Just in time for my fellow procrastinators/last-minute holiday shoppers, the annual Momma Data list of books for parents who don’t love (or read) parenting books. Here is a carefully cultivated, hand-crafted, online exclusive selection for my friends who’ve lost faith in parenting advice and experts. Don’t give up yet! As usual, I’ve picked a few off the beaten path. A couple are new in paperbook this year so I’ve thrown them in too. Add your own recommendations in the comments.
Starting off in the parenting aisle:
Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age
Sherry Turkle
For those who can still follow an extended conversation (i.e. book).
The Science of Mom: A Research-Based Guide to Your Baby’s First Year
Alice Callahan
A book long-over due in the parenting literature.
How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success
Julie Lythcott-Haims
Maybe we can stop blaming parents for overparenting? Food for thought here.
The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money
Ron Lieber
Right in time for end-of-year charitable donations and Santa.
Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating: A Step-by-Step Guide for Overcoming Selective Eating, Food Aversion, and Feeding Disorders
Katja Rowell
For parents who have had no luck or patience with the usual advice.
Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania
Frank Bruni
So I have a daughter in pre-college admission (i.e. high-school). Mea culpa.
When Parents Text: So Much Said…So Little Understood
Sophia Fraioli
No explanatn neded. k?
Now off the parenting grid but surely no less valuable in surviving parenting claims, experts, books, advice, factoids, studies and statistics:
Think Like a Freak: The Authors of Freakonomics Offer to Retrain Your Brain
Steven Levitt, Stephen Dubner
I want these guys to come to my next party. Who’s in?
Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends On It
Ian Leslie
Now I don’t feel like such a freak for asking so many question and so many to only to myself.
Spurious Correlations
Tyler Vigen
Evidence that empirical evidence really is funny.
Did I miss any? Let me know what you’ve enjoyed this year. If you’ve read one, your comments are always welcome. You can also read my interviewwith Science of Mom, Alice Callahan.
Happy reading. Or skimming!
I've been wanting to read some of these. Thanks. I think I heard the raising adult author on NPR.