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Teen Brain
From Australia's most trusted non-fiction researcher and author comes the book that every parent needs to read.
With their labile and rapidly developing brains, adolescents are particularly susceptible to addiction, and addiction leads to anxiety and depression. What few parents will know is that what we think of as the most typical addictions and problematic teen behaviours - smoking, drinking, drug-taking, sex leading to teenage pregnancy - are on the decline.
The bad news is that a whole raft of addictions has taken their place. Whereas once the dopamine-hungry brain of a teenager got its fix from smoking a joint or sculling a Bundy and coke, it is now turning to electronic devices for the pleasure jolt that typically comes from playing online games (if you're a boy) and engaging with social media (if you're a girl).
What is even more troubling is that, unlike drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, electronic devices are not illicit. Quite the contrary. They are liberally distributed by schools and parents, with few restrictions placed on their use.
However, all is not lost. In Teen Brain, David sets out clear, reasonable and effective rules to help you confidently manage your kids' use of screens at this critical point in their lives.
With their labile and rapidly developing brains, adolescents are particularly susceptible to addiction, and addiction leads to anxiety and depression. What few parents will know is that what we think of as the most typical addictions and problematic teen behaviours - smoking, drinking, drug-taking, sex leading to teenage pregnancy - are on the decline.
The bad news is that a whole raft of addictions has taken their place. Whereas once the dopamine-hungry brain of a teenager got its fix from smoking a joint or sculling a Bundy and coke, it is now turning to electronic devices for the pleasure jolt that typically comes from playing online games (if you're a boy) and engaging with social media (if you're a girl).
What is even more troubling is that, unlike drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, electronic devices are not illicit. Quite the contrary. They are liberally distributed by schools and parents, with few restrictions placed on their use.
However, all is not lost. In Teen Brain, David sets out clear, reasonable and effective rules to help you confidently manage your kids' use of screens at this critical point in their lives.
336 pages, Paperback
Published March 26, 2019
51 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
David Gillespie
46 books98 followersDavid Gillespie is a recovering corporate lawyer, former co-founder of a successful software company and investor in several software startups.
He is also the father of six young children (including one set of twins). With such a lot of extra time on his hands, and 40 extra kilos on his waistline, he set out to investigate why he, like so many in his generation, was fat.
He deciphered the latest medical findings on diet and weight gain and what he found was chilling. Being fat was the least of his problems. He needed to stop poisoning himself.
His first book, Sweet Poison, published in 2008 is widely credited with starting the current Australian wave of anti-sugar sentiment.
He is also the father of six young children (including one set of twins). With such a lot of extra time on his hands, and 40 extra kilos on his waistline, he set out to investigate why he, like so many in his generation, was fat.
He deciphered the latest medical findings on diet and weight gain and what he found was chilling. Being fat was the least of his problems. He needed to stop poisoning himself.
His first book, Sweet Poison, published in 2008 is widely credited with starting the current Australian wave of anti-sugar sentiment.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 24, 2020
I started off enjoying this book - it’s entertaining and easy to read - but liked it less and less as it went on. It claims to be about why screens are bad for teenager’s brains but does not establish causation, just repeats many times that teenagers are using their phones and playing video games a lot (not disputed), these kids are addicted (not disputed), and that rates of mental illness are rising (also not disputed) then puts this all together, confident that the former causes the latter without anything other than anecdotal stories showing that increased screen use leads to poorer mental health. Correlation does not equal causation and after reading this book I feel strongly that anyone who doesn’t understand this should not be advising on such an important topic as teenage mental health.
The section on LGBTIQ teens is truly awful, advising parents to tell their kids to pretend to be straight and making various other unfounded claims. WTF?! Unlike the other things in the book, this is a proven strategy - proven to make LGBTIQ kids feel unloved and misunderstood by their parents, which *does* increase the risk of mental illness.
Screens may be bad for teen brains but this book is just a bunch of half-understood opinions so reading it doesn’t get us any closer to knowing whether or not that’s true.
The section on LGBTIQ teens is truly awful, advising parents to tell their kids to pretend to be straight and making various other unfounded claims. WTF?! Unlike the other things in the book, this is a proven strategy - proven to make LGBTIQ kids feel unloved and misunderstood by their parents, which *does* increase the risk of mental illness.
Screens may be bad for teen brains but this book is just a bunch of half-understood opinions so reading it doesn’t get us any closer to knowing whether or not that’s true.
June 3, 2019
Can you give 0 stars to a rating? This reactive, inflammatory and accusatory text is made for today's middle class,well meaning, but anxious parent, to gobble up and add yet another thing to fear to their already overcrowded parenting brief. With no more qualifications (would you trust your butcher to perform brain surgery?) than being a lawyer, working in the IT industry, oh and a father of five, Gillespie makes simplistic and dangerous claims about the causal links between screens and anxiety and depression in teenagers. I like to take my advice about teenagers' development from qualified professionals such as paediatricians, neuro scientists, psychologists and qualified educators. Just saying, buyer beware.
With emotional language such as 'danger porn' and 'schools as dealers' used repetitively throughout the text this was sure to grab folks' attention and become the must read parenting text of the year, as evidenced by the wait list at my local library. Lazy stereotypes infiltrate the text (teen male opposition should be dealt with by males, time take to run a household has halved since last century) and appeal to the emotional reader who likes to be preached to rather than critically engage with a text.
Gillespie refers constantly to the 'thorough research' undertaken when writing this text ("the research shows" and "the study revealed", which research, which studies?) and yet claims are not referenced in-text making it nigh on impossible to actually verify the statements unless you have time to read all the resources listed in the appendix (but they look impressive right?). When studies are referenced, such as on p211, it refers to a text on bullying written in 1993 (26 yrs ago and pre wide spread internet availability) to claim that bullying is not on the rise. This poorly written 'scientific exploration' of teen screen use and anxiety even manages to contradict itself, with appeals to experts such as Ben Caunt, psychologist on p170 - "big call to say screens cause anxiety and depression but can make it worse" - contradicting the main claim of the text. Gillespie may have some validity issues I feel.
With his simplistic and inflammatory language, Gillespie manages to undermine the concerted efforts of schools and educators everywhere who are committed to working in partnership with parents to assist them to better support and educate their teens with regards to the dangers (and there are) of screen use in a technologically advancing world. Teaching is tough gig. Parenting is tougher. Don't pit allies against each other Gillespie. Labelling schools as pushers and dealers of a new age drug is not helpful. And don't even get me started on the claim that demand feeding causes addiction! Honestly!
Gillespie eventually gets around to preaching about how to 'prevent' your teenager developing anxiety as a result of screen abuse. Set boundaries and just say no! Oh and model your parenting on his. What parents need is positive advice on how to open conversations with their teens (or I'd suggest pre-teens even though Gillespie claims on p268 that kids under 13 yrs aren't addicted to screens) about screen use and mental health issues. I'd even go as far as saying they need practical advice on implementing whole family strategies and reflections on screen use! Are you reading this on your phone right now?
I feel it is a missed opportunity to open a more positive dialogue about the teenager's needs to develop independence, fostering trust in family relationships and having educative discussions on both the benefits and dangers of modern technology and mental health issues. Screens are not the enemy. Schools are not the enemy. Screens and social media are part of modern life. Demonise them at your peril. Don't underestimate the intelligence of teenagers to manage their lives when they are given the tools to support themselves; gradual release independence, trust, open discussion, boundaries and consequences go a long way to developing healthy and responsible teenagers, who may or may not, due to environment or genetics develop anxiety and depression.
Screens can be addictive. Yes, just like sugar! But just as any reputable doctor or dietician prescribes a balanced, controlled diet with plenty of exercise, we need to do the same with screens and not just with our teenagers. Extremism is not the answer.
Fear sells! Fear about our children sells faster!
With emotional language such as 'danger porn' and 'schools as dealers' used repetitively throughout the text this was sure to grab folks' attention and become the must read parenting text of the year, as evidenced by the wait list at my local library. Lazy stereotypes infiltrate the text (teen male opposition should be dealt with by males, time take to run a household has halved since last century) and appeal to the emotional reader who likes to be preached to rather than critically engage with a text.
Gillespie refers constantly to the 'thorough research' undertaken when writing this text ("the research shows" and "the study revealed", which research, which studies?) and yet claims are not referenced in-text making it nigh on impossible to actually verify the statements unless you have time to read all the resources listed in the appendix (but they look impressive right?). When studies are referenced, such as on p211, it refers to a text on bullying written in 1993 (26 yrs ago and pre wide spread internet availability) to claim that bullying is not on the rise. This poorly written 'scientific exploration' of teen screen use and anxiety even manages to contradict itself, with appeals to experts such as Ben Caunt, psychologist on p170 - "big call to say screens cause anxiety and depression but can make it worse" - contradicting the main claim of the text. Gillespie may have some validity issues I feel.
With his simplistic and inflammatory language, Gillespie manages to undermine the concerted efforts of schools and educators everywhere who are committed to working in partnership with parents to assist them to better support and educate their teens with regards to the dangers (and there are) of screen use in a technologically advancing world. Teaching is tough gig. Parenting is tougher. Don't pit allies against each other Gillespie. Labelling schools as pushers and dealers of a new age drug is not helpful. And don't even get me started on the claim that demand feeding causes addiction! Honestly!
Gillespie eventually gets around to preaching about how to 'prevent' your teenager developing anxiety as a result of screen abuse. Set boundaries and just say no! Oh and model your parenting on his. What parents need is positive advice on how to open conversations with their teens (or I'd suggest pre-teens even though Gillespie claims on p268 that kids under 13 yrs aren't addicted to screens) about screen use and mental health issues. I'd even go as far as saying they need practical advice on implementing whole family strategies and reflections on screen use! Are you reading this on your phone right now?
I feel it is a missed opportunity to open a more positive dialogue about the teenager's needs to develop independence, fostering trust in family relationships and having educative discussions on both the benefits and dangers of modern technology and mental health issues. Screens are not the enemy. Schools are not the enemy. Screens and social media are part of modern life. Demonise them at your peril. Don't underestimate the intelligence of teenagers to manage their lives when they are given the tools to support themselves; gradual release independence, trust, open discussion, boundaries and consequences go a long way to developing healthy and responsible teenagers, who may or may not, due to environment or genetics develop anxiety and depression.
Screens can be addictive. Yes, just like sugar! But just as any reputable doctor or dietician prescribes a balanced, controlled diet with plenty of exercise, we need to do the same with screens and not just with our teenagers. Extremism is not the answer.
Fear sells! Fear about our children sells faster!
May 1, 2019
"I started researching this book because two mothers of teenagers told me to. My wife, Lizzie, said she was barely able to get through a conversation with another mother of teens without hearing about a child in counselling or on medication for anxiety and depression. Then my publisher, Ingrid, said exactly the same thing. Both of them felt something wasn’t right. This wasn’t how they grew up. They felt something was going on in the world of teenagers that was being hidden by the happy selfies on Facebook and Instagram, and they both wanted me to start digging to see if their hunches were right.
Before I started, I really wondered why I was bothering. Surely, I thought, everything that could possibly be written about parenting teens had already been done, and done better than I could ever do. Sure, there seemed to be more fuss in the media about teens overusing their phones, but I put that down to the perennial intergenerational problem of ‘teens these days’. Yes, it was a minute-by-minute fight in our house to keep the kids away from their school mandated iPads. And yes, the presence of those devices in the house had introduced a whole new level of sneaky behaviour and teen angst. But I put all that down to normal growing pains.
Then I started reading the research on the significant changes in reward pathways in adolescence. I wondered why I’d seen nothing much in the press about that well established biological reality. And I wondered why I saw even less about why that might be a problem in an age when billions are being spent by tech companies to encourage teenagers to become addicted to their products.
I knew software is engineered to addict. When it comes to non-business-related software, addictive products sell. Non-addictive products die a fast death. This is especially the case when every product in the category is ‘free’. I’d worked long enough in the industry to know how product management and marketing work. But I didn’t know that teens are particularly susceptible to addiction.
I knew it was always a struggle to prise a screen from our teenagers’ hands, but I tended to have a vaguely dismissive, ‘What harm can it really do?’ approach. And yes, I felt devices in schools were a significant distraction likely to impair performance, but I had no sense of how uniquely destructive to teen wellbeing they could be.
In short, I was happy to drift, uncomfortably, through allowing teen access to devices and accept, uneasily, the assurances that while they might be distracting, it was for the best or at least would do no permanent harm. That was until the union-of-the-mothers-of-teens told me to have a good hard look at it. In a nutshell, here’s what I found:
The biology of puberty makes the teen brain uniquely fragile. It makes teens susceptible to addictions that can last for life and usher in mental illness.
1. Parenting is much more permissive and parents need to harden up to save their kids.
2. Unfettered access to screens is driving an epidemic of addiction, depression and anxiety, the likes of which we have never witnessed before.
3. What I found was frankly terrifying. In less than a decade we’ve totally changed the future of the human race, and we’ve done it without so much as a backward glance. Think that’s an overreach? Bear with me while I explain. …"
Before I started, I really wondered why I was bothering. Surely, I thought, everything that could possibly be written about parenting teens had already been done, and done better than I could ever do. Sure, there seemed to be more fuss in the media about teens overusing their phones, but I put that down to the perennial intergenerational problem of ‘teens these days’. Yes, it was a minute-by-minute fight in our house to keep the kids away from their school mandated iPads. And yes, the presence of those devices in the house had introduced a whole new level of sneaky behaviour and teen angst. But I put all that down to normal growing pains.
Then I started reading the research on the significant changes in reward pathways in adolescence. I wondered why I’d seen nothing much in the press about that well established biological reality. And I wondered why I saw even less about why that might be a problem in an age when billions are being spent by tech companies to encourage teenagers to become addicted to their products.
I knew software is engineered to addict. When it comes to non-business-related software, addictive products sell. Non-addictive products die a fast death. This is especially the case when every product in the category is ‘free’. I’d worked long enough in the industry to know how product management and marketing work. But I didn’t know that teens are particularly susceptible to addiction.
I knew it was always a struggle to prise a screen from our teenagers’ hands, but I tended to have a vaguely dismissive, ‘What harm can it really do?’ approach. And yes, I felt devices in schools were a significant distraction likely to impair performance, but I had no sense of how uniquely destructive to teen wellbeing they could be.
In short, I was happy to drift, uncomfortably, through allowing teen access to devices and accept, uneasily, the assurances that while they might be distracting, it was for the best or at least would do no permanent harm. That was until the union-of-the-mothers-of-teens told me to have a good hard look at it. In a nutshell, here’s what I found:
The biology of puberty makes the teen brain uniquely fragile. It makes teens susceptible to addictions that can last for life and usher in mental illness.
1. Parenting is much more permissive and parents need to harden up to save their kids.
2. Unfettered access to screens is driving an epidemic of addiction, depression and anxiety, the likes of which we have never witnessed before.
3. What I found was frankly terrifying. In less than a decade we’ve totally changed the future of the human race, and we’ve done it without so much as a backward glance. Think that’s an overreach? Bear with me while I explain. …"
May 3, 2019
A very simplistic and unrealistic guide to monitoring teen’s use of technology. It doesn’t take a genius to come up with these recommendations - no phone, no internet, no gaming. Not sure how this even got published.
May 7, 2019
About ten years ago, I read David Gillespie’s Sweet Poison, about the dangers of sugar consumption. At the time, some of the concepts seemed a bit out there...but were quickly proved to be correct and there is now almost universal acknowledgement about the undesirability of too much sugar. This latest work is equally well researched, with complex detail communicated in a plain English accessible fashion and I suspect we’ll soon be saying, ‘of course...how could we have given teenagers unfettered access to screens. What were we thinking?’ However, at this point in time the jury is still deliberating.
While the bulk of the book is great at showing how teen brains are more susceptible to addiction and the role that devices play in creating that addiction, the link between that device addiction and depression/anxiety was not so clear to me. Instinctively I feel it I s true that the two are linked, but I would have liked to see that spelled out as clearly as the rest of the book using relevant evidence.
All up a very thought-provoking read. I just hope it’s not too late to be sounding the alarms.
While the bulk of the book is great at showing how teen brains are more susceptible to addiction and the role that devices play in creating that addiction, the link between that device addiction and depression/anxiety was not so clear to me. Instinctively I feel it I s true that the two are linked, but I would have liked to see that spelled out as clearly as the rest of the book using relevant evidence.
All up a very thought-provoking read. I just hope it’s not too late to be sounding the alarms.
June 17, 2022
This is the single-most offensive piece of writing that I have ever read, written under the guise of "revolutionary" parenting. The entire narrative David Gillespie spews throughout the book is inflammatory and provocative.
To begin, the introduction sets the tone for the rest of the book. Gillespie states "Males turn into large, hairy, smelly beasts with no impulse control and a desire for danger and sex". This statement is literally the argument presented throughout the rest of the book, creating unreasonable allowances for boys' behaviour. It's incorrect to state that boys have 'zero' impulse control, and is part of the common, harmful trope "boys will be boys", and is generally also harmful to girls.
He then goes on to state that modern parenting is far too child-centred, and used the example of demand feeding to back this claim, and then cites parenting advice from the 1950s, in which the author also said that spanking (let's be clear, that IS physical abuse) was not discouraged.
Parenting is described as "the activity of bringing up a child as a parent", so you know, parenting has to be child-centred, that is the responsibility you choose to take on if you have children. And no, that doesn't mean the child, who at the time of this supposed "demand feeding" is just a newborn, is self-obsessed for wanting to be fed when it is hungry. If you believe that you know more than your baby when they are hungry and that you will choose when they are fed so you can sleep, then don't be a parent. Period.
Gillespie states in the introduction that essentially, technology is the root of all evil and that he'll set out to prove to you why in the book. Oh, and don't forget the absolutely monumental parental advice he lays out for you right at the start.
1. Parents make rules and kids follow them.
2. Access to personal electronic devices (and all other addictive substances) is severely restricted.
3. Rules are clear and unequivocal.
4. Breaches of rules are punished - consistently.
5. All teens need eight hours of sleep a night.
WOW!!!!!!!!! I've actually never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever heard any of this before!!!!!!!
But don't worry, because it's all laid out right at the beginning, you can spare yourself the incredible pain of reading the rest of the book! Because nothing of use is actually added in the rest of the book, you don't even have to go past the introduction! Quickest read ever!
SO, you made it to the end of the introduction, and decided to brave the rest of the book anyway? Get ready, because David Gillespie promised that he'd back up his own admittedly ridiculous claims with proof!
Well, actually, he didn't. Oops. Let's not forget that this book (one that speaks on neuroscience, brain development, psychology, nutrition, gestation, female reproductive organs, and relies heavily on statistics as proof) will need to be reviewed by medical experts, specialising of course, in all of those fields. But, obviously, it's not. No, David Gillespie is actually an expert who has lived over 300 years, dedicating 200 of them to getting all of those degrees himself. He is therefore completely qualified to speak on every single one of those factors. Super admirable, his commitment to education, hopefully with his massive resume he can pay off all those student loans.
Okay, so with his amazing education, he has stated, that humans are omnivores that cannot sustain themselves without meat. WRONG. He claims b12 is completely exempt from the vegan diet. Also, iron and zinc are not bioavailable in plants, oh and monitor calorie intake for your teenager. Don't forget if they declare themselves vegan, you can always force them to eat meat anyway!
Dr Gillespie explains that orthorexia does not exist, and that binge eating disorder (a complex psychological disorder) is caused by sugar.
Dr Gillespie also has experienced decades of menstrual cycles and the societal shame, misinformation, and doctors' denial of the pain that comes with a menstrual cycle. He, first and foremost, knows that PCOS is caused by excessive sugar intake. Don't forget, he also has experienced life on the pill. He claims he was depressed, and regrets taking the pill as a teenager. Now he wants to prevent his daughters from having bodily autonomy because of his very valid experiences.
Sex isn't on the cards. Duh. Gillespie knows firsthand how creepy fathers prevent daughters from exploring their bodies and sexuality, he knows because of his own teenagehood.
Gillespie wrote in detail about how fragile young girls' vaginas are, and how malleable young cervixes can be. I've been joking around, but I cannot stress enough how absolutely disgusting the chapter on daughters and sex was. Denying contraceptives for teenage girls, claiming that he has to be vigilant to prevent his daughters from having sex, that all teenage girls should have to deal with incredibly painful, heavy flowing periods because it's "natural" rather than seeking out treatment options, because their fertility may be affected.
But obviously, seeing as the actual point of the book was teenage screen addiction, I'm really not sure why this was even included, just an add-on to the other weird aspects of the book. "Danger porn" (video games, not porn btw), "Approval porn" (Instagram, the likes, comments, that it's all teenage girls care about, that they post nudes of themselves on their platforms, no one does that, oh, and Instagram also isn't porn, just more propaganda of course! Also, "actual porn", which, yeah is disgusting but only because it dehumanizes women. Actual sex isn't gross if it's consensual, and shielding your children from porn will only make them more curious, not to mention, everyone is going to watch porn at least once growing up, it's pivotal.
In the LGBTQIA+ section, just pretend to be straight! Your orientation doesn't matter!
Only two genders! Don't worry if you're a medical anomaly or you don't identify as cisgender!
NEVER touch a phone, tablet, computer, or piece of technological advancement, they'll charge you with a dopamine response through a disease that's secretly implanted in the tablets schools encourage you to get. Why? Because you'll commit suicide straight after viewing its contents.
Schools implanting these deadly diseases are trying to kill children, and it's actually equivalent to supplying students with vodka shots in the canteen.
The only way to protect your children is to completely remove their autonomy, and right to socialise, send nearly adult children to bed at 9 pm, forbid them from sex, make sure they act straight, and lock away the devils' technology in the cupboards during the school holidays, and no porn, no private screen time, no apps unrelated to school, never compromise, keep them away from that "one kid" who got hooked on weed and fucked up his life (what?). It's the only way to protect them from the disease that these Gen Z kids and their school teachers are trying to spread.
Revolutionary, completely wonderful, inclusive, progressive and definitely the right parenting method to choose if you want your children to never speak to you again :)
To begin, the introduction sets the tone for the rest of the book. Gillespie states "Males turn into large, hairy, smelly beasts with no impulse control and a desire for danger and sex". This statement is literally the argument presented throughout the rest of the book, creating unreasonable allowances for boys' behaviour. It's incorrect to state that boys have 'zero' impulse control, and is part of the common, harmful trope "boys will be boys", and is generally also harmful to girls.
He then goes on to state that modern parenting is far too child-centred, and used the example of demand feeding to back this claim, and then cites parenting advice from the 1950s, in which the author also said that spanking (let's be clear, that IS physical abuse) was not discouraged.
Parenting is described as "the activity of bringing up a child as a parent", so you know, parenting has to be child-centred, that is the responsibility you choose to take on if you have children. And no, that doesn't mean the child, who at the time of this supposed "demand feeding" is just a newborn, is self-obsessed for wanting to be fed when it is hungry. If you believe that you know more than your baby when they are hungry and that you will choose when they are fed so you can sleep, then don't be a parent. Period.
Gillespie states in the introduction that essentially, technology is the root of all evil and that he'll set out to prove to you why in the book. Oh, and don't forget the absolutely monumental parental advice he lays out for you right at the start.
1. Parents make rules and kids follow them.
2. Access to personal electronic devices (and all other addictive substances) is severely restricted.
3. Rules are clear and unequivocal.
4. Breaches of rules are punished - consistently.
5. All teens need eight hours of sleep a night.
WOW!!!!!!!!! I've actually never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever heard any of this before!!!!!!!
But don't worry, because it's all laid out right at the beginning, you can spare yourself the incredible pain of reading the rest of the book! Because nothing of use is actually added in the rest of the book, you don't even have to go past the introduction! Quickest read ever!
SO, you made it to the end of the introduction, and decided to brave the rest of the book anyway? Get ready, because David Gillespie promised that he'd back up his own admittedly ridiculous claims with proof!
Well, actually, he didn't. Oops. Let's not forget that this book (one that speaks on neuroscience, brain development, psychology, nutrition, gestation, female reproductive organs, and relies heavily on statistics as proof) will need to be reviewed by medical experts, specialising of course, in all of those fields. But, obviously, it's not. No, David Gillespie is actually an expert who has lived over 300 years, dedicating 200 of them to getting all of those degrees himself. He is therefore completely qualified to speak on every single one of those factors. Super admirable, his commitment to education, hopefully with his massive resume he can pay off all those student loans.
Okay, so with his amazing education, he has stated, that humans are omnivores that cannot sustain themselves without meat. WRONG. He claims b12 is completely exempt from the vegan diet. Also, iron and zinc are not bioavailable in plants, oh and monitor calorie intake for your teenager. Don't forget if they declare themselves vegan, you can always force them to eat meat anyway!
Dr Gillespie explains that orthorexia does not exist, and that binge eating disorder (a complex psychological disorder) is caused by sugar.
Dr Gillespie also has experienced decades of menstrual cycles and the societal shame, misinformation, and doctors' denial of the pain that comes with a menstrual cycle. He, first and foremost, knows that PCOS is caused by excessive sugar intake. Don't forget, he also has experienced life on the pill. He claims he was depressed, and regrets taking the pill as a teenager. Now he wants to prevent his daughters from having bodily autonomy because of his very valid experiences.
Sex isn't on the cards. Duh. Gillespie knows firsthand how creepy fathers prevent daughters from exploring their bodies and sexuality, he knows because of his own teenagehood.
Gillespie wrote in detail about how fragile young girls' vaginas are, and how malleable young cervixes can be. I've been joking around, but I cannot stress enough how absolutely disgusting the chapter on daughters and sex was. Denying contraceptives for teenage girls, claiming that he has to be vigilant to prevent his daughters from having sex, that all teenage girls should have to deal with incredibly painful, heavy flowing periods because it's "natural" rather than seeking out treatment options, because their fertility may be affected.
But obviously, seeing as the actual point of the book was teenage screen addiction, I'm really not sure why this was even included, just an add-on to the other weird aspects of the book. "Danger porn" (video games, not porn btw), "Approval porn" (Instagram, the likes, comments, that it's all teenage girls care about, that they post nudes of themselves on their platforms, no one does that, oh, and Instagram also isn't porn, just more propaganda of course! Also, "actual porn", which, yeah is disgusting but only because it dehumanizes women. Actual sex isn't gross if it's consensual, and shielding your children from porn will only make them more curious, not to mention, everyone is going to watch porn at least once growing up, it's pivotal.
In the LGBTQIA+ section, just pretend to be straight! Your orientation doesn't matter!
Only two genders! Don't worry if you're a medical anomaly or you don't identify as cisgender!
NEVER touch a phone, tablet, computer, or piece of technological advancement, they'll charge you with a dopamine response through a disease that's secretly implanted in the tablets schools encourage you to get. Why? Because you'll commit suicide straight after viewing its contents.
Schools implanting these deadly diseases are trying to kill children, and it's actually equivalent to supplying students with vodka shots in the canteen.
The only way to protect your children is to completely remove their autonomy, and right to socialise, send nearly adult children to bed at 9 pm, forbid them from sex, make sure they act straight, and lock away the devils' technology in the cupboards during the school holidays, and no porn, no private screen time, no apps unrelated to school, never compromise, keep them away from that "one kid" who got hooked on weed and fucked up his life (what?). It's the only way to protect them from the disease that these Gen Z kids and their school teachers are trying to spread.
Revolutionary, completely wonderful, inclusive, progressive and definitely the right parenting method to choose if you want your children to never speak to you again :)
May 25, 2019
A fascinating read and a topic of my research (so this review may be a little biased). This book is so good I have ordered my own copy.
Extensively researched, highly controversial particularly in regards to the role schools are playing in the development (or stunting) of adolescent brain development. Based on other research, there is clear MRI evidence of the damage to the brain from excessive screen-time, so I am on Gillespie’s side for this argument.
Additionally, as an educator myself, I see almost every one of the behaviours he identifies and discusses...but how do you get a paradigm shift? It would probably be easier to rebuild the pyramids.
As a parent of two teens, I couldn’t agree more and yes, the hardest word is ‘no.’
There are aspects of the book which are scientific in nature but very well explained in lay terms but some may find this too much.
Way ahead of its time!
Extensively researched, highly controversial particularly in regards to the role schools are playing in the development (or stunting) of adolescent brain development. Based on other research, there is clear MRI evidence of the damage to the brain from excessive screen-time, so I am on Gillespie’s side for this argument.
Additionally, as an educator myself, I see almost every one of the behaviours he identifies and discusses...but how do you get a paradigm shift? It would probably be easier to rebuild the pyramids.
As a parent of two teens, I couldn’t agree more and yes, the hardest word is ‘no.’
There are aspects of the book which are scientific in nature but very well explained in lay terms but some may find this too much.
Way ahead of its time!
May 28, 2019
I found the topic of research fascinating and an extremely important avenue to follow.
**you need to read this review re the bad research in this book http://theconversation.com/david-gill...
However, I couldn't finish the book because I was appalled at the gender stereotypes, which got worse and worse and more horrendous as the book went on. The writing is exclusive to male or female genders - no mention of inclusivity of other genders that are experienced. Or when discussing on multiple occasions the male-female hormonal differences and the author's accompanying generalisations, there's not even a mention of the myriad of "non-typical" chemical/hormone levels experienced in individuals.
For a modern book that's meant to enlighten the research and encourage readers to question the new norm, you'd have thought that it would also be inclusive of all people. All genders, all genetic make-up, all variations of chemicals within our bodies.
Instead, it is a very conservative, incredibly outdated, offensive approach.
**you need to read this review re the bad research in this book http://theconversation.com/david-gill...
However, I couldn't finish the book because I was appalled at the gender stereotypes, which got worse and worse and more horrendous as the book went on. The writing is exclusive to male or female genders - no mention of inclusivity of other genders that are experienced. Or when discussing on multiple occasions the male-female hormonal differences and the author's accompanying generalisations, there's not even a mention of the myriad of "non-typical" chemical/hormone levels experienced in individuals.
For a modern book that's meant to enlighten the research and encourage readers to question the new norm, you'd have thought that it would also be inclusive of all people. All genders, all genetic make-up, all variations of chemicals within our bodies.
Instead, it is a very conservative, incredibly outdated, offensive approach.
October 1, 2019
(Audiobook) I thought the book had some interesting facts on how the teenage brain works, from neuroscience to hormone imbalances and underdeveloped brain theory. David had an answer for screen addiction, underage drinking, smoking, drug addiction, unwanted pregnancies, anorexia, bulimia, anxiety, depression, suicide, anti-social behaviour, self-harm, teen socialising and teenage risk taking. My only criticism is David is not a psychologist. He is a lawyer, but that is not to say that he hasn’t done the research. As lawyers can be good researchers too, however, I think since he is not a psychologist, that he claims should be back up by medical/psychological journals. I do note being a parent of 6 kids, would give you some authority on these topics.
March 28, 2025
I had high hopes, but should have read more about it first.
The first half of the book is somewhat interesting, looking at brain development, etc. Buuuut, and it's a big but, part 2 and the moralising of the author and condescending and draconian approach was too much for me. I'm really not sure what possessed me to read(or rather listen) to the end.
I am completely up with the facts of brain development, and that teen brains are not adult brains. I agree we know much more now than before, but there is little research in the authors conclusions, he has drawn a long bow. I will spend my time reading more well researched books.
The first half of the book is somewhat interesting, looking at brain development, etc. Buuuut, and it's a big but, part 2 and the moralising of the author and condescending and draconian approach was too much for me. I'm really not sure what possessed me to read(or rather listen) to the end.
I am completely up with the facts of brain development, and that teen brains are not adult brains. I agree we know much more now than before, but there is little research in the authors conclusions, he has drawn a long bow. I will spend my time reading more well researched books.
July 2, 2019
I'm probably a bit too old or too young to read this book but it is educational and provides some interesting thoughts from the author. The author obviously went through a lot of research to write up this book. I would recommend this book.
June 13, 2019
A helpful book that talks about how technology causes dopamine release in the brain and very quickly becomes an addiction for children, especially when usage isn't monitored.
January 2, 2020
We intuitively knew to keep screen time clamped down and steer clear of modern addiction-renumerated, free-to-play games but this was an eye opener into the brain chemistry involved and how the teen brain is particularly vulnerable.
Has reinforced our reservations about supplying a mobile to the soon-to-be high schooler in our family.
Thoroughly recommended.
Has reinforced our reservations about supplying a mobile to the soon-to-be high schooler in our family.
Thoroughly recommended.
January 4, 2020
Very readable, sensible advice
October 19, 2019
A powerful and well researched argument for putting constraints on our kids’ access to devices. Thoroughly convincing, if a little shouty in parts.
Gillespie’s insights into the chemical makeup of the teen brain are riveting and clearly explained. His practical advice may not suit everyone but I’d recommend you hear him out. It’s a strong and pertinent message.
Gillespie’s insights into the chemical makeup of the teen brain are riveting and clearly explained. His practical advice may not suit everyone but I’d recommend you hear him out. It’s a strong and pertinent message.
May 20, 2021
If you are someone who needs to know "why", then this book will give you the facts and the science behind the hype. It is a real eye opener and has made me realise just how much I was feeding my kids addiction to screens. I am hoping I have read this book in time, but like the author says "Its never too late..." It has given me the confidence to impose some heavy limits to screens (they are currently banned) and will be introduced slowly with strict time limits. I just want to hug this author and say Thank you!!!!
April 20, 2019
An exhilarating and necessary read for anyone coming in frequent contact with teenagers (parents, caregivers, and teachers - that’s you). There was an amazing and immense amount of information to contend with, and the formatting lent itself to understanding beautifully. I would, however, have appreciated more research/guidance about how we can unpack the underlying issues driving the phone addiction and issues, and how we can make the kids more resilient to a world seemingly hell-bent on destroying them. What conversations do we need to be having? How can we boost mindfulness and self-esteem? Etc.
April 19, 2019
Compulsory reading for all young parents
With his usual attention to detail and drawing not just on science but significant real world experience, David makes a compelling case for how to address this decades’ most challenging addiction.
With his usual attention to detail and drawing not just on science but significant real world experience, David makes a compelling case for how to address this decades’ most challenging addiction.
April 16, 2019
A reality check for myself as a new parent
October 10, 2019
As a child psychologist, I was intrigued in reading what Gillespie had researched, and although there is much in this book that rings truth, I’m a bit skeptical in what he purports, especially when he repeatedly failed to present specific notation to researched material throughout his chapters. Being a researcher myself, it was painstaking to follow up references, etc... yet that is what we do. However. he lost me at discussion of en utero influences of testosterone causing the brain hard wiring of gender and sexual preferences, suggesting scientific proof of homosexual and transgender identification as biological based... with no real reference to current data!!! Which leads me to doubt other research purported in the book... so, take a shopping cart method when reading, and do your own research; which is what everyone should do anyway with anything you read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2020
A fascinating read into the evolution of our youth. Definitely recommend for parents or those working with the children/youth of today. Some of the points raised leading to their evolution provide an eery future. Whilst some interesting facts raised in the book there was a particular instance that is very unrealistic and to suggest otherwise would be nonsense. The fact the author refused to purchase a device that the entire school was going to be utilising as part of their education process and expect they should accomodate his child is absurd! Whilst this may be in alignment with their adopted parenting strategy, Id hate to think of the social ramifications/isolation with peers such a view would have. To think otherwise would be naive. Other than that, definitely enjoyed the read!
October 2, 2020
Although I disagree with David Gillespie's rules for teens and screens, this book was informative and interesting to read.
January 7, 2021
There was some interesting content in this book but I found the author opinionated, repetitive and a bit unrealistic. That said, I persisted and finished the book (audiobook). As a mother of two teenage sons, I desperately need guidance and advice, especially when it comes to managing screens. After reading this book I've sat down with my eldest who decided, after our talk, to remove snapchat from his phone. We've also locked his devices down from 8pm so he had a break between screen and sleep. It's been lovely listening to him rediscover his guitar at night :)
July 11, 2020
This book is ESSENTIAL reading for EVERY teen and EVERY parent of a teen. The science is clearly explained and easy to understand. You probably won't like being told what you should do but the information is SO important - you should at least have the knowledge of how teen brains work and how technology is potentially impacting brain development - then you can decide what to do with that information.
October 4, 2020
It’s starts off well and the becomes a tale of woe. I almost felt like I was being led down the rabbit hole of cultish brainwashing.
Technology is here to stay. This books ‘all or nothing’ premise is unattainable, especially for parents who are looking for easing the way for a more ‘balanced’ life for their teens.
My opinion... don’t waste your time unless you’re looking to be scared witless with no way out in sight.
Technology is here to stay. This books ‘all or nothing’ premise is unattainable, especially for parents who are looking for easing the way for a more ‘balanced’ life for their teens.
My opinion... don’t waste your time unless you’re looking to be scared witless with no way out in sight.
September 30, 2020
An absolute must-read for parents with kids of any age.
July 17, 2020
An essential read for anyone raising children!
October 30, 2019
This book is certainly interesting, however, it is severely let down by incorrectly researched science. The way in which David Gillespie writes that puberty is when "males turn into large, hairy, smelly beasts with no impulse control and a desire for danger and sex " This extreme, controversial claim which generalises and trivialises the majority of teens who are not like this, is never backed with statistics, or facts, and serves more as a means to fear-monger and sell copies. It is vastly focused on the United States, where the statistics for things he frequently uses to push this narrative of "evil screens", is often extremely different in other countries. However, this book is still being pushed and recommended to parents outside of the U.S. Declines in risk-taking and addictive behaviours in teens can only be seen as a good thing, but Gillespie manages to use this to fit his narrative. That is, that smartphones and electronic devices are indeed responsible for these positive changes, but at a cost. That cost is that the use of such devices is replacing these teen problems with a whole set of new ones: dramatic increases in teen anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicide. But again, this is done with the use of misleading, or completely absent, evidence. To conclude, this book is a melodramatic, fear-mongering, and misleading book that is closer to a work of fiction than a factual, and scientifically backed work. If you are a parent with a teen, I beg of you, think twice before you act on and take seriously the "facts" and "science" in this book.
February 19, 2020
I picked this book up in hopes to learn more about raising my 15 year old niece who moved from HCMC, Vietnam to BRISBANE to live with me and experience Australia as in international student. In listening to this audiobook, I see how students in western countries are exposed to such different pressures, stresses and traumas compared to those who have lived most of their childhood in Asian countries.
The author provides many statistics, research results, and hormonal references. He touches on lots of things that teens these days are affected by. What I find interest is that cultures are different, and my Vietnamese niece doesn’t seem interested in any drugs, social media or even being social at all, or her appearance. I bet this will change with time, as she adjusts to Australian life more.
At this time, she uses her laptop mostly to research or do her homework. But teens are teens and they all want to be accepted and feel good. I would love her to find something she’s good at and do it regularly. She’s just so studious and puts so much pressure on herself to get good grades.
A great read, although it’s very much geared towards kids in Australia, America and other western countries.
The author provides many statistics, research results, and hormonal references. He touches on lots of things that teens these days are affected by. What I find interest is that cultures are different, and my Vietnamese niece doesn’t seem interested in any drugs, social media or even being social at all, or her appearance. I bet this will change with time, as she adjusts to Australian life more.
At this time, she uses her laptop mostly to research or do her homework. But teens are teens and they all want to be accepted and feel good. I would love her to find something she’s good at and do it regularly. She’s just so studious and puts so much pressure on herself to get good grades.
A great read, although it’s very much geared towards kids in Australia, America and other western countries.
January 20, 2020
"Teen Brain - Why screens are making your teenager depressed, anxious and prone to lifelong addictive illnesses and now to stop it now" by David Gillespie. Gillespie believes that today Gen Z are safer than teens have ever been in that they not engaging in as much at risk activity as their precedessors. They are just getting their fix in a different place whether it be through online interactive gaming or through social media. In an age of unprecendented access to internet through smart phones and tablets and with schools pushing device lead education, he is calling on parents to set stringent limits on their child's usage. He calls for parents to set the ground rules, to say "no" and "enough" and that their children will thank them later for it, even though they may not thank at the time. Teenagers brains are wired in a way that makes them more susceptible to addiction which is likely to result in them becoming addicted to other things throughout their life.Teenagers therefore need clear guidelines that Gillespie believes parents play a pivotal role in providing.
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