some are meant to motivate or 10 Goal-Setting Steps, 18 Great Reasons to Serve Others. Some are 8 Tips for Coping with Tragedy or Disaster, 9 Symptoms of Major Depression, 10 Ways to Handle Hate Words and Slurs. And some are just for The 8 Clown Commandments, 9 Tips for Changing Your Hair Color. Any teen who has ever made a list will enjoy this book—as an inviting, enlightening read, a place to go to for quick advice, and a ready source of guidance and encouragement for all kinds of situations. These are lists that matter and teens will use them every day.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Pamela Espeland has authored, co-authored, or edited more than two hundred books on a variety of subjects. She lives in Minneapolis.

Reviews

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

Every teen needs a copy of this book, not because it will make your life easier, but because it will at least make it simpler and more organized. Filled with sections on Health & Wellness, Getting Along, Staying Safe, School & Learning, Going Online, Planning Ahead, Saving the World, Focus On You, and Just for Fun, there is a ton of information just waiting in LIFE LISTS FOR TEENS.

Some of my favorite lists include:

1) 17 Ways to Manage Stress
2) 20 Ways to Tell if a Relationship is Unhealthy
3) A Bill of Rights for Children of Divorce
4) 12 Suicide Warning Signs
5) 19 Note-Taking Tips
6) The Student Bill of Rights
7) 7 Things You Should Know About Online Privacy
8) 10 Tips for Procrastinators
9) 10 Reasons Why You Need Self-Esteem
10) 12 Reasons to Write
11) 13 Things You Can Do to Promote Diversity

Overall, this is a great book for teens, pre-teens, and even parents. A helpful handbook to daily life!

[Patrice Sartor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Level: Ages 11-17. Initially I misunderstood the premise of this book; I thought perhaps it would offer lists of things to do or ask questions for teens to ponder, in the form of a list. Instead what I found was a book with a plethora of information that teens can easily relate to. Life Lists is divided into nine sections: Health and Wellness, Getting Along, Staying Safe, School and Learning, Going Online, Planning Ahead, Saving the World, Focus on You, and Just for Fun.

Each contains many lists related to the topic. For example, one of the lists in the Health and Wellness area is “7 Reasons Why People—Even Smart People—Try Drugs.” Each reason is listed and then briefly explained. Some of the things the lists contain are quotes, goals, ideas, suggestions and more.

There are no pictures, though it does not detract from the readability of the book or from its usefulness. Each of the lists is introduced with a larger font in bold print, and then an underline between the list title and the actual list. Many times the list is briefly explained, and then the actual information follows.

This style, along with the lists not being very long, makes for a well-formatted and easy-to-read book. The tips and advice given are practical and helpful, and fun to read to boot. I found something personally useful in the School and Learning chapter: “100 Words All High School Graduates (and Their Parents) Should Know from the Editors of the American Heritage College Dictionary.” Too many of these I did not know, but I am now endeavoring to work them into my regular conversations.

The back contains acknowledgments and sources, an index (very handy in books like this), a blurb about the author, and a description of two of the publisher’s books, along with ordering information. This book is perfect for jumping around in, and going straight to the sections the reader is most interested in.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is awesome! it helps boost ur emotions nd makes u feel better :)

[Anna Fillaah · Rating 4 out of 5]

That's a good book... I like it. There are many tips for teens' life and easy to apply

[Ingasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't really deliver what I though it would.

[Rona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally read a review of 'Life Lists for Teens' by Pamela Espeland on Parenting Adolescences About.com newsletter. The book received high marks. Despite the fact that this book's audience is teenagers I decided that I would like to read it.

This book is a series of tips, steps and how-to's to growing up, learning and having fun. Some of my favorite lists were 9 Reasons to Go to Church, Mosque, Temple or Meetings, The 6 Pillars of Character, 10 Ways to Learn New Words and 10 Reasons for Not Getting a Tattoo or Body Piercing.

I not only recommend giving this book to your teen but for parents to read it too. They should have renamed the book, 'Life Lists for Teens and Parents'. By the way, I actually finished it one afternoon. And yes, I did enjoy it, as I learned and was entertained.

[Angie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would not recommend. Says it does not matter if you believe in God just believe in something. Says you may not can use colorful words around everyone, so be careful. Also says its smart to always carry a condom around.
Those are a few disagreements I have. Disappointed.

[Tasneem Adel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it! It's helpful,interesting and useful.