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How to Raise Happy and Successful Children: Simple Lessons for Radical Results
________________________________'Esther Wojcicki is leading a revolution . . . [She] shows us how to be our best so our children can be their best.' ARIANNA HUFFINGTON'A brilliant book. It should be on the bookshelf of every parent.' FROST MAGAZINEBeing a parent is complicated - but the trick to succeed is simpler than you think Known as the Godmother of Silicon Valley, Esther Wojcicki's three daughters are all hugely successful in both their professional and personal lives. What's her parenting secret? As we face an epidemic of parental and childhood anxiety, Woj has the advice every parent wants to climb out of that helicopter and relax. Her tried and tested TRICK approach will help · Let your child discover their own passions · Move on from past parenting mistakes · Build rock-solid foundations for a lifelong relationship · Be brave enough to give your child freedom · Work with your children, not against them · Set healthy relationships with technology Your children are the future. If you change your parenting, you can change the world.
- GenresParentingNonfiction
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2020
25 people are currently reading
271 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 14, 2021
If your three daughters are Silicon Valley ceos and a doctor, then you must have done something right. Esther Wojcicki shares her views on parenting and educating (she's also a high school teacher) in this highly readable book.
She doesn't have me completely convinced, however. Her methods seem sound, promoting trust, respect, independence, collaboration and kindness (or TRICK, because you can't be a guru if you don't have a name for your method). I think everyone will agree that these are important core values, and most parents strive to instill them in their kids. And Wojcicki gives some good examples on how she attempted to do that.
But I had some trouble with the underlying message. Wojcicki keeps repeating that kids these days are under too much pressure to succeed academically, burdened with tutors and extracurricular activities. Yet when her own daughters struggled with physics, a tutor was hired immediately (they got to choose themselves if they would be taught by a tutor or by their dad, which supposedly makes it better).
She argues kids are depressed because of this pressure to succeed, yet the only reason this book exists is the success of her daughters. Although she lectures other parents that kindness is more important, throughout the book she only mentions those kids in her class who rose to great success because of her program, or at least to a status above that of their family. No examples are given of students who became teachers or social workers or small shop owners. Only the great successes count. And I think it is this cult of success, the idea that you only count if you do something exceptional, that is making kids depressed, not the garden variety pressure of parents nagging you to get at least a B.
The book exudes the Palo Alto attitude, promoting kindness but mainly if you become a billionaire in the process, praising a daughter who makes lemonade from a neighbour's lemons and then charges that neighbour for it.
Wojcicki also completely surpasses the role of genetics; if your father is a physics professor and your mother is smart as well, that might be a bigger part of your success than the fact that you were allowed to bike to school alone at an early age.
I think her ideas are very valuable and parents and teachers can definitely find some inspiration in this book. But I'm somewhat sceptical towards her notion of what a good life looks like.
She doesn't have me completely convinced, however. Her methods seem sound, promoting trust, respect, independence, collaboration and kindness (or TRICK, because you can't be a guru if you don't have a name for your method). I think everyone will agree that these are important core values, and most parents strive to instill them in their kids. And Wojcicki gives some good examples on how she attempted to do that.
But I had some trouble with the underlying message. Wojcicki keeps repeating that kids these days are under too much pressure to succeed academically, burdened with tutors and extracurricular activities. Yet when her own daughters struggled with physics, a tutor was hired immediately (they got to choose themselves if they would be taught by a tutor or by their dad, which supposedly makes it better).
She argues kids are depressed because of this pressure to succeed, yet the only reason this book exists is the success of her daughters. Although she lectures other parents that kindness is more important, throughout the book she only mentions those kids in her class who rose to great success because of her program, or at least to a status above that of their family. No examples are given of students who became teachers or social workers or small shop owners. Only the great successes count. And I think it is this cult of success, the idea that you only count if you do something exceptional, that is making kids depressed, not the garden variety pressure of parents nagging you to get at least a B.
The book exudes the Palo Alto attitude, promoting kindness but mainly if you become a billionaire in the process, praising a daughter who makes lemonade from a neighbour's lemons and then charges that neighbour for it.
Wojcicki also completely surpasses the role of genetics; if your father is a physics professor and your mother is smart as well, that might be a bigger part of your success than the fact that you were allowed to bike to school alone at an early age.
I think her ideas are very valuable and parents and teachers can definitely find some inspiration in this book. But I'm somewhat sceptical towards her notion of what a good life looks like.
March 2, 2023
Ох, аз я започнах тая книга и малко след това я оставих. Видя ми се адски глупава и в пълно противоречие с абсолютно всичко, което науката доказва в последните години. Например - таз жена адвокатства как трябва да оставиш детето възможно най-рано да спи в отделно легло в отделна стая, да не го гушкаш, когато плаче, а да го потупваш по гръбчето. 🤦🏻♀️
Обясняваше как внукът ѝ не говорел до 3-годишна възраст и се присмиваше на родителите му, че се притеснявали. Разрешили проблема като му купили книжки и започнали да му четат. Той магически проговорил. Аз съм wtf!? До 3-годишна възраст не е имал книжки и никой не се е сетил да му чете!?
Адвокатстваше как трябва да се оставят децата сами в магазини, на улицата и т.н., за да се учат да се справят сами. И се позоваваше на факта, че светът бил безопасен. Статистиката го казвала. Но въпреки това родителите пазели децата си повече от всякога… явно не вижда връзката между липсата на изчезващи деца и фактът, че родителите ги пазят повече отвсякога…
И така. Не можах да продължа да я чета, защото тази жена ми се видя изключително глупава. Но пък има успешни дъщери според нейната дефиниция и явно това я кара да сее глупостта си навред.
Обясняваше как внукът ѝ не говорел до 3-годишна възраст и се присмиваше на родителите му, че се притеснявали. Разрешили проблема като му купили книжки и започнали да му четат. Той магически проговорил. Аз съм wtf!? До 3-годишна възраст не е имал книжки и никой не се е сетил да му чете!?
Адвокатстваше как трябва да се оставят децата сами в магазини, на улицата и т.н., за да се учат да се справят сами. И се позоваваше на факта, че светът бил безопасен. Статистиката го казвала. Но въпреки това родителите пазели децата си повече от всякога… явно не вижда връзката между липсата на изчезващи деца и фактът, че родителите ги пазят повече отвсякога…
И така. Не можах да продължа да я чета, защото тази жена ми се видя изключително глупава. Но пък има успешни дъщери според нейната дефиниция и явно това я кара да сее глупостта си навред.
August 24, 2022
Гарна книжка для мотивації і натхнення батьків, які дбають про своїх дітей, їх добробут і виховання як відповідальних членів суспільства.
Сподобалось: цікаві історії, диттєві прикоади, легкий наратив для читання за один вечір
Не сподобалось: ігнорування факту, що місце, де живе авторка її діти, як і школа, в якій викладає, істотно вплинули на те, чого вдалось досягти її дітям і учням в житті. Концентрація як успішного успіху, так і можливостей в Пало-Альто на квадратний кілометр в тисячі разів вища, ніж наприклад в Чернівцях, звідки родом мати автоки. Тому «інноваційність» її методики дуже відносна. З досвіду знаю, що у нас у Чернівцях, Львові, інших містах не менше достойних і інноваціних викладачів і батьків, які виховують достойних людей, хоча менш відомих, ніж діти Естер.
Сподобалось: цікаві історії, диттєві прикоади, легкий наратив для читання за один вечір
Не сподобалось: ігнорування факту, що місце, де живе авторка її діти, як і школа, в якій викладає, істотно вплинули на те, чого вдалось досягти її дітям і учням в житті. Концентрація як успішного успіху, так і можливостей в Пало-Альто на квадратний кілометр в тисячі разів вища, ніж наприклад в Чернівцях, звідки родом мати автоки. Тому «інноваційність» її методики дуже відносна. З досвіду знаю, що у нас у Чернівцях, Львові, інших містах не менше достойних і інноваціних викладачів і батьків, які виховують достойних людей, хоча менш відомих, ніж діти Естер.
January 4, 2023
“No silly rabbit, trixs are for kids.”
Well, Esther Wojcicki shares her insights as a parent of three successful daughters and as an educator making it clear that “TRICK” are for kids and parents alike.
Trust, Respect, Independence, Collaboration, and Kindess are values that parents should model and instill in our children.
Wojcicki work has challenged to become a better parent, because there is no better way to change the world than raising independent, gritty, caring, and respectful adults.
Well, Esther Wojcicki shares her insights as a parent of three successful daughters and as an educator making it clear that “TRICK” are for kids and parents alike.
Trust, Respect, Independence, Collaboration, and Kindess are values that parents should model and instill in our children.
Wojcicki work has challenged to become a better parent, because there is no better way to change the world than raising independent, gritty, caring, and respectful adults.
May 19, 2024
you are bound to highly rate a self-help book that confirms your beliefs, but I almost didn't get past the introduction to this book, as I found that first intro so annoying. Therefore the book stayed on the side table for months before I properly dipped into it. Once I got to Esther's own writing, I found it mildly inspiring and reassuring, as it confirmed some of my core beliefs and gently challenged me to push some aspects of my parenting further.
April 3, 2024
The book presents the opposite approach from the helicopter parenting, called panda parenting.
Basically, empowering kids to become self sustaining adults, to have the confidence and skills to respond to the challenges of life.
This is the second book in short time talking about empowering kids, after the comfort crisis book.
Basically, empowering kids to become self sustaining adults, to have the confidence and skills to respond to the challenges of life.
This is the second book in short time talking about empowering kids, after the comfort crisis book.
August 22, 2021
Really loved this book. Esther is the mother of the CEO of YouTube and the CEO of 23 and me. Some really great advice on raising happy and successful children!
June 23, 2024
3.5 stars. I liked it. By the last 50 pages or so I raced through it. Not bad
September 25, 2022
Really good book for parents of 2.5-5 year olds. A lot of sensible guidance and useful practical information. Some of the practical tips are only relevant for the American parents and some chapters are a bit outdated (eg watching dvds) but overall I think it’s a great manual for this challenging age. Also I don’t think there are many (any) other books dedicated to this age which makes it even more valuable.
July 13, 2022
Good tips on how to raise your kids using this five core technique. The writer called it TRICK. Trust..Respect..Independence..Collaboration & Kindness.
Yes i am not a fan of helicopter parenting and nowadays i can see that most parents focus only on the academic..they even push their kids to read or learn as early as 4 years old!
I believe in learning through playing. It will built their motor skill, social skill, empathy..
For me, the important part from this book is you as a parent, how to deal your own attitude towards your kids.
Well parenting is not about your kids afterall. Its about both parties. And i love how Wojcicki tackle and highlight this in her book.
Yes i am not a fan of helicopter parenting and nowadays i can see that most parents focus only on the academic..they even push their kids to read or learn as early as 4 years old!
I believe in learning through playing. It will built their motor skill, social skill, empathy..
For me, the important part from this book is you as a parent, how to deal your own attitude towards your kids.
Well parenting is not about your kids afterall. Its about both parties. And i love how Wojcicki tackle and highlight this in her book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews