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Politically Incorrect Parenting: Before Your Kids Drive You Crazy, Read This!
Do your kids sometimes make you feel your head is going to explode? Ever yelled at them until you were hoarse? Do you have days when you feel like making a run for the airport? For harassed parents struggling to understand why they end up screaming at their kids and tearing their hair out trying to make them understand that bad behaviour has inevitable consequences, this is the perfect book to help your family make it through the crucial first decade or so and still enjoy each other's company. Practical commonsense answers and real life examples, logical and realistic strategies, and innovative behaviour modification tools that work in the real world - all from a parent and family therapist who's seen almost everything there is to see and offers some hard-won battlefield wisdom. Written in down-to-earth language, this book needs to be handed out at birth, an essential guide for the struggling parent who knows family life can and should be better. Clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and father of two, Nigel Latta specializes in working with children with behavioural problems, from simple to severe. A regular media commentator and presenter, he has had three television series adapted from his books - BEYOND THE DARKLANDS, THE POLITICALLY INCORRECT PARENTING SHOW and THE POLITICALLY INCORRECT GUIDE TO TEENAGERS (all of which screen in New Zealand and Australia) - and has had a regular parenting segment on National Radio.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2010
About the author
Nigel Latta
21 books25 followersNigel Raymond Latta ONZM was a New Zealand clinical psychologist, author and broadcaster. He has been described as "New Zealand's best-known psychologist".
Nigel Raymond Latta was born and raised in Oamaru, New Zealand. He attended Waitaki Boys' High School & he studied Marine Science and Zoology at the University of Otago, and completed a Master of Philosophy with First Class Honours in Psychology at the University of Auckland, along with a postgraduate diploma in clinical psychology.
Latta worked as a consultant in his field for private companies and government social service agencies, including Department of Corrections, the New Zealand Police and Child Youth and Family.
In the 2010s, he became known for his true crime documentaries and psychology-based television series, as the host of Beyond The Darklands, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Teenagers and The Politically Incorrect Parenting Show, and a science show called Nigel Latta Blows Stuff Up, among others. In 2016, Latta co-found Ruckus Films, a production company which produced several feature documentaries including Born This Way: Awa’s Story and Stan. He also began presenting general interest television shows, such as The Hard Stuff with Nigel Latta, which approached social and political issues,and You've Been Scammed by Nigel Latta which examines common types of scams.
Latta was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2012 Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours, for services to psychology.
In September 2024, Latta revealed that he had been diagnosed with "inoperable and incurable" terminal stomach cancer, and that he was undergoing chemotherapy that had shrunk the tumour by about 60 percent. Latta was told that he had 6 to 12 months to live. In February 2025, the prognosis was reduced to four weeks after a scan indicated that the cancer had spread to his lungs. However, Latta later said that, because of the treatment he was receiving, he believed he would continue to live for "years and years". In March 2025, he stated that he was no longer terminally ill. Latta died on 30 September 2025, at the age of 58 at the Mercy Hospice in Ponsonby, Auckland.
Abridged from Wikipedia, information about his death from the Stuff website.
Nigel Raymond Latta was born and raised in Oamaru, New Zealand. He attended Waitaki Boys' High School & he studied Marine Science and Zoology at the University of Otago, and completed a Master of Philosophy with First Class Honours in Psychology at the University of Auckland, along with a postgraduate diploma in clinical psychology.
Latta worked as a consultant in his field for private companies and government social service agencies, including Department of Corrections, the New Zealand Police and Child Youth and Family.
In the 2010s, he became known for his true crime documentaries and psychology-based television series, as the host of Beyond The Darklands, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Teenagers and The Politically Incorrect Parenting Show, and a science show called Nigel Latta Blows Stuff Up, among others. In 2016, Latta co-found Ruckus Films, a production company which produced several feature documentaries including Born This Way: Awa’s Story and Stan. He also began presenting general interest television shows, such as The Hard Stuff with Nigel Latta, which approached social and political issues,and You've Been Scammed by Nigel Latta which examines common types of scams.
Latta was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2012 Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours, for services to psychology.
In September 2024, Latta revealed that he had been diagnosed with "inoperable and incurable" terminal stomach cancer, and that he was undergoing chemotherapy that had shrunk the tumour by about 60 percent. Latta was told that he had 6 to 12 months to live. In February 2025, the prognosis was reduced to four weeks after a scan indicated that the cancer had spread to his lungs. However, Latta later said that, because of the treatment he was receiving, he believed he would continue to live for "years and years". In March 2025, he stated that he was no longer terminally ill. Latta died on 30 September 2025, at the age of 58 at the Mercy Hospice in Ponsonby, Auckland.
Abridged from Wikipedia, information about his death from the Stuff website.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 28, 2012
This is a bit of a weird book.
It is written by a New Zealand clinical psychologist and parent of two boys and is about parenting 0-10 year olds. I was very surprised to discover near the end of the book that he says he has done a lot of work with abusers and abused children (on the basis of which he says never let any teenage boy babysit your children, which I thought was interesting)
It is sort of funny in parts and sort of says some good stuff in others. But it is a weird book.
Firstly (and it isn't unusual in this respect) it's sneery and smug. Mercifully he doesn't tell you about celebrities and high-powered clients who were stupid clueless parents until they were sensible enough to pay him to sort them out, his clients seem ordinary enough. But most of them I was very puzzled about why they were consulting (paying) a clinical psychologist about the particular difficulties they had with their children. I don't know a great deal about the NZ health care system but for a man who is dismissive of parents fussing he seems remarkably keen to profit by it, plucking the low hanging fruit (all the while telling us what hard nuts he'd cracked in his career)
The book had me blinking "I beg your pardon?" in several places. Yes, I was reading the book as 'research' but I'm actually no fan of gushy, precious stuff so I am not averse to some down to earth talk. The most significant and egregious example is when breastfeeding first appears in the book, after 'the fundamentals', after the chapter onsleep difficulties (including sleep difficulties of a five month old)... it appears in the bold heading "Breast Nazis" and Mr Latta goes off on a big rant (the biggest in the book) about antenatal classes. He also makes that irritating statement about "breast being best" (sigh, like breathing is best cf using a ventilator or excreting through your anus cf having a stoma or eating is best cf tube feeds - it's just normal physiology) "if you can do it" (and I don't think the use of the word Nazi is calculated to encourage anyone to consult anyone with expertise in actually helping people to be able to) He also states (repeatedly) that no one has ever died from formula... meaning that if it is correctly prepared and not contaminated. Well, I have two words for him: "necrotising enterocolitis" I could have more, but as he says right at the end of the book, if we're lucky we don't get to find out how the story ends for our children, so I'm sure for him it only counts if it gets 'em young.
The impact of his use of language (and he repeats it later in passing blaming 'breast nazis' for being a factor in causing a child's eating difficulties because the mother had had difficulty breastfeeding - he didn't explain how they were actually involved) was all the more significant in the light of his chapter on solving sleep difficulties in which he suggests (and this isn't a jokey bit) that if you have two children sharing a room and they are not settling to sleep in the manner you desire you should lock one of them in the toilet or laundry room and they'll soon learn. If people who teach antenatal classes and support mothers having difficulties are 'nazis' what do we call him?
Other than that it is the usual fare of time outs and sticker charts, the detail of which was quite interesting. There's plenty else wrong with the book of a fairly average if dispiriting nature, other bits that I just personally disagree with or haven't found borne out in my own experience and just a few flashes where I thought "nicely put" or had a wry smile or recognition.
It is written by a New Zealand clinical psychologist and parent of two boys and is about parenting 0-10 year olds. I was very surprised to discover near the end of the book that he says he has done a lot of work with abusers and abused children (on the basis of which he says never let any teenage boy babysit your children, which I thought was interesting)
It is sort of funny in parts and sort of says some good stuff in others. But it is a weird book.
Firstly (and it isn't unusual in this respect) it's sneery and smug. Mercifully he doesn't tell you about celebrities and high-powered clients who were stupid clueless parents until they were sensible enough to pay him to sort them out, his clients seem ordinary enough. But most of them I was very puzzled about why they were consulting (paying) a clinical psychologist about the particular difficulties they had with their children. I don't know a great deal about the NZ health care system but for a man who is dismissive of parents fussing he seems remarkably keen to profit by it, plucking the low hanging fruit (all the while telling us what hard nuts he'd cracked in his career)
The book had me blinking "I beg your pardon?" in several places. Yes, I was reading the book as 'research' but I'm actually no fan of gushy, precious stuff so I am not averse to some down to earth talk. The most significant and egregious example is when breastfeeding first appears in the book, after 'the fundamentals', after the chapter onsleep difficulties (including sleep difficulties of a five month old)... it appears in the bold heading "Breast Nazis" and Mr Latta goes off on a big rant (the biggest in the book) about antenatal classes. He also makes that irritating statement about "breast being best" (sigh, like breathing is best cf using a ventilator or excreting through your anus cf having a stoma or eating is best cf tube feeds - it's just normal physiology) "if you can do it" (and I don't think the use of the word Nazi is calculated to encourage anyone to consult anyone with expertise in actually helping people to be able to) He also states (repeatedly) that no one has ever died from formula... meaning that if it is correctly prepared and not contaminated. Well, I have two words for him: "necrotising enterocolitis" I could have more, but as he says right at the end of the book, if we're lucky we don't get to find out how the story ends for our children, so I'm sure for him it only counts if it gets 'em young.
The impact of his use of language (and he repeats it later in passing blaming 'breast nazis' for being a factor in causing a child's eating difficulties because the mother had had difficulty breastfeeding - he didn't explain how they were actually involved) was all the more significant in the light of his chapter on solving sleep difficulties in which he suggests (and this isn't a jokey bit) that if you have two children sharing a room and they are not settling to sleep in the manner you desire you should lock one of them in the toilet or laundry room and they'll soon learn. If people who teach antenatal classes and support mothers having difficulties are 'nazis' what do we call him?
Other than that it is the usual fare of time outs and sticker charts, the detail of which was quite interesting. There's plenty else wrong with the book of a fairly average if dispiriting nature, other bits that I just personally disagree with or haven't found borne out in my own experience and just a few flashes where I thought "nicely put" or had a wry smile or recognition.
January 14, 2011
This book was so funny! I'm a first time mother and I am so glad that there is a no nonsense it's-ok-to-let-your-kids-eat-dirt book. This is a book you don't want to read if you want to raise a "mamby pamby" cotton wool kid. Very eye opening and whats worse I see the parent s Nigel Latta criticises everyday
March 17, 2013
great information with out making you feel guilty
February 3, 2018
I really needed this book at the beginning of this year. My daughter had just started toilet training and pushing her boundaries in all sorts of ways. The thing that made me laugh was just how much Nigel Latta sounded like my husband. I said, "Well, Nigel Latta seems to agree with you, so let's try it your way." Who would be guessed how effective the simple phrase "make it their problem, not yours" could be.
The other thing I appreciated about this book was how it put my experiences in perspective. I might think it's hard, but there are people struggling with much harder problems out there. We're actually doing pretty well.
The other thing I appreciated about this book was how it put my experiences in perspective. I might think it's hard, but there are people struggling with much harder problems out there. We're actually doing pretty well.
January 4, 2023
This book is written with good humor and a lot of common sense. I liked it very much. The author gives a lot of good tips and methods about the different kind of problems with children (like sleeping, eating and behavior). It was very good to read it and the methods are working very well.
A könyv jó humorral és józan ésszel van megírva. Nagyon tetszett. A szerző több jó tippet és módszert is ír a különféle gyerekekkel kapcsolatos problémákra (mint az alvás, evés és viselkedés). Jó volt elolvasni, és remekül működnek a módszerek.
A könyv jó humorral és józan ésszel van megírva. Nagyon tetszett. A szerző több jó tippet és módszert is ír a különféle gyerekekkel kapcsolatos problémákra (mint az alvás, evés és viselkedés). Jó volt elolvasni, és remekül működnek a módszerek.
January 9, 2018
Review may increase or decrease in the future based on attempts at implementing this no-nonsense approach to parenting. :)
May 30, 2018
Best book for parenting I ever read
March 6, 2019
I've read this book quite a few times and often refer back to it.
March 22, 2022
I laughed out loud multiple times during this book. So many good tips, practical advice and thought provoking statements. The ending was a thought I had never considered.
April 17, 2025
Easily the best parenting book I've read
July 14, 2022
I rediscovered this book when cleaning out my shelves and sat down for a quick re-read, secure in the knowledge that my kids and I all survived those difficult early years of lack of sleep, tantrums and fledgling power struggles (with the teen versions of the same just ahead of me!)
It’s funny and definitely politically incorrect, but is also full of great advice and techniques that I still use with my kids. At the same time, it reminds us that as parents the best thing we can do for them is to build a strong relationship.
I highly recommend it for parents who are looking for a few extra tools to put in their toolbox, and will say that I used a lot of these techniques with my kids, they all worked and my kids don’t hate me. 😀
It’s funny and definitely politically incorrect, but is also full of great advice and techniques that I still use with my kids. At the same time, it reminds us that as parents the best thing we can do for them is to build a strong relationship.
I highly recommend it for parents who are looking for a few extra tools to put in their toolbox, and will say that I used a lot of these techniques with my kids, they all worked and my kids don’t hate me. 😀
January 26, 2014
The only part of this book which was interesting and helpful and deserve a star is the part about children safety! The rest of the book is fiction with made up examples which have nothing to do with real world. If his patients (parents) are lazy, careless, addicted to TV and unhealthy food - he can't fix the problem by just telling "stop watching TV and keep your house clean etc." grown ups don't change that easy.
Also all children are different and need different approach, Nigel Latta is so arrogant that he swear he came up with panacea against all problems with children... wierdo
Also all children are different and need different approach, Nigel Latta is so arrogant that he swear he came up with panacea against all problems with children... wierdo
September 9, 2016
Hooray! Excellent, funny and, oh so, sensible. I could have written it myself, agreed with everything he said. Bought it for my son and daughter-in-law (mostly to help my granddaughter), God I hope they read it, he might finally realise what an excellent and sensible mother he has and now, quite obviously, what an excellent and sensible grandmother I will be!
August 30, 2016
I recommend this book to any parent who wants some useful tips to help parent their kids better. From 'all behaviour is communication' to promoting 'fences' and relationship, this book has some great points that are well worth remembering during the hard slog times. I didn't agree with some of the minor points around childcare and babysitting but found the story/ example format very easy to read.
March 8, 2014
This book is funny and practical and just makes sense. Yes, some of his advice may seem obvious, yet many of us miss it from time to time and need to be told again. I've now moved onto 'Mothers raising sons' for some more inspiration.
May 9, 2012
This book was lent to me because of the chapter called "Jimmy Crapperpants and the Bucket of Consequences". It's gold! Practical and fun to read with lots of specific techniques, but I'm still waiting for the book that tells me how to get my child to sleep through the night. Ignore her? Hah!
April 4, 2013
Brilliant, funny & very educational. I have a 19th month old toddler & how right he is with so many of his observations. Laugh out loud funny! He comes across in writing just as he does on stage in his tv series (DVD's).
April 3, 2013
Throw away every other parenting book!
I have read many for my work & this is in a different league. Very easy to read & laugh out loud funny. Pragmatic advice that is straightforward to implement & adhere to.
I have recommended it to many friends & they too have loved it.
I have read many for my work & this is in a different league. Very easy to read & laugh out loud funny. Pragmatic advice that is straightforward to implement & adhere to.
I have recommended it to many friends & they too have loved it.
October 21, 2016
Amazing and amusing, full of no-nonsense advice and actual stories of families solving seemingly impossible power struggles. If you only read one book about disciplining your children, read this one.
April 16, 2017
Unlike other no-nonsense parenting books, this one actually got me off my butt to work on stuff that I haven't been doing right. The case studies have an easy-to-follow structure, and the solutions do not need a PhD to comprehend.
August 3, 2010
Nice no bull advice, can't wait for the tv show
November 19, 2011
Would love to see what he writes about teenagers!
November 7, 2016
thanks for that veli!
February 5, 2016
Loved it, as always latta provides a no nonsense and very entertaining book. Helped me hugely around bedtime routines and getting our little one to sleep in a way that didn't feel cruel to him or us
February 27, 2022
This book is awesome, just read it
February 22, 2011
Loved this book - great down to earth parenting tips written in an entertaining way.
January 18, 2015
Insightful and to the point. No mucking around parenting advice.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews