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The Formula: Unlocking the Secrets to Raising Highly Successful Children
We all want our children to reach their fullest potential—to be smart and well adjusted, and to make a difference in the world. We wonder why, for some people, success seems to come so naturally.
Could the secret be how they were parented?
This book unveils how parenting helped shape some of the most fascinating people you will ever encounter, by doing things that almost any parent can do. You don't have to be wealthy or influential to ensure your child reaches their greatest potential. What you do need is commitment—and the strategies outlined in this book.
In The Unlocking the Secrets to Raising Highly Successful Children , Harvard economist Ronald Ferguson, named in a New York Times profile as the foremost expert on the US educational "achievement gap," along with award-winning journalist Tatsha Robertson, reveal an intriguing blueprint for helping children from all types of backgrounds become successful adults.
Informed by hundreds of interviews, the book includes never-before-published insights from the "How I was Parented Project" at Harvard University, which draws on the varying life experiences of 120 Harvard students. Ferguson and Robertson have isolated a pattern with eight roles of the "Master Parent" that make up the the Early Learning Partner, the Flight Engineer, the Fixer, the Revealer, the Philosopher, the Model, the Negotiator, and the GPS Navigational Voice.
The Formula combines the latest scientific research on child development, learning, and brain growth and illustrates with life stories of extraordinary individuals—from the Harvard-educated Ghanian entrepreneur who, as the young child of a rural doctor, was welcomed in his father's secretive late-night political meetings; to the nation's youngest state-wide elected official, whose hardworking father taught him math and science during grueling days on the family farm in Kentucky; to the DREAMer immigration lawyer whose low-wage mother pawned her wedding ring to buy her academically outstanding child a special flute.
The Formula reveals strategies on how you—regardless of race, class, or background—can help your children become the best they can be and shows ways to maximize their chances for happy and purposeful lives.
Could the secret be how they were parented?
This book unveils how parenting helped shape some of the most fascinating people you will ever encounter, by doing things that almost any parent can do. You don't have to be wealthy or influential to ensure your child reaches their greatest potential. What you do need is commitment—and the strategies outlined in this book.
In The Unlocking the Secrets to Raising Highly Successful Children , Harvard economist Ronald Ferguson, named in a New York Times profile as the foremost expert on the US educational "achievement gap," along with award-winning journalist Tatsha Robertson, reveal an intriguing blueprint for helping children from all types of backgrounds become successful adults.
Informed by hundreds of interviews, the book includes never-before-published insights from the "How I was Parented Project" at Harvard University, which draws on the varying life experiences of 120 Harvard students. Ferguson and Robertson have isolated a pattern with eight roles of the "Master Parent" that make up the the Early Learning Partner, the Flight Engineer, the Fixer, the Revealer, the Philosopher, the Model, the Negotiator, and the GPS Navigational Voice.
The Formula combines the latest scientific research on child development, learning, and brain growth and illustrates with life stories of extraordinary individuals—from the Harvard-educated Ghanian entrepreneur who, as the young child of a rural doctor, was welcomed in his father's secretive late-night political meetings; to the nation's youngest state-wide elected official, whose hardworking father taught him math and science during grueling days on the family farm in Kentucky; to the DREAMer immigration lawyer whose low-wage mother pawned her wedding ring to buy her academically outstanding child a special flute.
The Formula reveals strategies on how you—regardless of race, class, or background—can help your children become the best they can be and shows ways to maximize their chances for happy and purposeful lives.
323 pages, Hardcover
Published February 5, 2019
192 people are currently reading
623 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
December 28, 2018
Great book on parenting. It emphasizes the importance of providing your children with a sense of purpose and agency from a very young age. The book covers successful mindsets, such as growth, resilience, grit, mastery orientation and sense of duty, to name a few. The bulk of the book centers on the formula, eight parenting rules with a positive impact on kids. The advice is sound and insightful based on studies and anecdotal evidence. However, not all kids are “typical” and not everyone’s drives are the same, so I would have liked to have seen a bit more on self-realization as it relates to well-being and life satisfaction, rather than such a heavy emphasis on success. Having said that, I do think this is one of the top parenting books I have read.
April 19, 2019
How do parents raise children to reach their fullest potential? Two educators interviewed 100s of parents of children who went to Harvard, and identify 8 roles these parents used--the Formula. From the early learning partner investing time teaching and talking to infants and toddlers, to the flight engineer, who monitors and manages the early elementary years, to the fixer who intervenes when situations are too big for the child to handle alone, to the revealer who helps the child find special areas of curiosity, these parents are strategic in helping their children learn and explore. The philosopher brings adult ideas and debate to their children, the model provides a path to follow, the negotiator allows the child autonomy and choices within a framework of boundaries, and the GPS provides the navigational voice for adult children to follow once the parent is no longer at their side. The book also discusses sibling differences and the importance of teaching grit and perseverance for success.
Interesting ideas. But there are many kids raised in this style who dont go to Harvard (is that really the highest definition of success we have?) and many kids not raised in this style who do. As an aside, the majority of these children were academically or musically gifted as well. How much does parenting style change when the child is driving it with a never-ending thirst for knowledge? That is a more interesting question.
Interesting ideas. But there are many kids raised in this style who dont go to Harvard (is that really the highest definition of success we have?) and many kids not raised in this style who do. As an aside, the majority of these children were academically or musically gifted as well. How much does parenting style change when the child is driving it with a never-ending thirst for knowledge? That is a more interesting question.
April 11, 2019
This reads like the Secret. Just follow the formula and you too will be successful - in this case, as a parent. Doesn't every parent want to be a good parent? I think it's way too jargony. For example, are you a "Fixer" or a "Revealer?" I feel like I'm reading the script for "Divergent." Are you "Hufflepuff" or "Griffyndor?" Then there are stories about perfect families that you can probably learn more about on Instagram.
The ideas aren't wrong, they are just presented like an advertisement to "buy the podcast." Kids should read, you should teach them interesting stuff, you need to fix their mistakes sometimes, and you need to empower their decisions. Seems like this book could have been a lot shorter.
The ideas aren't wrong, they are just presented like an advertisement to "buy the podcast." Kids should read, you should teach them interesting stuff, you need to fix their mistakes sometimes, and you need to empower their decisions. Seems like this book could have been a lot shorter.
September 13, 2023
Formulaic indeed. The premise of the book: "let's apply post-hoc info obtained by semi-structured interviews of what we perceive as 'succesful parenting' and distill and map out the traits in a formula so you can apply it prospectively in order that your kids will be succesful too" is absolute nonsense. In addition, a definition of what exactly constitutes 'highly succesful children' or 'succesful parenting', is lacking; and maybe that's only for the better.
September 4, 2023
Very good advice. At times it seems common sense, but they say that’s a good thing if a parent is already behaving the way a child needs. Biggest takeaways for me: find out how to best support your child in their interests, teach them how to read as early as possible and be ready to engage with them constantly.
December 8, 2022
Very interesting needs discussing
March 21, 2023
Very repetitive and what needs to be done is not explained.
December 19, 2018
Initially, I was unable to view the book on my device but I didn’t give up and finally figured out how to download it. My goodness, I’m so thankful I did! While many parenting books tend to focus on what parents should not do, I loved that this book focused on what parents COULD do to help their children succeed. It was written in a positive and enlightening tone. I’m a mother of two young girls, so the parenting aspect really appealed to me. I’m also a Registered Nurse, so the scientific component hooked me in, as well. I really feel that I gained valuable information on how I can be the best parent to help promote high achievement for my children in the future. This book was very well written and insightful without the dryness sometimes associated with this genre. One of the best aspects about “the formula” presented in this book is that it can be learned by anyone. You don’t have to be a Ivy League College Grad to have a child that goes on to be one. I highly recommend this book for any parent desiring to unlock the full potential of his or her children. I plan to make this book a gift for other parents I know and refer back to it in the future as I help guide the learning and development of my child in the years to come.
November 13, 2019
I can't believe there are even any bad reviews on this book. This is one of the best parenting books ever written. I got my oldest son into a gifted school and I laughed reading this book because they include people from poverty who did basically what I did.
They included a mother who was a former foster youth and what she did that got her son into Harvard despite raising him in homeless shelters. If you work two jobs and barely have time to read any books but want the best possible outcome for your kid, why not give this book a try? I love it. Well done authors. I am trying to contact them myself because I have worked with former foster youth and this is just an excellent, excellent book.
They included a mother who was a former foster youth and what she did that got her son into Harvard despite raising him in homeless shelters. If you work two jobs and barely have time to read any books but want the best possible outcome for your kid, why not give this book a try? I love it. Well done authors. I am trying to contact them myself because I have worked with former foster youth and this is just an excellent, excellent book.
April 19, 2019
Like all self help books... this could have been written in 100 less pages. Also, the theory was self serving in that they took a slice of a Harvard population and an otherwise successful population and worked back words to make a formula... what about the thousands of master parents that don’t have successful children?
March 7, 2019
Terrible title. I read this because my brother went to Harvard and wanted to see what they found in their study. Lots of general stuff that's pretty common knowledge, but the chapter on siblings was worth reading the book.
June 2, 2024
Ewwww. I feel like I need to take a shower after reading this trash. I don’t know what I thought this book would be, but I guess I hoped it wouldn’t be exactly what it is. Which is an unsurprising list of hyper competitive, obsessive, overbearing parenting practices fixated on “achievement” as defined by the most cringeworthy metrics.
More than that, I’m kinda shocked that this is “science” according to a Harvard professor. Basically, these people rounded up a bunch of “high achievers” (almost entirely Harvard students), interviewed them about how they were parented, and then dug and stretched and twisted all that data into some far-fetched “patterns.” For example, pushing early reading. Okay. So all these particular kids were early readers. Seems like even an amateur scientist would ask if that correlation holds in the opposite direction—how many early readers go on to become high achievers? And what is it about early reading that might lead to that? Oh, wait. They actually do answer that question—it’s the sense of superiority the kids feel when they enter kindergarten ahead of their peers. And they glom onto that feeling and want more and more of it. Barf. What if kids are raised outside of a competitive academic system? My guess is that early reading won’t matter. Einstein
Anybody who really believes that producing high achievers can be accomplished by following a parenting “formula” only has one or two kids. Because parents of many know damn well that you can parent them all the same, but they’ll all turn out differently because they ARRIVED here as individuals. It’s easy to apply these practices to one or two kids and claim in retrospect that it worked. But the people for whom it didn’t work were never interviewed for this project or this book, were they?
The first kid profiled has two younger sisters whom his mother parented the same way. The authors briefly mention that those sisters “resisted their mom’s advice” but the brother clung to it and became a super achiever. So….sounds like it didn’t work for the sisters. Maybe it’s not just the parenting practices, huh? Maybe there’s more to these people’s “success” (and I would like to challenge the authors’ definition of that word) than the way they were parented.
Oh, and that kid’s mom moved her kids from homeless shelter to homeless shelter to get him in the “best” schools. That’s incredibly disruptive and unhealthy for kids. Looks like it worked out for this one boy, but would it be worth it for most children? Probably not. (And it may not have been for his sisters, who never get mentioned again.)
This book is just gross. There’s more to life—and parenting—than the quest to produce a super kid.
More than that, I’m kinda shocked that this is “science” according to a Harvard professor. Basically, these people rounded up a bunch of “high achievers” (almost entirely Harvard students), interviewed them about how they were parented, and then dug and stretched and twisted all that data into some far-fetched “patterns.” For example, pushing early reading. Okay. So all these particular kids were early readers. Seems like even an amateur scientist would ask if that correlation holds in the opposite direction—how many early readers go on to become high achievers? And what is it about early reading that might lead to that? Oh, wait. They actually do answer that question—it’s the sense of superiority the kids feel when they enter kindergarten ahead of their peers. And they glom onto that feeling and want more and more of it. Barf. What if kids are raised outside of a competitive academic system? My guess is that early reading won’t matter. Einstein
Anybody who really believes that producing high achievers can be accomplished by following a parenting “formula” only has one or two kids. Because parents of many know damn well that you can parent them all the same, but they’ll all turn out differently because they ARRIVED here as individuals. It’s easy to apply these practices to one or two kids and claim in retrospect that it worked. But the people for whom it didn’t work were never interviewed for this project or this book, were they?
The first kid profiled has two younger sisters whom his mother parented the same way. The authors briefly mention that those sisters “resisted their mom’s advice” but the brother clung to it and became a super achiever. So….sounds like it didn’t work for the sisters. Maybe it’s not just the parenting practices, huh? Maybe there’s more to these people’s “success” (and I would like to challenge the authors’ definition of that word) than the way they were parented.
Oh, and that kid’s mom moved her kids from homeless shelter to homeless shelter to get him in the “best” schools. That’s incredibly disruptive and unhealthy for kids. Looks like it worked out for this one boy, but would it be worth it for most children? Probably not. (And it may not have been for his sisters, who never get mentioned again.)
This book is just gross. There’s more to life—and parenting—than the quest to produce a super kid.
January 13, 2020
Overall fairly helpful, although I had to run it through my own filter because I don't value such things as early reading and Ivy League school attendance to the obsessive level that many seem to.
I do really like the descriptions of various parenting roles.
Parenting Roles for raising children with initiative and self-control:
#1 Early Learning Partner:
Tips for Early Childhood development:
1) Maximize Love, Manage Stress
(Leads to better self-control and social intelligence)
2) Talk, Sing, Point
(Teaches communication and self-expression)
3) Count, Group, and Compare
(Teaches quantities and mathematics concepts)
4) Explore thru movement and play
(Teaches curiosity, exploration, and discovery)
5) Read and discuss stories
(Builds reasoning skills, teaches cause and effect)
-From a program called Boston Basics
#2 Flight Engineer (begins around three or four years old)
Monitor success and all types of health (social, academic, etc). When a problem is discovered, rather than a knee-jerk or fearful response, the "master parent" does their homework and make a wise decision.
Flight engineering starts in earnest around 4 years old: The goal is to teach independence, self-starting, and personal responsibility.
This includes things like expectations about making their own bed, doing their own chore, working on educational tasks, caring for pets etc...
By the time they are about 8 years old they should be on "auto-pilot" regarding the selected habits.
#3 The Fixer
Occasionally the parent needs to step in and make a bold move. Maybe a literal move to a new neighborhood, or maybe finding a resource that the child needs.
#4 The Reveal-er
Creates a stimulating environment, supplement education, help with passion projects.
Many parents described created a special learning environment at home like a map room to teach their child how big the world is.
#5 The Philosopher
Through-out their lifetime the 'philosopher' parent will pass on these fundamental ideas:
- The quest for insight (Love of learning/wisdom)
- Pursuit of "prosperity" (or The pursuit of wholeness)
- The duty to be compassionate (We're here for something bigger than ourselves)
#6 The Model
More is caught than taught. Children will pick up on their parents work-ethic, integrity, self-sacrifice etc...
This also means they often adopt their parents bad habits too, such as eating habits or unhealthy entertainment habits, or even alcoholism in some cases.
#7 The Negotiator
Shows the child they have agency. Rather than being authoritarian, the parent allows the child to freely make choices, but often in an either/or context, with a discussion of the pros and cons.
Teaches children to advocate for themselves and negotiate successful outcomes with others.
#8 The GPS
A child will remember some of what their parents said their whole lives. That might be "You're so careless" or it might be "Seek wisdom". It might be "Feel the fear and do it anyway," or it might be "People like us don't get to do that."
I likely won't know which of words will linger forever, so I needs to watch my words and values to be sure I'm communicating effectively.
I do really like the descriptions of various parenting roles.
Parenting Roles for raising children with initiative and self-control:
#1 Early Learning Partner:
Tips for Early Childhood development:
1) Maximize Love, Manage Stress
(Leads to better self-control and social intelligence)
2) Talk, Sing, Point
(Teaches communication and self-expression)
3) Count, Group, and Compare
(Teaches quantities and mathematics concepts)
4) Explore thru movement and play
(Teaches curiosity, exploration, and discovery)
5) Read and discuss stories
(Builds reasoning skills, teaches cause and effect)
-From a program called Boston Basics
#2 Flight Engineer (begins around three or four years old)
Monitor success and all types of health (social, academic, etc). When a problem is discovered, rather than a knee-jerk or fearful response, the "master parent" does their homework and make a wise decision.
Flight engineering starts in earnest around 4 years old: The goal is to teach independence, self-starting, and personal responsibility.
This includes things like expectations about making their own bed, doing their own chore, working on educational tasks, caring for pets etc...
By the time they are about 8 years old they should be on "auto-pilot" regarding the selected habits.
#3 The Fixer
Occasionally the parent needs to step in and make a bold move. Maybe a literal move to a new neighborhood, or maybe finding a resource that the child needs.
#4 The Reveal-er
Creates a stimulating environment, supplement education, help with passion projects.
Many parents described created a special learning environment at home like a map room to teach their child how big the world is.
#5 The Philosopher
Through-out their lifetime the 'philosopher' parent will pass on these fundamental ideas:
- The quest for insight (Love of learning/wisdom)
- Pursuit of "prosperity" (or The pursuit of wholeness)
- The duty to be compassionate (We're here for something bigger than ourselves)
#6 The Model
More is caught than taught. Children will pick up on their parents work-ethic, integrity, self-sacrifice etc...
This also means they often adopt their parents bad habits too, such as eating habits or unhealthy entertainment habits, or even alcoholism in some cases.
#7 The Negotiator
Shows the child they have agency. Rather than being authoritarian, the parent allows the child to freely make choices, but often in an either/or context, with a discussion of the pros and cons.
Teaches children to advocate for themselves and negotiate successful outcomes with others.
#8 The GPS
A child will remember some of what their parents said their whole lives. That might be "You're so careless" or it might be "Seek wisdom". It might be "Feel the fear and do it anyway," or it might be "People like us don't get to do that."
I likely won't know which of words will linger forever, so I needs to watch my words and values to be sure I'm communicating effectively.
August 18, 2019
At first, it may seem like a cheat "how to get your kid into Harvard" life hack, but there is, in fact, a good deal of substance in here. I'm not quite convinced that raising successful kids is actually formulaic, although the probabilities of success are certainly subject to influence.
The fist "formula" presented is one on how "success" is defined, and what will get a kid there:
Purpose + Agency + Smarts = Fully Realized
Next, we learn of several roles that, if available to a growing child/youth, will increase the likelihood of success:
—The Early-Learning Partner
—The Flight Engineer
—The Fixer
—The Revealer
—The Philosopher
—The Model
—The Negotiator
—The GPS
Most of the book is filled with anecdotes and case studies, but they are generally organized according to this pattern. The authors did a good job of tying the stories together with enough cohesion to make a reasonably compelling case for their model. There were some strange stories, and they may not be applicable or advisable generally, and the anecdotes did lean heavily on the African America experience, but that doesn't discount the timeless wisdom offered here. The bottom line: be there for them, and empower them with resources for success.
The fist "formula" presented is one on how "success" is defined, and what will get a kid there:
Purpose + Agency + Smarts = Fully Realized
Next, we learn of several roles that, if available to a growing child/youth, will increase the likelihood of success:
—The Early-Learning Partner
—The Flight Engineer
—The Fixer
—The Revealer
—The Philosopher
—The Model
—The Negotiator
—The GPS
Most of the book is filled with anecdotes and case studies, but they are generally organized according to this pattern. The authors did a good job of tying the stories together with enough cohesion to make a reasonably compelling case for their model. There were some strange stories, and they may not be applicable or advisable generally, and the anecdotes did lean heavily on the African America experience, but that doesn't discount the timeless wisdom offered here. The bottom line: be there for them, and empower them with resources for success.
June 4, 2024
Generally good advice, because if you do the basic things right, your kids will come out above average. However, if you really want your kids to outdo their peers by miles and dominate the academic warzone, this book won't get you there. The book is too idealistic and does not focus on addressing the brutal realities of life. It does not deliver nearly enough alpha, to be able to give your children the level of asymmetric competitive advantage that they need to win on the socioeconomic battlefield.
If you want to get an edge, you should see the following work: The Academic Art of War by 3× MIT MOM: The Secret Elite Education Science Manual for Parenting Success
The work was written by a leading modern legalist scholar, who is a stoic rational practitioner of pragmatic realpolitik.
The Academic Art of War by 3× MIT MOM: The Secret Elite Education Science Manual for Parenting Success
If you want to get an edge, you should see the following work: The Academic Art of War by 3× MIT MOM: The Secret Elite Education Science Manual for Parenting Success
The work was written by a leading modern legalist scholar, who is a stoic rational practitioner of pragmatic realpolitik.
The Academic Art of War by 3× MIT MOM: The Secret Elite Education Science Manual for Parenting Success
September 7, 2024
This book stands out as one of the finest parenting books I have ever perused. Rich in remarkable illustrations, it provides a plethora of pragmatic perspectives that surpass conventional guidance, therefore distinguishing it as an exceptional work within the genre. Each chapter delves extensively into tactics that are not only intellectually stimulating but also practical, providing tools that can be applied in daily parenting.
I found myself reading it at a deliberate pace, with a certain purpose in mind. This book is not intended to be rushed through; rather, it is best to absorb, contemplate, and thereafter engage in practical application with your children. Each piece of advise prompts you to reassess your approach to interacting with and directing your children. It compels you to be purposeful and conscientious as a parent, and that is what renders it exceedingly influential.
In essence, The Formula is not merely a conventional parenting book; it is a comprehensive manual that creates a profound impact, enabling you to cultivate a more deliberate and efficient parenting methodology. Thoroughly recommended!
I found myself reading it at a deliberate pace, with a certain purpose in mind. This book is not intended to be rushed through; rather, it is best to absorb, contemplate, and thereafter engage in practical application with your children. Each piece of advise prompts you to reassess your approach to interacting with and directing your children. It compels you to be purposeful and conscientious as a parent, and that is what renders it exceedingly influential.
In essence, The Formula is not merely a conventional parenting book; it is a comprehensive manual that creates a profound impact, enabling you to cultivate a more deliberate and efficient parenting methodology. Thoroughly recommended!
August 2, 2020
Very well-written. Even the “Notes” at the end are delightful. I have written very few reviews on goodreads, but having done a quick scan of the reviews on this one personally felt a number of the criticisms to be unjustified and so decided to leave a note. Nobody gets it “all right” and the authors have proposed an overarching theme to bring the extensive research they have done into a comprehensive and engaging book. Make of that what you may but I personally found the personal accounts and summaries of the various theories to be insightful and inspiring, and the hard work undertaken by the authors and their team shines fair and bright. No one book or theory can speak to how best to bring up a child, but this one is a worthy addition to that endeavour.
October 15, 2023
“The Formula: Unlocking the Secrets to Raising Highly Successful Children” had a slow start. It discussed the process of collecting the stories over time (qualitative research) for an ongoing Harvard study. Chapters 9-13 reveals meaningful and important details. As a parent and teacher, I found value in these sections of the book. What I appreciate is the authors transparency that the formula is not guaranteed. Specifically when sharing the stories in Chapters 9-13, where some families had successful children others may produced one or none. I recommend listening to the Audible (ebook) version if your time in a limited.
August 6, 2019
This has a lot of good tid bits, but it’s mostly filled with personal stories. I think what it all boils down to is parents being involved in their kids lives. And yes, like the book mentions, having a strategy with how you want to raise your children. Want them to be responsible, start them early and hold them accountable. There are lots of other examples similar to this. Some good info, but I found it kind of fluffy with all the personal stories compared to books like Whole Brain Child, which has more data.
January 6, 2023
We all want our children to reach their fullest potential--to be smart and well adjusted, and to make a difference in the world. We wonder why, for some people, success seems to come so naturally. Could the secret be how they were parented? This book unveils how parenting helped shape some of the most fascinating people you will ever encounter, by doing things that almost any parent can do. You don't have to be wealthy or influential to ensure your child reaches their greatest potential. What you do need is commitment--and the strategies outlined in this book.
Wanted so much to like this book. But it wasn't for me. It was a high level book for those living in poverty and few resources to getting your child a harvard education. See how that's a problem? Anyway, would not recommend. Just read a book to your kids.
Wanted so much to like this book. But it wasn't for me. It was a high level book for those living in poverty and few resources to getting your child a harvard education. See how that's a problem? Anyway, would not recommend. Just read a book to your kids.
July 8, 2019
The book explains "master parenting" by telling some very inspiring stories about successful young people. These stories alone made the book enjoyable. The authors have motivated me to take the education of my toddler and preschooler more seriously. For some people, this book may be stressful because it does put a lot of pressure on parents to be very involved with their child's education. I was moved enough by The Formula that I can see this positively influencing my parenting long-term.
January 20, 2022
This is a great book for those who know and already applied principles from it within their families. But it is way more useful and revealing for new or parents-to-be. It is unfortunate that the raiting for this book is below 4 here as I believe the authors through their research and dedication bring undisputable value to the society. As they say: "Just listen to the scientist". My wife recommended to read it and we both thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 5, 2022
Great general principles with lots of anecdotes
Overall I think the book was pretty good and useful as guidance, but honestly it could have been about 1/4th as long as it is and still gotten the same points across. I was looking for a parenting book, and I got that, but I also got tons of stories that ultimately started to feel like fluff I'd established that they were just going to rehash the parenting points in story format.
Overall I think the book was pretty good and useful as guidance, but honestly it could have been about 1/4th as long as it is and still gotten the same points across. I was looking for a parenting book, and I got that, but I also got tons of stories that ultimately started to feel like fluff I'd established that they were just going to rehash the parenting points in story format.
March 20, 2019
I found this to be an incredibly useful guide for parents in helping their child become their best self. Success can mean different things to different people, but helping your child realize the full extent of their individual potential is a worthy goal for any parent. I enjoyed this book, learned a lot from its insights, and will recommend it to other parents. A great read!
September 15, 2020
Honestly my idea of a beach read. Not nearly as good as the French parenting book Bringing up Bebe but i found the discussion of being a formula parent v. a tiger parent interesting. Loved a summer class I took with Dr. Ferguson so happy to support his work!
December 19, 2021
Bản tiếng việt là Đại Công Thức. Nghe tưởng cứng nhắc rập khuông nhưng không hề. Đây là 1 trong số ít cuốn sách tâm đắc nhất trong chủ đề này, vì trùng khớp 95% với quan điểm giáo dục con cái của mình. Các phụ huynh cực nên đọc
January 3, 2023
One of the better ones that I find good insights that could relate to. However, just take the reading with a pinch of salt. Not everything is applicable. Overall, I enjoyed the writing and examples given, straight and precise. Definitely a book that I will go over again
July 23, 2025
I enjoyed the content of the book but there was so much unnecessary filler and “fluff”. I kept wanting the author to just get to the point already.
The author also seemed to repeat himself needlessly throughout.
The author also seemed to repeat himself needlessly throughout.
Read
August 9, 2019Mostly about how certain kids got into harvard and were involved with social issues.
February 25, 2020
After the first few chapters this book was repetitive.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews